Character Profile Template (Printable PDF & GoodNotes)
A character profile sheet with lines for name, age, role, appearance, wants, needs, flaw, arc, voice and relationships, a box for a portrait or mood image, and lined space for backstory. One page per character keeps your cast consistent.
- Printable US Letter8.5 × 11 in, white paper
- Printable A4210 × 297 mm, white paper
- iPad / GoodNotesAlso Notability and Noteshelf
- E-ink tabletreMarkable, Kindle Scribe, Boox
Free PDF, 1 page, undated. No sign-up needed.
Shown for iPad in the Ivory Minimal theme. Printable downloads use white paper (there's a dark mode preview below); the e-ink version is black and white.
One page, ready to fill in.
- Write-in lines for name, age, role, appearance, wants, needs, flaw, arc, voice and relationships
- A blank box for a portrait or mood
- Lined space for backstory
- Undated, so you can print or duplicate it as often as you need
Who it's for
Novelists and short story writers, screenwriters, game and tabletop campaign designers, and creative writing students. Drama students and actors building a role also use profiles like this one, writing what their character wants and hides before rehearsals start.
Getting the most from a character profile.
Separate wants and needs
What the character thinks they want and what they actually need are rarely the same. The gap between them drives most character arcs.
Give every main character a flaw
A flaw that causes problems in the story makes characters believable and gives the arc something to change.
Write the voice as a sample line
Instead of "sarcastic", write something they'd actually say. It's quicker to get back into their head.
Use the portrait box
Sketch, paste a photo or a mood image. On a tablet, drop in an image from your reference folder.
Keep backstory relevant
Write the past events that shape the character's choices in the story. Not everything needs to reach the page.
Interview your character
Ask your character questions in their voice on the backstory lines: what do they fear, what do they lie about, what would they never do? The answers often reveal scenes.
Included in 2 planners
This template is a page in each of these planners. Open one to see everything else that comes with it.
Get it inside a full hyperlinked planner
The novel writing planner includes this page alongside dated month and week pages for your year, with side tabs and links between every page. Pick your device and theme, preview it free, and pay only when it's right.
- Dated pages for the whole year
- Tap a tab or a date to jump there
- GoodNotes, Notability, Samsung Notes, e-ink and print sizes
Opens the novel writing planner with the Novel Writing section switched on.
Or read about the novel writing planner first.
About this character profile template
Need help importing it? See devices and apps or the FAQ.
What should a character profile include?
Basics (name, age, role, appearance) and the things that drive the story: wants, needs, flaw, arc, voice and relationships, plus backstory.
Can I use it for role-playing games?
Yes. Many tabletop players use it for character backgrounds; it's included in our campaign planner too.
How many profiles do I need?
One for each main and important secondary character. The novel writing planner includes 12.
Is there space for an image?
Yes. There's a box for a portrait or mood image.
Should minor characters have a profile?
A short one helps. Name, role, appearance and one want is often enough to keep them consistent.
