Character Profile Template
Fill it in right here (it autosaves), load a worked example, or print a blank PDF. Covers basics, look, want/need/flaw, backstory, relationships and 12 in-character questions.
Autosaves in this browser as you type. Grey text is an example; the blank PDF prints with lines to write on.
Fill the gaps with AI
Filled a few fields? AI keeps what you wrote and drafts the rest as a full character sheet. Nothing is sent until you press the button.
Your completed character sheet appears here.
How to fill in a character profile
Do not fill it top to bottom in one sitting. Start with want, need and flaw, since everything else should support those. Then answer three or four of the questions; the surprising answers are where the character comes alive. Come back to appearance last, choosing details that reflect personality.
Other template formats
Need something shorter? The character bio template gives you a one-paragraph bio and the essentials. Designing a character to draw? The OC template adds pronouns, palette, outfit and likes and dislikes. Want more prompts? The character questionnaire has 48 questions you can roll at random.
Short on ideas? Roll some with the random character generator, or describe your idea to the AI character creator and copy what you like.
Questions
What should a character profile include?
At minimum: name, role, age, appearance, three personality traits, a flaw, a want (external goal), a need (internal change), backstory and key relationships. For games add class, stats and gear. This template covers all of those plus 12 interview questions to go deeper.
How do you write a character profile?
Start with the want, the need and the flaw, because they drive the plot. Then add the formative wound that explains the flaw, two or three relationships that test it, and only then appearance, choosing details that hint at personality. Finish by answering a few questions in the character's own voice.
Is there a printable character sheet template?
Yes. Press "Printable PDF" before typing anything and you get a blank A4 sheet with lines to write on. Once you have filled fields, the same button exports a clean PDF of only what you filled in.
Is this character template free, and is my profile saved?
It is free with no account. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device; nothing is uploaded unless you press "Complete with AI". Use Clear to wipe it.
What is the difference between a character profile, a character bio and a character sheet?
A profile is the full working document (everything you know about the character). A bio is the short public version, usually a paragraph. A character sheet is the term RPG players use for stats and gear, and writers often use it to mean a profile. See the character bio template and OC template for the shorter formats.
Can I see a character profile example?
Press "Fill example" to load a complete sample profile (a lighthouse keeper called Maren Ashdown) into any empty fields. Every field also shows an example in grey before you type.
What is a character questionnaire for?
Answering questions in your character's voice uncovers details you would not think to plan: what they would grab in a fire, what they lie about. You will not use every answer, but the character will feel lived-in. The full questionnaire has 48 questions in six groups.