Get the character cards here: Character Cards (Aliventures) (Google Doc)
Character cards are a fast, easy way to nail the key details about your characters.
I’ve designed them to capture the essentials – so you don’t get all the way through your first draft, before realising you have no idea what your characters do for a living, or what they look like.
You can print the character sheet (File→Print) or create a copy to type into (File→Make a Copy).
The character card sheet is designed to give you space for a protagonist (hero), an antagonist (villain), and four supporting characters. If you want to outline more characters, just copy the page or print it twice.
You can use the character cards however you like, but here are a few tips on filling them out.
Name: If you’re stuck on naming your character, try the Character Name Generator to help.
Age: If your character ages significantly during the story, you can put their starting age here, or put the full range (e.g. 6–18).
Job: if your character doesn’t work in paid employment, you can put “full-time parent”, “carer”, “student”, etc here.
Description: Write a brief physical description of your character. Stuck? Think about their build, hair, and any key features.
Strengths: These might be practical/physical (e.g. “strong swimmer”) or internal (e.g. “kind, caring”).
Weakness: Choose something significant for your character to overcome – or be overcome by. This is often called your character’s “flaw”.
Goal: The heart of your story and the conflict within it: what does your character want? (Often, your protagonist and antagonist will have opposing goals.)
Writing a novel? Check out my “Finish Your Novel” group. It helps you go from initial ideas and outlining all the way through to “The End” of your first draft … and beyond.
For more help creating characters, you might like to read:
What Are Supporting Characters? (Mentors, Best Friends, Love Interests, and More)
Five Different Approaches to Developing Characters
Choosing Viewpoint Characters: What’s Right for Your Story?
Character Flaws: Why They’re So Important to Your Story [With Examples]
What is a Character Arc? Positive, Negative and Flat Character Arcs Explained (Plus Examples)