Do you have an OC you’re making and want to build your character up? We got you covered!
There are many different approaches to character creation! Using a character sheet can help your character feel more well-rounded.
Even experienced character designers can't keep all the character details without some prompting! This original character template can help include key motivations, background info, and traits that you would never consider.
How To Use This Free Character Bio Sheet
Whether you're a pro or just starting out, this template will help you develop your character!
The best way to use this template is to start with the basics. Don't feel like you have to fill everything out. That's too much! The goal is to use these traits and prompts to brainstorm.
You can also post your OC to CharacterHub! On CharacterHub, these prompts are built in. The tool helps you brainstorm and keep track of all your characters and worlds. Once you post your character, you can get feedback from the community, meet other OC creators, and share art and stories!
Original Character Sheet:
Basic Info:
- Full Name
- Nickname
- Age
- Gender/Pronouns
- Sexuality
- Species
- Ethnicity
- Blood Type
- Likes
- Dislikes
- Appearance (physical features, style, etc.)
- Personality (positive and negative traits)
- Hobbies
- Occupation
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
Physical Traits + Appearance:
- Alive/Dead
- Height
- Weight
- Hair Color
- Hairstyle
- Facial Hair
- Face Shape
- Marks
- Scars
- Specific Features
- Eye color
- Skin Tone
- Facial Features
- Body Type
- Dominant Hand
- Posture
- Birthmarks
- Tattoos
- Piercings
- Teeth (straight, crooked, missing)
- Voice (pitch, pacing, etc.)
- Sense of fashion and style
- Health (disabilities, illnesses, conditions)
- Allergies
- Shoe Size
Other Characteristics
- Languages
- Accent
- Personality Type
- Cultural Background
- Speech Patterns
- Most Used Phrases/Words
- Title
- Birthday
- Zodiac
- Fears
- Phobias
- Habits (good and bad)
- Mannerisms
- Intelligence
- Education level
- Interests
- Sense of humor
- Problem-solving skills
- Emotional Intelligence
- Creativity
- Addictions
- Mannerisms
- Introverted or extroverted?
- Pet Peeves
- Mood
- Handshake
Beliefs
- Political views
- Religion
- Core Values
- Beliefs about morality and ethics
- Beliefs about happiness and success
- Beliefs about the world and society
- Stance on social issues
- Personal Philosophy
- Self-perception
- Optimism vs. Pessimism
Motivations:
- Motivation
- Philosophy
- Darkest Secret
- Biggest Dream
- Goals
- Deepest fear
- Inner Conflict
- External Conflict
- Regrets
- Desires
- External Pressures
- Insecurities
- Great joys
- Worst nightmares
- Legacy
Relationships:
- Friends
- Enemies
- Rivals
- Significant Other
- Family (and family dynamics)
- Co-workers/Professional Relationships
- Mentors/Mentees
- Past Romances
- Best Friends
- Close Friends
- Acquaintances
- Pets
- Strained Relationships
- Supportive Relationships
- Toxic Relationships
- Role Models
- Most important relationship
- What do they like about their relationships?
- What do they wish could be improved about their relationships?
Abilities:
- Special Powers
- Supernatural Abilities
- Fighting Style
- Skills
- Magic
- Physical Strength/Endurance
- Persuasion Ability
- Survival Skills
- Spiritual Abilities
- Technology Skills
Entertainment:
- Online usernames
- Social Media Usage
- Technology Usage
- Followers/Following
- Favorite Apps
- Communities Apart Of
- Favorite forms of entertainment
- Favorite movies
- Favorite TV shows
- Favorite games
- Favorite book
- Favorite outdoor activities
- Celebrity Crush
- Comfort Food or Activity
Other Favorites
- Favorite food
- Favorite drink
- Favorite place
- Favorite animal
- Favorite color
- Favorite song
- Favorite band
- Favorite sports team
- Favorite brand
- Favorite store
- Favorite thing to do
- Favorite weather
- Favorite season
- Favorite mythical creature
- Favorite joke
Professional Traits:
- Company
- Career
- Work Ethic
- Income Level
- Volunteering
- Dream Job
- Professional Goals
- Professional Reputation
- Career Challenges
- Professional Skills
- Feelings about job
- Feelings about co-workers
Backstory:
- Personal history (childhood, past events, etc.)
- Social class
- Criminal Record
- Notable life events
- Accomplishments
- Key Memories
- Childhood influences
- Major life decisions
- First Heartbreak
- Life Lessons
- Cherishable Moments
- Major Failures
- Regrets
- Most embarrassing moment
- Most meaningful possession
- Most difficult decision
Fandom (if the character lives in a fan universe):
- Is this character part of an existing fandom or universe?
- How does this character relate to the canon world?
- Are there any notable relationships to that universe?
- What special powers (if any) do they have from that universe?
- Have they influenced history in any way?
- Do they have any notable accomplishments within the universe?
- What are their roles and responsibilities?
Character Development Questions:
- How does your character handle conflict and difficult situations?
- How does your character relate to others and form relationships?
- How do your character's personality and actions change in different environments and social circles?
- How did your character's childhood shape their personality and worldview?
- How does your character cope with their emotions and vulnerabilities?
- Why does your character make the choices they do and what motivates them?
- How has your character's personality changed over the years?
- How does your character handle success or achievement?
- If your character could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
- If your character could travel through time, where and when would they go?
- If your character could have any famous person as their mentor or role model, who would they choose and why?
- If your character could have any one wish granted, what would it be and why?
Roleplay Details (for a character roleplay bio):
- Types of characters this character interacts best with
- How the character’s personality ideally evolves in a roleplay
- Roleplay role (is this character typically a protagonist? Antagonist? Supporting character?)
- Common starters: prompts or starter stories that fit this character well
Other Character Bio Creation Tips:
- Write journal entries as your characters. This helps you think as your character, making them feel more realistic. The Posts function on CharacterHub is good for this.
- Map out your character arc. Characters need to develop over the course of your story! After filling out these details, outline what the character learns and the emotional development the character goes through.
- Practice writing about your character. Pick another character in your universe. Write about them as another character to get a more comprehensive view of the character. Answering writing prompts can help you brainstorm.
- Use the character template even if you won’t utilize all the traits. Knowing everything about a character helps them feel more real, regardless of if you ever use specific details. The info can slightly alter how they react, respond, or behave in ways that aren’t tangible.
Creating Characters on CharacterHub
No need to store your OC Character Sheets in Google Doc anymore! CharacterHub provides simple tools to help you brainstorm and keep track of all your characters and worlds! Post characters, build an audience, get fan art, and store everything. You can find it all on CharacterHub!
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