Character Creation
Develop a multi-dimensional, believable character with depth, contradictions, and a clear arc. For novels, screenplays, games, or tabletop RPGs.
Prompt template
Develop a complete character for [PROJECT_TYPE] (novel, series, game, etc.): **Basic data:** - Name: [NAME] - Age, background, physical appearance: [BASICS] - Role in the story: [ROLE] (protagonist, antagonist, mentor, etc.) - Genre / world: [GENRE_WORLD] **Psychological profile:** - Core desire: What does this character truly want deep down? - External goal: What do they think they want? - Greatest fear: What drives all their decisions? - Fundamental misbelief: What do they falsely believe about themselves or the world? - Character flaw: Not evil, but humanly fallible — which flaw causes problems? **Backstory:** - Most formative childhood experience - The event that pulls the character into the story (inciting incident) - A wound from the past that hasn't yet healed **Relationships & Dynamics:** - Most important relationship (love, rivalry, mentor/student) - How does the character behave under stress? - Speech patterns, quirks, ticks **Character arc:** - Who are they at the start? - What moment forces change? - Who are they at the end?
Replace placeholders in [square brackets]: [PROJECT_TYPE][NAME][BASICS][ROLE][GENRE_WORLD]
How to use this template
Copy the prompt, replace the placeholders in square brackets with your details and paste it into the AI assistant of your choice. The more precise your details, the better the result.
Tips for better results
- Provide story conflicts so the character fits organically
- Ask for a side-by-side comparison with the antagonist for mirror dynamics
- Have the character write a short monologue to test their voice
- Ask for vulnerabilities that can be exploited in the second act
Suitable open models
The selection names current open models as a starting point for your own tests. It is not a measurement for this template.
Keywords: #character-design #fiction #storytelling #creative-writing