Creating compelling characters is an essential part of any successful piece of writing. Whether it’s a novel, screenplay, play, or short story, the characters are the heart of the story. But creating compelling characters takes more than just a vivid imagination. It takes planning and preparation. One way to ensure your characters are memorable and believable is to create a character template. A character template is a tool that allows writers to brainstorm ideas, create a consistent backstory, and track character development. Here’s how to create a character template for writing success.
What is a Character Template?
A character template is a tool used by writers to help them create memorable and believable characters. It’s a way to organize information about a character, such as their background, goals, physical characteristics, personality traits, and character arc. By creating a template, a writer can quickly access the information they need to develop a character and make sure their character is consistent throughout the story.
Creating a Template
Creating a character template is a fairly simple process. All you need is a word processing program and a list of questions to answer about your character. Some of the questions you may want to consider include: What is the character’s name? What is their background? What are their goals and motivations? What physical characteristics do they have? What personality traits do they possess? What is their character arc? You can also include any other information you think is important.
Character Background
The character background is an important part of the character template. It’s a way to provide context for the character’s motivations and decisions. When creating a character background, think about the character’s family, upbringing, education, job, and any other relevant information. This will help you create a more believable character.
Character Goals and Motivations
Every character should have goals and motivations. This will help you create believable and relatable characters. Goals and motivations can be anything from a desire for power, to a need for acceptance, to a drive to escape. When creating a character template, think about what the character wants and why they want it.
Physical Characteristics
Physical characteristics are an important part of creating a memorable character. Think about the character’s height, weight, and other physical features, such as their hair and eye color. Also consider any other physical traits or characteristics, such as scars, tattoos, or disabilities.
Personality Traits
Personality traits are another important part of character creation. Think about the character’s traits, such as their likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and any quirks or mannerisms. This will help bring the character to life and make them memorable to the reader.
Character Arc
The character arc is the character’s journey throughout the story. It’s the progression of the character’s journey from the beginning to the end of the story. Think about how the character changes and grows throughout the story and how their goals and motivations affect their decisions and actions.
Conclusion
Once you’ve created your character template, you can use it to help you create believable and memorable characters. It’s a great way to keep track of the information you need to create a compelling character. You can also use it to keep track of the character’s development throughout the story and make sure they remain consistent. By using a character template, you’ll be able to create characters that your readers will remember.
