How to Create a simple Character Profile: Summer Bails

What is a character profile?

Outstanding characters make or break a story. It is essential to know your characters like they're your best friends. Ask them questions. What's their favorite snack? Do they have any pet peeves? Are they afraid of anything? Compile the answers to create a character profile.

A character profile is a collection of information you know about your characters, such as their backstory, traits, and physical appearance.

In this blog post and in this series, I will share character profiles I created for my newest cast of characters. Any information regarding this story is subject to change. After this post, check out future profiles in this series.

Summer Beatrice Bails

Role: MC

Age: 25

Birthday: September 1st

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Species: Witch

Appearance

Go-to hairstyle: Wash n Go

Eye Color: Brown

Height: 5'2

Style: Soft, Conservative

Wears Glasses?: Yes

Body Shape: Spoon

Personality Traits

• well-mannered

• non-confrontational

• People-pleaser

• family oriented

• innocent

Background

In a magical world, Summer grew up in a big loving witch family where it was passed down that they must be powerful and make powerful witch babies to keep their line going.

Summer got the short end of the magical stick. Where she's from magic means everything and the best she can do is basic spells even 10-year-olds can do. Still, she was determined to follow in her ancestor's steps.

Her father was part of the military and went away months at a time. When no one else could watch her, she went to her uncle's house. Uncle Brooks taught her everything she knew about music.

Wants and Fears

Summer wants to help her family financially and succeed in her career, so her family can be proud of her.

She fears if she doesn't get this job promotion, she'll never amount to anything and disappoint her entire family.

Q & A

Asking your characters questions about themselves is an easy way to understand them. If you wonder how a character might react in certain situations, go back and look at their answers as a reference. I got my questions from this ultimate character questionnaire. I came up with a few of my own after not using all 150. Use theirs or create your own list. It should cater to you and your characters.

Questions	Answer
Do they have a catchphrase?	No
2. What words or phrases do they overuse?	N/A
3. Are they optimistic or pessimistic?	Pessimistic
4. Introverted or extroverted?	Introverted
5. How do they want to be seen by others?	Summer wants everyone to see her as a confident successful woman who has everything together.
6. How do they see themselves?	​Summer believes she's a failure that will never amount to anything because no matter how hard she tries, she'll never be good at magic.
7. How do others see them?	​Others see Summer as a kind-hearted person who puts others above herself all the time.
8. Strongest character trait?	​Self-less
9. Biggest character flaw?	​Needs other's approval
10. Are they competitive?	No
11. What are their pet peeves?	N/A
12. What is their obsession?	Mackenzie the singer
13. Is their family big or small?	Big
14. What is their ideal best friend?	​Someone who is there for them through thick and thin.
15. Do they have any pets?	No. She would love one but her parents aren't fans of animals.
16. Did they grow up rich or poor?	​Rich
17. Were they nurtured or neglected as a child?	​Nurtured
18. Strongest childhood memory?
19. Do they believe in love at first sight?	Yes
20. Have they ever been in love?	No
21. Have they ever had their heart broken?	No
22. Are they more likely to get into a fight?	No
​23. Do they hate anyone?	Yes. Francesca Warner
​24. Were they ever bullied?	Yes. By Francesca Warner in high school.
​25. What is their current job?	Summer works at Potions, a major corporation that sells different kinds of magical potions, as a factory worker.
​26. How do they feel about their current job?	Summer hates her job. She wants to make more money and feel more fulfilled.
​27. What are their hobbies?	Summer loves to write and listen to music. She spends her spare time at her uncle's nightclub where amateur artists perform on stage.
​28. Highest level of education?	​Graduated college with a Bachelors in Applied Magic.
29. What are their spiritual beliefs?	​Like most witches, Summer believes in their Goddess of the Moon, Agnes. During the shortest day and longest night, Lunar Harvest, witches and other creatures who harness their power from the moon are at their strongest. Under this full moon, they are rejuvenated for the next year.
30. What is their treasured possession if they have one?	​Her guitar, Analise

Conclusion

Characters are just as important to story as plot. We want our characters to be lovable, memorable, and relatable. Keeping a character profile is an excellent reference tool when writing because it reminds of their motivations and ambitions. What do they want? Why do they want it? Why are they mean? Why are they upset? Should they not be? A character profile can help answer these questions.