Writing Character Descriptions:

When I write character descriptions (one of my favorite things!), then I like using this template I made!

It's really helpful for deepening my characters to make them seem as if they are real people!

Enjoy :)

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Name:

Character Role:

Age:

Gender:

Place of Birth: (I don't always use this, but sometimes I like referring back to where they were born ☺️)

Current Residence:

Current hometown:

Nationality:

Marital Status: (for older characters)

Height:

Weight:

Description: (I use this to put it all together and add some miscellaneous)

Skin:

Body Type:

Hair Color:

Eyes:

How do they dress:

Fitness level:

Hair type/style:

Distinguishing features (birthmarks/scars/tattoos):

Occupation:

Income Level: (I don't use this very often, but it helps when I am writing characters that are poor or rich)

Education Level:

Family Details

Best friend:

Talents/Skills:

Personality:

Best qualities:

Worst qualities:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Do they carry any props with them (Sherlock Holmes carries a pipe):

How do they behave around other people:

Introvert or Extrovert:

Shy or confident:

Polite or Rude:

Hero or Villain:

Consciousness Level:

Emotions:

Ambitions:

Motivations:

Fears:

Internal Struggles:

Speech Patterns/Accent:

Mannerisms:

Secrets:

What makes them happy?

If they could do or be anything, what would it be?

Birthdate:

Hopes:

Dreams:

Childhood:

House Details:

First jobs: (optional, but if it brings back memories...!

Favorite possession:

Worst enemy:

Quirks:

Allergies:

Overall appearance/upkeep/style:

Limitations/handicaps:

Attitudes:

Life Goals:

Accomplishments:

Failures:

What feelings do they carry:

Breakdown of their work environment:

A nickname? Where did it come from?

Hobbies:

Habits:

Greatest passion:

Favorite foods:

What do they want? (a novel-worthy goal or challenge!)

What are their needs or desires?

What or who stands in their way?

What will they do about it?

What happens if they fail? (the stakes should be bad enough to carry an entire novel)

What sacrifices will they have to make?

What fundamental changes do I see coming in them?

What heroic qualities need to emerge for them to succeed?

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I know it's a lot, but filling this out (or filling most of it out) really helps me to get into the character's shoes and deepen them so that they seem more realistic!

I would love to read your guy's character descriptions, so feel free to comment on here or contact me with them!

Thank you so much for reading!

~Shantel 😘

Have you done this before?

• I use character description templates
• Never used them before!