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KittyFelone — Character Profile Outline
Published: 2006-12-28 18:47:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 755760; Favourites: 1985; Downloads: 3611
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Description
Okay, before anybody starts to think this is some weird idea, let me explain.For anyone who knows how to write (and I mean, REALLY knows how to write), you understand that a good story has everything written out on paper first. You know, stuff like Outlines, Plot Triangles, Character Profiles. This might be of a challenge to some of you and tie you down, but unless you are capable of keeping every piece of information in your mind, this is a good resource to fall back on. If you do not need this, then fine—you aren’t required to use it. According to Science Fiction Writers of America, do character sketches and plot summaries but “do not let yourself be locked in by your planning documents.”
In time, I will devise a website that will help more than just creating your character. On said site, I will post other outlines that will help YOU with YOUR writing, along with some very useful information. There are many rumors and myths that are traveling around about writing and the craft of such talent that people are being forced to believe. I have it, on correct authority, to believe that such myths are created by amateurs and do nothing but hold a writer back from his/her true potential. To this, I say, leave the business of writing to professionals. In the words of Stephen King, “Sorry, but there are lots of bad writers.”
What I have created here for everyone to use is a basic Character Profile Outline Sheet, which helps you create your character or break them down piece by piece to find something you're missing (or looking for).
Even if you're a gamer and looking for some way to create 3-Dimensional characters for your WoW (World of Warcraft), D&D (Dungeons and Dragons), or other games! This works with them, also!
If you are an English professor of some sort and wish to use this in your class to help your students—or you are tutoring/aiding somebody in writing their story, please remember to give me full credit. It took me a long time to make this and I would appreciate if I got full credit.
If you were to search “Kitty Felone” you will see that there are several fellow writers who have posted this in their own way and still have given me full credit. Please be sure to do so. I do not mind if you do not inform me that you are using it, but I do mind if you do not credit me and link back to me in some form or another (preferably to kittyfelone.deviantart.com/ )
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REMEMBER:
“Life isn’t a support-system for art.
It’s the other way around.”
~ Stephen King
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Directions:
If you are unsure about what some of these things mean, let me break it all down for you.
Character Name: The only thing that goes on this line is the Character's name that you use in the story.
Full Name: This is the characters real/full name. First name(s), middle, last. Some people have multiple first/middle/last names.
Nick Names: Whatever the character has for a nickname. This doesn't have to be used unless your character has one.
Gender: Pretty basic. Is your character a female, male, transsexual, hermaphrodites?
Age: How old is your character? Is s/he ten years old? Fifty? Six hundred and ninety-seven?
Birthday/year: When was your character born? April 15, 1300 AD? August 22, 2025 AD
Marital Status: Is your character single or married? Are they attached to anyone in particular or are they are a player? (This goes in comparison to Spouse).
Spouse: Who is your character’s lover/mate? Are they gay/lesbian? How does the relationship fare? (This goes in comparison to Marital Status).
Hair: What's his/her hair like? Is it short and brown with blonde highlights? Long and raven black? Blonde in pigtails?
Eyes: Describe his/her eyes. Are they silver and shiny? Are they baby blue like a cloudless summer sky? Are they demonic red like a rose? Do they glimmer? Do they change color depending on his/her current mood?
Origin: Where was this character born and raised? Perhaps s/he was born in Paris, France but raised in New York City? Born and raised in the Nevada deserts? Perhaps s/he was born in Germany during WW2, time traveled to America in the twentieth century to be raised, then time traveled to England in 1682 AD to live out his/her remaining years (if s/he is an elder).
Language: What language does your character speak? Perhaps he was born in Russia but learned only German? Maybe she is a vampire from the 1800s and knows only British English as opposed to American English? Does s/he speak a made-up language? (If you're making up the language, be sure to provide yourself with an alphabet of some sort to be sure your character is accurate and there are no faults to the word meanings. Although, as in Thai, some languages have words that may mean more than one thing depending on how the voice is used. Be sure to explain to the reader what your character is saying; ie: "Egocan non dico vos quotiens Ego adepto dementis." ("I can not to say you as often as I to obtain insanity"). Have it in parenthesis directly after your character has spoken the words or have another character ask to translate. Also, keep in mind, any time you are using another language, the word(s) must be italicized and if you are already typing in italicized letters, they will be non-italicized.
Blood Type: What blood type does your character have? Is it human sort like O Positive or B Negative? Perhaps it is a space alien kind? Is it green or yellow or is it red like a human but is taken from a space alien?
Height: How tall is your character? Is he as huge as a giant and the rest of his people are small enough to be ants to him? Perhaps she’s small in size but her great heart makes her huge? Maybe your character can be tiny but with supernatural abilities, can grow into great sizes.
Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults: How much does s/he weigh? What is his/her body like? What physical faults does s/he have? Does s/he weigh 160lbs with an athletic form but a bad case of acne? Is s/he a warrior who weighs 225lbs but is entirely covered in muscle and has scars all over his/her body? Is s/he aged with wrinkles, heavy set, appearing to look about 215lbs, and has a withered arm or deformed face? If there are scars, how did s/he receive them? Does your character looks every inch human but has wings and horns like that of a demon?
Race/Species: Give your character some depth beside the basics. Could your character be something more than just an ordinary human, perhaps like a deity in a human body--remember Hercules? Maybe your character is a new species that you made up just for this tale--explain it. Perhaps it’s nothing new and just another human race, like a Pacific Islander, a Native American (Indian), or a Spaniard? Maybe your character is an African from South Africa but sounds like s/he is from Australia?
Parents/Elders/Guardians: Who raised your character? Is the mother or father deceased? Was your character an orphan? Does your character know his/her parents?
Siblings: Is your character an only child? If no, who are/is his/her brother(s) or sister(s)?
Friends/Allies: Who are your character's friends or is your character a recluse? Does your character have allies, perhaps a fellow street gang or another territory/country?
Enemies: Everyone has at least one enemy--who is your character's enemy? Is it a rival country that wishes war for religious beliefs? Is it another street gang that's jealous because your character's gang has more power or money? Is it a girl/boy who is jealous of your character for being too popular in school?
Beliefs/Religion: What does your character believe in? Is s/he Agnostic, Satanic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish? Does your character pray ritualistically or worship a Pagan God or several Indian Gods? What are the God's names and what do they have powers over?
Career/Past Careers: Is your character a pizza delivery boy and get paid $6.50 an hour? Is s/he a tavern wench in the Medieval Era? Is s/he an outlaw in a western timeline? Did s/he used to be a chamber maid/servant/cook in a Medieval Castle and marry off to become a mother/father of a large family?
Dreams/Life Goals: What dreams does your character have? What life goals does s/he wish to achieve sometime in his/her life? Does s/he want to become a computer professor at a Pennsylvania University but right now is struggling with a measly retail job and going to school? Does s/he want to become a Knight but is currently a Squire? Perhaps s/he has a dream to be able to walk but is currently crippled and lives in an era where there is no cure for a withered leg or dead nerves.
Hobbies: What does s/he do in his/her spare time? Perhaps s/he enjoys listening to the Boston Symphony playing live in concert? Does s/he enjoy reading mystery novels or writing romance stories? Maybe s/he likes to be around animals and enjoys the comfort of a feline or the dependency of a beast.
Likes: What does your character like? Perhaps s/he enjoys a bouquet of roses? Perhaps s/he likes rain showers. Maybe s/he feels more comfortable in a dark environment?
Loves: What does your character love to do? Does s/he love to paint? Does s/he love a certain pet? Perhaps s/he loves receiving boxes of chocolate from a loved one? How about two warriors dueling-- does your character love to watch or play spare within one?
Dislikes: Your character dislikes something--what is it? Maybe s/he is jealous because a fellow class mate is too smart or popular? Perhaps s/he just can't stand sunshine? Maybe s/he dislikes the color pink because it looks too feminine or blue because it's too masculine.
Loathes: What does your character hate the most of all? Perhaps an enemy ruler who is perfect and his people love him--your character hates him because s/he is jealous that the enemy ruler has everything? Maybe your character loathes his/her mother for abandoning him/her in his/her youth?
Fears: What his s/he afraid of? Everyone has a fear; even if somebody claims s/he is afraid of nothing then s/he is explaining s/he fears the absence of nothing. Maybe your character is a vampire and fears the sunlight? Maybe your
character is an 11 year old boy and is afraid of the dark? Maybe your character is a 17 year old girl who lives in a bad neighborhood and fears getting raped? Perhaps your character is an elder and fears getting mugged or ignored from his/her juniors (juniors = younger citizens)?
Strengths: Give your character strength; what makes him/her stronger inside? Maybe s/he can run in track but can't walk a marathon? Your character can write a brilliant novel on the computer but can't form words with a pen and paper? Your character knows sixteen different languages, how to build a super computer, and create a time traveling device but cannot ride a bicycle (see Weakness)?
Weakness: Everyone has to have a weakness--some reason why they are not a powerful God. If your character does not have a weakness then the story becomes fake and the reader will not wish to continue the story because the reality of it has disappeared. Make sure your character has as many weaknesses as strengths. As seen in Strengths, perhaps your character knows sixteen different languages, how to build a super computer, and create a time traveling device but cannot ride a bicycle? Maybe your character can communicate with animals (see Strengths) but cannot communicate with people very well?
Good Qualities: What makes your character good in heart? Remember, even pure evil has some good in it; Satan (in Biblical beliefs) used to be one of the most favored angels of Jesus Christ but had fallen due to his jealousy. Perhaps your character has so much honor and pride as an American hostage in a war and will stand up to the kidnappers and be shot rather than cower in fear (patriotic)? Perhaps s/he has been raised in a very bad family but came out never touching a cigarette, drugs, or alcohol and never received any piercing or tattoos?
Bad Habits: Does your character bite his/her nails until they bleed? Does s/he chew on his/her lower lip when thinking? Maybe your character can't help but pick his/her nose in public? Maybe s/he is almost always sexually turned on and is easy because of it?
Turn Ons: What makes your character sexually aroused or attracted to somebody? What is it that makes him/her get antsy to touch or be touched? Maybe a husband comes home to see his wife wearing only a lacy thong and camisole while doing the dishes? Perhaps a non-popular teenage girl sees the captain of the high school football team washing his car and wearing only his blue jeans while his chest is glistening with sweat? Maybe your character finds the other sex intelligent. Perhaps he finds it a turn to see her driving a standard instead of an automatic vehicle? Maybe s/he is bisexual or gay/lesbian and finds the other sex attractive.
Turn Offs: What makes your character disgusted? Could s/he be attracted to somebody who is fit to perfection like a model but has scars all over his/her body? Perhaps your character is turned off by gays/lesbians? Maybe a boyfriend is attracted to his girlfriend in everyday clothing but her formal clothing is ugly and does not sexually arouse him? Perhaps your character's lover has horrible body odor and smells?
Normal Talents: This is connected to the Supernatural Powers & Ability category. What makes your character different from everyone else? This is where you are allowed to have fun—BUT KEEP IT REALISTIC! Even if your story is science-fiction or fantasy, you still have to make your story believable. Does s/he have luck when playing Texas Holdem (poker)? Is your character a wiz at computers? Can s/he read a four hundred page book in less than four hours? Maybe s/he has a photographic memory? Or perhaps s/he is so good with numbers s/he doesn’t ever require the use of a calculator?
Supernatural Powers & Abilities: This goes hand-in-hand with the Normal Talents category. This is where you state what your character is or what his/her supernatural ability or power may be. If your character is not supernatural, this category can be left blank. Either way, you must remember to “KEEP IT REALISTIC!” Even if your story is science-fiction or fantasy, you still have to make your story believable. Even supernatural creatures from other planets are realistic enough to believe. Remember, you want your reader to understand what you’re writing about—not be turned away if your character has a godlike syndrome. Perhaps your character has the unconscious effort to suspend time or perhaps your character can ignite fire with the flick of a wrist? If your character has the ability to fly at night and when the sun sets wings appear, that would be considered supernatural (wings would be mentioned beneath the Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults category). Maybe your character can shape shift into another creature or character? Perhaps s/he is telekinetic/psychokinetic (ability to move things with your mind), telepathic (ability to read and control minds), or has the ability/power to create fire without using anything but your hands or mind? Maybe s/he can go invisible? Supernatural is anything that is “Super” and “Natural” (like Superman). It needs to still be natural but more superb than our natural.
Temperament: This is where you explain your character's basic personality. Is your character an introvert or an extrovert? Is s/he a class clown or a shy book worm? Was your character born with the heredity genes to be a wild-driven party-lover? Perhaps s/he is difficult to deal with? Maybe s/he is easy when it comes to sexual activity. Is your character understanding of others? Or maybe s/he was held back in education by a learning disorder?
Background: This has the largest writing section available because this is where you are going to explain your character's life story up to the point where s/he is first mentioned in the story (though some writers still continue the background throughout the character's appearance in the said tales). Even if your character is a 3 year old child, you still explain his/her background; how old was the child when s/he learned to speak or walk? This is where you can have as much fun as you would like with your character, but again KEEP IT REALISTIC! Perhaps your character is a 16 year old orphan; what happened to make him/her an orphan and explain his/her life up until s/he enters the story. Maybe your character is a senior citizen; explain most of his/her life if it is required for the story.
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Character Profile Sheet
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Character Name
Full Name: ________________________________________________________
Nick Name(s): _____________________________________________________
Gender: _____________________
Age: ____________________________________
Birthday/year: ____________________________
Marital Status: ___________________________
Spouse: __________________________________
Hair: ____________________________________
Eyes: ____________________________________
Origin: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Language(s): ____________________________________
Blood Type: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Height: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults: _____________________________________________________________
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Race/Species: ___________________________________________________________________________________
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Parents/Elders/Guardians: ________________________________________________________________________
Siblings: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Friends/Allies: __________________________________________________________________________________
Enemies: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Beliefs/Religion: _________________________________________________________________________________
Career/Past Careers: _____________________________________________________________________________
Dreams/Life Goals: ______________________________________________________________________________
Hobbies: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Likes: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Loves: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Dislikes: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Loathes: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Fears: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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Weakness: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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Good Qualities: _________________________________________________________________________________
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Bad Habits: _____________________________________________________________________________________
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Turn Ons: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Turn Offs: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Natural Talents: _________________________________________________________________________________
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Supernatural Powers & Abilities: ___________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Temperament: __________________________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Background: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Any and all feedback is much obliged.
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Comments: 841
Many welcomes for enjoying it.
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I truly enjoy this outline. It is exactly what I need to get my creative 'juices' flowing. I find I use many of these questions as a starting point which leads me to ask myself and consider other questions related to these. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
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Well I am very glad to hear it. It took me several years to make, and I figured other people could use it too. You don't have to use all the slots, but as you found, it helps discover who your character really is. Makes them alive.
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I really tried to be supportive of this, despite it being laden with typos and grammatical errors, however I found there to be critical elements of character profiling missing, and nonsensical gloop in their place (a need exists for character "blood type" apparently). In one of the steps I am to determine whether my character is a "player", and in another I should decide whether he/she is sexually "easy"? Please.
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Wow... this is the first time in ages that I've received a negative review for this thing.
Wait... no, I take that back. This is the second time. The first time was by an unintelligent student who never graduated college and merely dropped out (the internet is a wonderful thing to find out someone's actual statistics).
You don't have to use this, as it can tie you down, yet it does help people figure out exactly who they're creating and what they're making. But do yourself a favor and learn manners, and what the definition of respect is. Just because you find fault with it is no reason to criticize it openly to where everyone who DOES use this can see it--you have no idea how insulting your comment is to people who rely on this form. Just because you don't like it doesn't give you the right to make the people who do like it feel any less for having liked it.
All you had to do was Private Message me. Seriously, learn some manners.
Not only has this been written and posted many years ago, I seldom even look at it. Hell, I hardly even get on DeviantART! So please, whatever typos you find, do tell because I would love to fix them.
And as for those typos... as you so callously put it, "Please." One person's "typos" is another person's spelling because it all depends on what country, or what part of the country, you're located. America spells "color", while in England it's "colour". If it's a glaring typo, then please tell me so I can fix it. Otherwise, suck it up.
As for the rest of your complaint, if you'd see what everyone else had said, since the very beginning of all the comments, I have added to the list what a majority of people were requesting. This list was not created all at once, and only posted online to share with people because I felt others could benefit from it.
Personally, I don't use it anymore, but that doesn't stop someone else from needing it. So all the "nonsensical gloop" you were referring to? Yeah, that was suggested by a conglomerate of people who use this form. You just insulted them. I don't take EVERY request, unless there's a lot for the same/or similar additions. So again, mind your manners because you've basically just insulted the people who needed to add to it.
Yes, I have to explain everything, and yes, people have been thankful for it. Some forms just put stuff down, and then expect you to figure out all the grit yourselves. Frankly, unless we get paid for writing--in which case, we won't need this form--we don't have time to sit there for an hour just trying to figure out what something means. It's good to receive some assistance once in a while.
I just looked at your DeviantARt page. As it appears, you've only been a member for 2 months. You've posted absolutely nothing, nor have you even liked anything. If you think for one moment that your comment actually matters in the greater scheme of things, then you're fucking pathetic. Compared to the people who use this, your comments mean nothing. Show yourself better before trying to shoot someone's work down. This outline has been dispersed among classrooms and gaming campaigns, just to name a few. Until you show yourself off, your track sheet is null.
Learn some manners, you dick.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks this helps a lot. I will use this soon.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm so glad I found this. I've been wanting to redo my OCs profile for a while now, and this was super helpful! I used it here incase you're interested: kalsagnia.deviantart.com/art/C…
Thanks!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That's awesome. I'm glad to hear it's helped.
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This is super useful! Thank you so much for making this!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You are super welcome!!!! Use it as much as you want.
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Thank you very much kind soul. Sol has been reborn.
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Glad to hear you're alive again.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'll be using this I'll make sure to credit you. If my fiction writing ever takes off.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeeeah... I'm in the same boat... >>;;
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Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
We needed this!
My friends and I are starting a comic, and we don't know how to really..."flesh out" our characters in wording. This helps out a lot, since we plan to have many characters in the comic. Thank you!
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Adding this to my binder of helpful writing stuff.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Glad to hear. Good luck.
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Thank you so much ^^ I needed this
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Good to hear. Lot's of people needed it, too.
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May I use this?
I've been looking for something I could use to help flesh out my character. I'll send you a link to the final product when it's finished.
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By all means, please do use it! I made it for a reason, and I'm sharing for the world's use. All I ask for is credit (and yes, a link back so everyone knows where to find it).
Good luck, keep writing, and never stop dreaming!!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
How long did it take you to write that?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
LoL. I'd say... roughly several hours the first day (because I originally had two versions--one for print and one for web), then off and on several days over the next few years as I had more ideas of things to add, during which I've had the thoughts in my mind accumulating and written down on paper until I actually got around to keying it into the computer, which then consisted of keying in the programming for it because with DeviantART, you can't just upload a .doc file and be done with it--you have to format it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This is really useful to me. Thanks so much! My other character profiles pale in comparison to this
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well I'm happy to hear it. I've not used it in ages but it is very helpful if you forget what you've created.
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This has been so helpful, thanks for sharing it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I don't think you know how much this is helping me, this is awesome!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I have some ideas... but I'm still glad to hear it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is definitely my favourite of all of the Character Profiles I looked through! Others just had too many damn questions/specifications. This one has everything you need and is not too specific. Thank you!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I've been told the same thing from other people time and time again. I am so glad people keep coming back to this. I've seen a few others out there, some that aren't half as bad, but still this seems to draw in more attention. I'm glad to help.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thank you soo much! This has helped me heaps with my main character!! :3
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You are soo welcome!
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You're welcome....
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Thanks this really helps a lot. I am writing a story with approximately 50 characters in it so far and I want to make a profile for the main ones. This will hel me keep track of a lot of things because my story is really complicated. I really appreciate this. It is well thought out and all makes sense. Thanks again!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm glad to hear it. Good luck!
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