The Best Character Template for Fiction Writers

Creating compelling characters is one of the most exciting parts of writing fiction.

Well-developed characters can make your story come alive, pulling readers into your narrative and making them care about what happens next.

Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned author, having a solid character template can help ensure your characters are multidimensional and engaging.

Let’s dive into a step-by-step guide to crafting memorable characters.

Why Use a Character Template?

There are many ways to approach character development. One option is to use a character template, which helps you build a detailed profile of your character.

Our character template prompts you to think about various aspects of your character’s personality, background, and appearance, ensuring consistency throughout your story. With a clear picture of who your character is, you can write more authentically and deeply.

The Ultimate Character Template

We’ve crafted an eight-section character template for you to use. If you fill out all eight sections, they’ll give you a three-dimensional overview of who your character is and how they interact with your story’s world. 

1. Basic Information

Start by fleshing out some basic information about your character—all the details that would go into a government record. 

Name: What’s your character’s full name? What nicknames or aliases do they go by, and with whom? 

Age: How old is your character? Think about how their age influences their perspective and behavior.

Gender: Identify your character’s gender and consider how it affects their interactions and experiences.

Occupation: What does your character do for a living? How do they feel about their job?

Location: Where does your character live? Describe their home, neighborhood, and any significant places in their life.

2. Physical Appearance

Next, it’s time to think about how your character looks. 

First Impression: What’s the first thing other people notice about this character when they walk into a room?

Height and Build: Describe your character’s physical stature and body type.

Hair and Eye Color: Detail their hair color, hairstyle, and eye color. Are there any distinctive features?

Distinguishing Marks: Does your character have any scars, tattoos, or birthmarks?

Clothing Style: What kind of clothes does your character wear? Do they have a signature style or favorite outfit?

3. Voice and Dialogue

A lot of writers focus too much on how their characters look, and not enough on how their characters sound. Dialogue is a major component of fiction, so it’s important to think through the ways your characters think and speak. 

Speech Patterns: How does your character speak? Do they have a particular accent, favorite phrases, or a unique way of speaking?

Tone and Style: What tone does your character use in conversations? Are they formal, casual, sarcastic, or straightforward?

Metaphors and Terminology: What influences shape the language and terminology used by your character? For example, an ornithologist might use a lot of bird-related similes, while a sailor might choose boat-related ones instead. 

4. Background and History

Once you know how your character looks and sounds, it’s time to dive a little deeper into their background. 

Family: Who are the important family members in your character’s life? Describe their relationships.

Education: What is your character’s educational background? How do they feel about their education?

Significant Life Events: Outline key events that have shaped your character. This could include childhood experiences, trauma, achievements, or turning points.

Cultural Background: Consider your character’s cultural, ethnic, and religious background. How does it influence their worldview?

5. Personality and Traits

The most memorable characters are the ones with interesting personalities. This is the section where you figure out who they really are, deeper down. 

Personality Traits: Describe your character’s personality traits. Are they introverted or extroverted? Optimistic or pessimistic?

Strengths and Weaknesses: Identify your character’s main strengths and weaknesses. How do these traits affect their actions and decisions?

Habits and Quirks: List any habits or quirks your character has. These small details can make your character feel more real.

Interests and Hobbies: What are your character’s interests, skills, and hobbies? What are they really passionate about? 

Fears and Motivations: What are your character’s biggest fears? What drives them to take action?

Contradictions: What are the interesting contradictions this character has, which make them complex? 

Secrets: Does your character have any secrets they’ve never told anyone? How can these secrets make them more interesting on the page? 

6. Relationships

No character exists in a vacuum. Think about your character’s core relationships, whether they’re positive ones or negative ones. 

Friends and Allies: Who are your character’s friends and allies? Describe their relationships and how they support your character.

Enemies and Rivals: Does your character have any enemies or rivals? What caused the conflict between them?

Romantic Interests: Does your character have any romantic relationships? How do these relationships influence your character’s behavior and decisions?

7. Goals and Conflicts

Now it’s time to look at the factors that drive your character forward and make them an interesting agent within your story. 

Short-Term Goals: What are your character’s immediate objectives? What are they trying to achieve in the short term?

Long-Term Goals: What are your character’s long-term aspirations? How do these goals drive the story?

Internal Conflicts: Describe any internal struggles your character faces. How can these conflicts add depth and complexity to their personality?

External Conflicts: What external challenges does your character encounter? How do they handle these obstacles?

8. Development Arc

Last but not least, it’s time to look at your character’s arc throughout the course of the story, whether it’s a positive arc, a negative arc, or a flat arc. 

Wants and Needs: What does your character want? What does your character need? How does the clash between these two things force your character to change throughout the story? 

Beginning State: Describe your character at the beginning of the story. What are their initial attitudes, beliefs, and circumstances?

Key Changes: Identify the key moments or events that cause your character to change or grow throughout the story.

Ending State: How does your character end up by the conclusion of the story? What have they learned or achieved?

Conclusion: Bringing Your Character to Life

Using this character template, you can create rich, multifaceted characters that resonate with your readers. By taking the time to develop your characters’ backgrounds, personalities, and relationships, you’ll craft a narrative that feels authentic and engaging. 

Give this character template a shot, and don’t forget to run your story through ProWritingAid. Our editing tool will help you write prose that keeps your readers turning the pages. 

Good luck, and happy writing.