The Inner Compass: How to Make Characters Make Sense (Even When They’re a Hot Mess)

Have you ever been completely enthralled with hauling your character through pages of adventures, trials, and triumphs, only to realize halfway through your manuscript that your shy librarian, who was devoutly dedicated to her family, has somehow become a sword-wielding sass machine who only thinks of herself… and now you’re facing an identity crisis? Maybe your hero suddenly goes from a narcissistic gun-toting macho man to an unsure, stuttering fool in the presence of a beautiful woman? If you’ve done your job right, characters won’t… well.. Act out of character! If your hero starts making choices that feel a little off, don’t worry! Odds are, your character profile is quietly sipping tea in a forgotten corner of your mind, patiently waiting for you to remember it exists, hoping that this time you will remember to write it down.

Characters are meant to grow! The shy librarian can rise to face the baddies, messy bun, glasses, and all—but that kind of transformation needs more than a paragraph and a pep talk. Growth takes time, stumbles, and a few well-earned bruises along the way. We need to see that growth happen on the page, and those growing pains need to be viewed through a lens of authenticity to who you created them to be. Creating a detailed character profile might sound unnecessary, but hear me out—it’s more like you are gifting your creations with a soul, a spine, and a spark. Look at you go, Dr. Frankenstein!

When you really know your character—what makes them tick, what keeps them up at night, what snack they absolutely cannot resist, what trinket they always carry in their pocket—you’re not just filling in blanks. You’re building a believable person readers will want to follow, cheer for, idolize, or lovingly shake until their teeth rattle.

This is your friendly guide to crafting character profiles that matter—and how to use them like a north star to guide your writing process. Because consistency isn’t boring—it’s magic. Character profiles are a cheat sheet of sorts. A quick peek into the mind of a beloved character. It gives you the ability to check the characters’ actions, thoughts, or even physical attributes against who they were created to be. You can ask yourself, “Would they really do that?” and have the answer close at hand. Having authenticity and consistency in your character will pull readers into your story and make them care about what happens to them.

So, what should a good Character Profile include?

• Full name (even the embarrassing middle name if they have one) as well as any nicknames (again, include embarrassing ones)

Example: Fourth Wing:

Name: Violet Sorrengail

Nicknames: Vi, Violence, Silver One

• Core Personality Traits (weaknesses and strengths; physically, mentally, and emotionally)

Example:

Weaknesses: Physically fragile, joint issues, lack of training, need for accommodations like a special saddle and knee wraps, being related to General Lillith Sorrengail (mother), loss of brother and father, self-doubt and lack of confidence, love for Xaden.

Strengths: Resilient, intelligent, well-read, gains physical strength through training, gains powerful magical signets, gains the trust and loyalty of two dragons, stubborn, often underestimated, loyal, Xaden’s love and faith

* Note: I listed love for/from Xaden in both strengths and weaknesses; some things can be both beneficial or detrimental depending on the situation your character finds themselves in.

**Note: I listed some strengths that Violet gains throughout the book. Be sure to add to and update your character’s profile sheet as they grow and change. We want to use these tools to track our characters’ arc and stay true to their core, not cage them and stunt their growth.

• Backstory (the stuff they don’t tell everyone, or maybe only tell a special few)

Example:

Violet was raised to be a Scribe. She is physically weak due to the illness her mother suffered while pregnant with her. She has lost her father and brother to death and is left with a mother she is aloof from and a sister who is a defender but is in the war and no longer a buffer between herself and life.

• Unique Physical Traits, Quirks, Habits, and Emotional Triggers

Example:

Pale brown hair that fades to silver, pale skin, pale hazel eyes, small build, a walking encyclopedia who quotes books as a coping mechanism, strong aversion to killing

• Motivations and Fears

  Example:

  Violet is motivated by the desire to protect others and survive, loyalty and justice are important, and Violet actively searches for the truth. Her fears include failing others who rely on her and losing those she loves.

• What they want vs. what they need

Example:

Violet wants to survive the parapet, be surrounded by books and knowledge, to get her mother’s approval for once, to avoid violence, and protect those she cares about.

Violet needs to find her inner strength, build physical strength, and trust herself to be more.

• Conflict Resolution

How does your character handle conflict? Do they shy away from it? Are they forward? Aggressive?

Example:

Violet generally uses negotiation and persuasion to avoid conflict. Her strong moral compass prevents her from going straight to violence unless forced. She isn’t afraid to confront peers or leaders and call them out. She struggles with denial on occasion when faced with something she doesn’t want to believe.

• Favorite curse word (optional but telling)

Tip: Make it fun! Interview your character and see what they have to say!

Writing a novel can feel like wandering through fog or stumbling in the dark. Your character profiles? They are lanterns, making the path forward easier to spot. When you stay true to who your character is—mess and all—you give your story a heartbeat. And the best part? Readers can feel it.

Snag your free Character Profile Template below—and soon you’ll be shouting, 'It’s alive!' as your characters leap off the page… Thunder crashes, lightning strikes, and somewhere in the distance, your inner mad scientist cackles with delight (professionally, of course).

Written by: Nicole Spencer