Character bio sheets are not only a simple way to create characters, they are a great way to keep track of the characters you develop. When you write a longer work, such as a novel or screenplay, it is easy to forget minor character details. If you aren’t careful, the blue eyes you described on page five can turn to brown eyes by the end of page eighty.
Using a character bio sheet, you can record all of the essential details for your characters and keep them in a single place so that you can check those details whenever necessary. As your story progresses and your characters continue to evolve, you can use bio sheets to keep track of any changes you have made to your characters. If you keep track of all your details on the bio sheet, your editing process will go much more smoothly.
When you fill out a bio sheet initially, don’t feel as if you have to include a detail for every category. There are many things you will need to discover as your story progresses. On your first pass, record all of the details you are comfortable with and leave the rest. Feel free to add your own categories. This list has details that I find useful. You may have different needs or ideas.
- Character Name
- Nickname / Alias
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Residence
- General Appearance
- Height
- Weight
- Measurements
- Clothing Sizes
- Clothing Choices
- Hair Color
- Hair Length
- Eye Color
- Handedness
- Jewelry
- Tattoos / Marks
- Role in the Story
- Key Relationships
- Education
- Work History
- Skills
- Phobias / Fears
- Bad Habits / Vices
- Quirks
- Best Qualities
- Worst Qualities
- Key Childhood Experiences
- Key Teenage Experiences
- Key Adult Experiences
- Sexual Background
- Favorites (food, clothing, art, music, TV show, movie, book)
- Goals and Motivations
- Morality / Ethics
- Style of Speech
- Words/Slang/Jargon
- Additional Information
- Character Name
- Nickname / Alias
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Residence
- General Appearance
- Height
- Weight
- Measurements
- Clothing Sizes
- Clothing Choices
- Hair Color
- Hair Length
- Eye Color
- Handedness
- Jewelry
- Tattoos / Marks
- Role in the Story
- Key Relationships
- Education
- Work History
- Skills
- Phobias / Fears
- Bad Habits / Vices
- Quirks
- Best Qualities
- Worst Qualities
- Key Childhood Experiences
- Key Teenage Experiences
- Key Adult Experiences
- Sexual Background
- Favorites (food, clothing, art, music, TV show, movie, book)
- Goals and Motivations
- Morality / Ethics
- Style of Speech
- Words/Slang/Jargon
- Additional Information