How To Create Character Profiles For Your Book (FREE CHARACTER DESIGN TEMPLATE!)

[@thelindofiles]

I just put my main villain through a personality test. She is introverted and turbulent and barrels face first into decisions without thinking about them first! Maybe that is why she killed everyone at her wedding...

[@ashliewilkerson8133]

i don't write all the time but when i do this is not only useful for writing but for drawing too

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

So happy it helps in both aspects!

[@iriezie9329]

ashlie Wilkerson true

[@sherry4479]

This is the best character profile advice I've come across. I am having a great time getting to learn my characters...thank you!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Thanks so much!

[@ashnikfield4224]

Same! I recently got interested in writing novels and fantasies and this is the best I’ve ever seen since she is showing us how to do it instead of talking on and on about it. She shows exactly what to put and what they are!

[@lizzyweber1003]

I like sorting characters into Hogwarts houses. It gives you a basic scope of what your character is like. You obviously have to go deeper than that, but it is a quick way of determining personality.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Haha this is great!

[@muskndusk]

Birth signs also helps as a starter.

[@sweetemotion2501]

Kristen Martin how can I get a sample of character mapping? So it would be easy for me.

[@sanaminatozaki5345]

Thison Schultz i know i’m a bit late but their is a link in the description of the video :)

[@vitav9547]

That is such a cool idea!

[@chickenalpaca0332]

I feel like you would be a really good teacher. Not sure why I thought of that, it just came to me while watching this video

[@mischiefalmostmanaged1414]

I have just started watching your video and they have really helped me. I'm 14 and I've been wanting to start this book idea that has been going on in my head for ages, your videos are helping me a lot with how to start writing and what not to do. thank you!

[@christinamccoy8292]

I love your eye color. I know that no one cares, but wow. Awesome eye color!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Haha thank you! I appreciate it.

[@christinamccoy8292]

Kristen Martin You're welcome! :)

[@JamesRDavenport]

I still can't believe I once thought NaNoWriMo was a candy bar from Japan. ;)

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

That is AWESOME!!

[@ethanreeves6676]

James Davenport I

[@katieyoulakafoxlover9500]

lol when i was 8 i thought it was too

[@sami6998]

If it makes you feel any better, i thought 'sapphic' was another word for mermaid up until 2 years ago and i talked a lot about mermaids

[@aquilacosmos]

I personally like to type on computer ,but when I do charter mapping i put it on paper so I can look back instead of exiting out my program.

[@emoeggowaffle704]

This video helped me so much with writing a story about a girl who has tea parties with demons.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Happy it helped ♡

[@aneterabryant9505]

Slenderman's Victim I WANT TO READ YOUR BOOK 📚

[@renayharris274]

Sounds like a very interesting story!

[@pwoods100]

Reminds me of King Diamond's "Them".

[@LoneStarWomanInACajunWorld]

I want to read ur book someday. That sounds very interesting.

[@leekofreeko5831]

Thank you I'm actually working on my very first superhero for my series this was a big help

[@emmajakobsen8265]

I've been trying to find someone with some great writing advice for months. Jenna Moreci has inspired me a lot, but you have got me sitting up at 2 am, creating character profiles for a new book I'm working on. Thank you so much, you've already helped me a lot, and I found you today.

[@ccormore]

you are very helpful! thank you! (it will be a lot of work to do this for all the 30+ characters i have, but it seems that it will be worth it)

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Thanks for watching!

[@ahmedhaaqilrifky3531]

I think I’ll do this when I’m redrafting because as I write, I tend to discover my characters better Awesome vid btw

[@BohoBookworm]

Thank you so much for this. I Am starting my character mapping right now - downloading your template is going to help so much!!

[@ankitachakrabortyart]

In-depth character profile! Absolutely helpful♥️♥️♥️

[@adiegiese23]

It's not writing related but I had to say that shade of lipstick looks really good on you. Beautiful

[@xzonia1]

This is so well done! Thank you for the excellent advice!! I look forward to using this character mapping method on my next story! :)

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Thank you!! I truly appreciate that :)

[@anemoneniitty]

Sadly, I didn't find the link you mentioned 20:00, that helps you create a face for your character. Otherwise, this was a very inspirational video! Thank you! I will try this!

[@markroorda]

I'm looking for it as well, haven't found anything online yet..

[@markroorda]

I actually just found the website Cartoonify.de it looks like that's the one she's using.

[@madisonaubrey7707]

You’ve earned a new subscriber!😀

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Welcome! Happy to have you here!

[@kaitlind2265]

Your advice is amazing! I am trying to write my first novel and all of this is really helping!

[@m.a.hickman1240]

Perfect timing for this video, I have been trying to flesh out my characters and this was incredibly helpful thank you.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

I love hearing that ♡ Good luck!

[@jefuentes]

Once again a very helpful video Kristen. Character build up brings it to life for the reader. I can't wait to put this knowledge to practice. Thank you😊

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Great! I love hearing that!

[@ashnikfield4224]

Thanks for this! I’m a new writer and am currently coming up for ideas for my first book! I got simple descriptions of some of my characters but I need to go more in depth. Thanks so much again and I can’t wait to get to writing my outline here soon!

[@stephenmeyers811]

Thank you for creating this video and offering the Character Map pdf.

[@shoshitrains9266]

Thanks so much for making this video, it helped me a lot. I always try and create profiles of my characters, but they never worked too well. This was super helpful. Thanks so much!!! :D

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Yay! That makes me so happy to hear. Thanks for watching!

[@Rhadabrandt]

Thanks for the amazing video, I'll make sure to put those tips in practice! :D Looking forward for more of your content.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Happy you liked it!

[@lpsconfident]

this is awesome I am gonna print out several of these to get started with writing

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Happy to hear that!

[@cjenzo]

Thank you for this great video, i am writing a novel nothing to become published just have a story i want to tell. this video had helped me start how to organize the characters i will have in my book

[@joseafalvel]

Eventhough I'm trying to write a script instead of a book, I found your advices so useful. I'm very glad for discovering your channel, I really believe you do an amazing job. Thanks ¡¡

[@camerkiddo]

I can't tell you how grateful I am!

[@FullMoonStranger]

When I came across my idea about Death and his human assistant back when I was 12, and decided to revive and make it actually interesting and not cringy, this helped me so much in making my characters "real" and not flat! thank you so much for this video.

[@Amorfis]

This is the only character profile that's actually helpful for me. Thanks!

[@ashnikfield4224]

Same! I am a new writer who recently this week just got interested to write a novel and I got a basic mapping of my characters but then I saw this and I could already picture my characters just by watching this!

[@daisymay5823]

Hi! I love your helpful videos! I have a problem with character mapping. Once I map them out, I leave the visual part of the character description out of my writing. I try to incorporate the physical description, however I forget to add this because I know my characters so well. I write a sticky note to help, I still forget. Lol. Keep up the great work!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

I'm sure you're not the only one - I've definitely done this a time or two :)

[@jonasanddemi100]

Truly the most beautiful writer on KZbin :) I liked the video a lot , very helpful. I have a question, Do you usually publish traditionally via a publisher house or self-publish?

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

You're too sweet :) And to answer your question, I self publish.

[@jonasanddemi100]

That's great to hear, I am on my way of publishing my first EVER fiction novel (Drama), Although I was totally determined to go with CS, now I am thinking of adding a second platform as CS does not supply to Ingram (unless you chose the Expanded distribution which totally destroys any possible royalties), So I'm thinking of working with both CS and other provider like Lulu or ThomsonShore so I can get my book to independent bookstores around the world, and unfortunately I can't use IngramSpark because there are some restrictions for my country regarding it. Anyway, I hope you have a beautiful day! I'll be looking forward to each and every video you upload :)

[@daniellakoester3115]

Thanks. I liked your organization very much! Next time I'll try to use your map😊 Have a great NaNo, Kristen

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Thanks for watching! Happy NaNo!

[@brandib3945]

I love your channel! Thanks for the visuals and details. You seriously rock!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

YAY! :) I really appreciate that. Thank you!

[@brandib3945]

Kristen Martin you are welcome! Thank you.

[@yamibliss]

Thank you so much for this. I'm writting a story and there's things I still haven't figure out about them. But with this guideline I'm sure I can figure those things out. Also love all your videos, they keep me thinking and bringing things to light that I wasn't aware off. ^_^ ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

[@chancejaquin1553]

Thank you so much it helps with my writing along with my Original Charters for my art.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Awesome!

[@CareyHAuthor]

When planning out my characters and my timeline overall, I went and printed out blank calendars for a particular year where the story starts. Moon phases are going to play a role down the line so I needed to make sure certain things were focused around the full moon. And, if it fell around a holiday or certain event, I'd have to adjust things to fit. It makes it easy to figure out ages. Say the story starts in 2015 (even if I don't explicitly say but for my references it works) I can subtract the age of my characters to figure out when they were born.

[@ZKStone]

Thank you for your videos, they have been a great inspiration. I'm working on a novel now but I am finishing up a short story right now.

[@erichepperle5902]

Good tip on mapping story out ahead of time.

[@scardycat8355]

I have never subscribed to someone's chanel on the first day, but your videos are amazing! I hope i can follow your vidios and writ my own book! :D (sorry for my spelling i am not english im learning!:)

[@ktrudy1]

Thanks so much for these educational vids for us amateurs. :)

[@equiuszahhak]

this looks really helpful!! i really like to draw my characters when i can.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Me too :) Thanks for watching!

[@DanaAndersen]

I always try to but i suck at drawing :P

[@ashnikfield4224]

Dana SAME!!!!! I cannot draw cartoons to save my life and I can only draw realistically with a reference.

[@patbreacadh]

Very helpful video. Thank you so much!

[@danielsee1924]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! you really helped me!!! thousands thanks!!!

[@ToothFairyJorchid2024]

Thank you for the insperation! I am starting to write about someone that was lost in the woods!

[@shirleyboucher8326]

So helpful! Thank you for sharing this!

[@angelalauber6246]

Awesome tips. Thanks for the help!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Thanks for watching!

[@shamiknath6016]

Angela Lauber nice profile pic , Deathly Hallows

[@Fbaker04330]

Kristin, Love, Love LOVE this vid! I hope it can still be downloaded because I want a lot of copies. Question. I tried to write a story I still want to write about a young man and a lady vampire. I was trying to add what he looks like, and a friend said, "To much, to soon.". Is there a way to describe what a person looks like without dumping it into one paragraph?

[@georgiacrisp]

This helped me so much! Thank you!!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Glad to hear it!

[@leyo6056]

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for this! So detailed and all. I'm participating in Camp NaNo this July and I haven't created my characters' profiles yet. Oopsy.

[@alexmoore2538]

Hello Kristen, I'm am working on a character who is an angel, but the thing I having a problem with is that I don't know what age to make him because he doesn't truly live like a human. He does come down to earth to protect a girl/heroine of the story, but I'm not sure how old to make him because he is an angel, so he would technically not age. Any advice?

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

This is interesting. I've read books where the angels look like teenagers but are centuries old. Maybe you can have your character say they've been around for "x" number of centuries are decades, but describe their physical traits as being younger looking. That way, you don't have to write an exact number :) Hope that helps!

[@newdove8113]

Maybe it could depend on how your angel character acts? Like, if he's more childlike in manner he could be young, and if he's more mature he could be older. Or something he likes or dislikes could contradict how he looks by age, like an old man blasting Strillex.

[@agagagagagyo]

If angels exist they would be as old as the universe unless there is a reason to imply that they can be "born" at later times.

[@joyzzo]

This was very helpful. Thank you so much!

[@frederiquemarie8189]

your video's are really helpfull! i just find the pieces i need for my character! :D

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

So happy to hear that! ♡

[@HebaHosni]

Wow that's so beneficial, thank you so much

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching 😊

[@kiel6740]

Hi Kristen!! Thank You so so so much for this. You and Vivien Reis are my favorite mentor. Would it be alright if I give you a shout out on the video and blog post that I'm preparing?? :) PS THE. HAIR. IS. GORGEOUS.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

You are so sweet! Thank you :) And I can't speak for Vivien, but I would love a shout-out. Thanks for offering!

[@joannelovelyleto4670]

Thank you so much!!! I've been struggling about this for a long times!!!💖💖💖

[@malenachambers9185]

Thank you this is so valuable.

[@monicaparks723]

Good information that for sharing!

[@elenarussell6747]

I use True Colors to help with personality and employment

[@briansanders8122]

Where should I put a character's powers and weaknesses in a profile like this?

[@faithli2131]

Hi Kristen. Thank you for your videos. I'm planning to participate in nanowrimo for the first time this year and have been going through your writing guides to help me get started. While watching I had one question. You always talk about "the protagonist", but is it necessary to have a central main character? In Game of Thrones, for example, there are a number of good characters, none of whom outshine all the rest. In my head, there is a clear antagonist, but after he states his intentions everything is thrown into confusion for the other characters and they just work to survive. Then, by-and-by they develop and become good, bad or dead. Is this a bad idea? Do I need a clear protagonist from the beginning? Thank you for your time!

[@renesmit5271]

Thankmyou so much this really helped!

[@lillyrose1638]

Omg I can't STAND when people chew with their mouths open! I have trouble hearing people chew even when their mouths are closed let alone when they are open. Disgusting.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Hahaha I know, it's so gross!!

[@katherinesanchez600]

Omg that's sooo helpful thx u so much!!!!😊❤️

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

I love hearing that!!

[@yoginij]

This was really insightful. Thank you!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

So happy you found it helpful! Thanks for watching ♡

[@ellenmargrethelarsen80]

Thank you for helping me :)

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Thanks for watching, Ellen!

[@Kimberly-qz1jr]

I know this video was made 2 years ago, so things have changed. Meyers Briggs can be taken for free on 16personalities.com. There are also a lot of articles on the personality types, where they thrive, quirks each might have, how they handle stress, that sort of thing. Very useful.

[@thebookhub6323]

Wow, awesome video 👍🏻😬

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Thank you! :)

[@alnicacherelledelapena5231]

I like to sort my characters in zodiac signs, and build up from there.

[@WellWisdom.]

Many thanks!

[@Gaia_Gaistar]

Are you me? I love doing this sort of stuff. It's so fun.

[@dustin.irene001]

I couldnt find the link down below for the meme caracter creation site. Anyone know which one shes using?

[@jessiefox3739]

What about a story about a punk band where one character wants the band to be really famous and conjures up a demon for all the band members to sell their soul to. However, another character, who's Asian tiger mother won't let them skip out on 12 years of college, can't commit and thus becomes the potential blood sacrifice?

[@verifiedfangirl6107]

*nO IDea Is A BaD IDea*

[@lemon-vy3mj]

ooh not bad

[@anushkagupta1337]

Thank you so much ❤❤❤❤❤

[@RajwinderKaur-sh4jl]

thanks mam.

[@wickeddragongoddess]

thanks this will help :)

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Great! Happy to hear it. Thanks for watching!

[@sloanekirsten7978]

thanks so much!

[@Hamdais]

I kept wondering who she reminded me of and it finally hit me that she is really to Ashley (Sharply from High School Musical).

[@rubydouglas5572]

I'm so glad you shared this I'm writing a book on four teenagers who are running from the cops but deep down inside they are broken but little do they know that not all they see is real.....btw it will be out soon 😊🙂😃✍🏾

[@paulapoetry]

You can do the MBTI test online for free. It isn't technically the full test, but works well enough. I have used two different tests for my characters and myself. I don't remember the URLs but, if you have come across Vivien Reis here on You Tube, she did a video about the personality types you should have in your fiction, a while ago. I got a couple of links via her, from the info given with the video. xxx

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Vivien and I actually beta-read for one another and we're close writing buddies :) Thanks for pointing this out!

[@مصطفیحسینی-خ2د]

tnx so much !!

[@bernardrednix756]

any tips on how to write a loner type character? i'm trying to write a character who prefers to work alone but occasionally teem-up when he have no other option.

[@ahmedhaaqilrifky3531]

Bernard Rednix try including scenes in your book, where your character has to deal with the outer world. this could help highlight his ‘loner’ personality. Hope it helps

[@shoshitrains9266]

Also, do you have a video (if not, could you make one?) about how to start a story? It's always hard for me :'(. Thanks!

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Great video idea! I don't have a video on that yet, but I will add it to my list!

[@mybutt4296]

Thanks

[@ell0-jell035]

You can take the Myers Briggs Test for free. If you look you "16 personalities" click the first link and you've got it. :)

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Good to know! Thanks.

[@snemsies]

I have a handful of decent characters, I just don't have a general idea for my story. How do I come up with ideas?

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

I have a video on coming up with story ideas: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHK4n2SHqK-Vi7s

[@snemsies]

aa thanks i figured you made one but i didn't see it lol

[@aimeepartain4390]

The link to the color test didn't work, but I don't have to take it to know what color I am. lol Green and yellow mostly

[@anever_ending_story]

if you started a story before NANO does it still count?

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Yes, it does! And you can claim the "Rebel" badge like I did on the site :)

[@V314bbr]

I cut out pictures of my characters. Wrote out different important catagories then will fill it all out.

[@JennHodgson]

I love this

[@nohea_robertson]

This is so helpful thanks! I thought about joining NaNoWriMo, but maybe next time.

[@AuthorKristenMartin]

Definitely next time!

[@leolunchbox4543]

what if your character is a dragon?

[@grekoy]

there is a Myers Briggs test on KZbin. it's free.

[@wesleypatterson3286]

for people watching this in 2017, the Myers-Briggs test is free now! just Google 16 Personalities!

[@craftermaster6950]

I'm am writing a story

[@christinamccoy8292]

CrafterMaster So am I. I hope we'll be able to read each other's books in the future.

[@Nio744]

I'm writing one too

[@MamaJennySue]

The site I use is www.16personalities.com/ and it's FREE! It's really helpful when figuring out who you want your characters to be :)

[@emilymclaughlin7883]

My characters fav color is green and her personality is green