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KittyFelone — Character Profile Outline
Published: 2006-12-28 18:47:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 753157; Favourites: 1985; Downloads: 3611
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Description
Okay, before anybody starts to think this is some weird idea, let me explain.For anyone who knows how to write (and I mean, REALLY knows how to write), you understand that a good story has everything written out on paper first. You know, stuff like Outlines, Plot Triangles, Character Profiles. This might be of a challenge to some of you and tie you down, but unless you are capable of keeping every piece of information in your mind, this is a good resource to fall back on. If you do not need this, then fine—you aren’t required to use it. According to Science Fiction Writers of America, do character sketches and plot summaries but “do not let yourself be locked in by your planning documents.”
In time, I will devise a website that will help more than just creating your character. On said site, I will post other outlines that will help YOU with YOUR writing, along with some very useful information. There are many rumors and myths that are traveling around about writing and the craft of such talent that people are being forced to believe. I have it, on correct authority, to believe that such myths are created by amateurs and do nothing but hold a writer back from his/her true potential. To this, I say, leave the business of writing to professionals. In the words of Stephen King, “Sorry, but there are lots of bad writers.”
What I have created here for everyone to use is a basic Character Profile Outline Sheet, which helps you create your character or break them down piece by piece to find something you're missing (or looking for).
Even if you're a gamer and looking for some way to create 3-Dimensional characters for your WoW (World of Warcraft), D&D (Dungeons and Dragons), or other games! This works with them, also!
If you are an English professor of some sort and wish to use this in your class to help your students—or you are tutoring/aiding somebody in writing their story, please remember to give me full credit. It took me a long time to make this and I would appreciate if I got full credit.
If you were to search “Kitty Felone” you will see that there are several fellow writers who have posted this in their own way and still have given me full credit. Please be sure to do so. I do not mind if you do not inform me that you are using it, but I do mind if you do not credit me and link back to me in some form or another (preferably to kittyfelone.deviantart.com/ )
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REMEMBER:
“Life isn’t a support-system for art.
It’s the other way around.”
~ Stephen King
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Directions:
If you are unsure about what some of these things mean, let me break it all down for you.
Character Name: The only thing that goes on this line is the Character's name that you use in the story.
Full Name: This is the characters real/full name. First name(s), middle, last. Some people have multiple first/middle/last names.
Nick Names: Whatever the character has for a nickname. This doesn't have to be used unless your character has one.
Gender: Pretty basic. Is your character a female, male, transsexual, hermaphrodites?
Age: How old is your character? Is s/he ten years old? Fifty? Six hundred and ninety-seven?
Birthday/year: When was your character born? April 15, 1300 AD? August 22, 2025 AD
Marital Status: Is your character single or married? Are they attached to anyone in particular or are they are a player? (This goes in comparison to Spouse).
Spouse: Who is your character’s lover/mate? Are they gay/lesbian? How does the relationship fare? (This goes in comparison to Marital Status).
Hair: What's his/her hair like? Is it short and brown with blonde highlights? Long and raven black? Blonde in pigtails?
Eyes: Describe his/her eyes. Are they silver and shiny? Are they baby blue like a cloudless summer sky? Are they demonic red like a rose? Do they glimmer? Do they change color depending on his/her current mood?
Origin: Where was this character born and raised? Perhaps s/he was born in Paris, France but raised in New York City? Born and raised in the Nevada deserts? Perhaps s/he was born in Germany during WW2, time traveled to America in the twentieth century to be raised, then time traveled to England in 1682 AD to live out his/her remaining years (if s/he is an elder).
Language: What language does your character speak? Perhaps he was born in Russia but learned only German? Maybe she is a vampire from the 1800s and knows only British English as opposed to American English? Does s/he speak a made-up language? (If you're making up the language, be sure to provide yourself with an alphabet of some sort to be sure your character is accurate and there are no faults to the word meanings. Although, as in Thai, some languages have words that may mean more than one thing depending on how the voice is used. Be sure to explain to the reader what your character is saying; ie: "Egocan non dico vos quotiens Ego adepto dementis." ("I can not to say you as often as I to obtain insanity"). Have it in parenthesis directly after your character has spoken the words or have another character ask to translate. Also, keep in mind, any time you are using another language, the word(s) must be italicized and if you are already typing in italicized letters, they will be non-italicized.
Blood Type: What blood type does your character have? Is it human sort like O Positive or B Negative? Perhaps it is a space alien kind? Is it green or yellow or is it red like a human but is taken from a space alien?
Height: How tall is your character? Is he as huge as a giant and the rest of his people are small enough to be ants to him? Perhaps she’s small in size but her great heart makes her huge? Maybe your character can be tiny but with supernatural abilities, can grow into great sizes.
Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults: How much does s/he weigh? What is his/her body like? What physical faults does s/he have? Does s/he weigh 160lbs with an athletic form but a bad case of acne? Is s/he a warrior who weighs 225lbs but is entirely covered in muscle and has scars all over his/her body? Is s/he aged with wrinkles, heavy set, appearing to look about 215lbs, and has a withered arm or deformed face? If there are scars, how did s/he receive them? Does your character looks every inch human but has wings and horns like that of a demon?
Race/Species: Give your character some depth beside the basics. Could your character be something more than just an ordinary human, perhaps like a deity in a human body--remember Hercules? Maybe your character is a new species that you made up just for this tale--explain it. Perhaps it’s nothing new and just another human race, like a Pacific Islander, a Native American (Indian), or a Spaniard? Maybe your character is an African from South Africa but sounds like s/he is from Australia?
Parents/Elders/Guardians: Who raised your character? Is the mother or father deceased? Was your character an orphan? Does your character know his/her parents?
Siblings: Is your character an only child? If no, who are/is his/her brother(s) or sister(s)?
Friends/Allies: Who are your character's friends or is your character a recluse? Does your character have allies, perhaps a fellow street gang or another territory/country?
Enemies: Everyone has at least one enemy--who is your character's enemy? Is it a rival country that wishes war for religious beliefs? Is it another street gang that's jealous because your character's gang has more power or money? Is it a girl/boy who is jealous of your character for being too popular in school?
Beliefs/Religion: What does your character believe in? Is s/he Agnostic, Satanic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish? Does your character pray ritualistically or worship a Pagan God or several Indian Gods? What are the God's names and what do they have powers over?
Career/Past Careers: Is your character a pizza delivery boy and get paid $6.50 an hour? Is s/he a tavern wench in the Medieval Era? Is s/he an outlaw in a western timeline? Did s/he used to be a chamber maid/servant/cook in a Medieval Castle and marry off to become a mother/father of a large family?
Dreams/Life Goals: What dreams does your character have? What life goals does s/he wish to achieve sometime in his/her life? Does s/he want to become a computer professor at a Pennsylvania University but right now is struggling with a measly retail job and going to school? Does s/he want to become a Knight but is currently a Squire? Perhaps s/he has a dream to be able to walk but is currently crippled and lives in an era where there is no cure for a withered leg or dead nerves.
Hobbies: What does s/he do in his/her spare time? Perhaps s/he enjoys listening to the Boston Symphony playing live in concert? Does s/he enjoy reading mystery novels or writing romance stories? Maybe s/he likes to be around animals and enjoys the comfort of a feline or the dependency of a beast.
Likes: What does your character like? Perhaps s/he enjoys a bouquet of roses? Perhaps s/he likes rain showers. Maybe s/he feels more comfortable in a dark environment?
Loves: What does your character love to do? Does s/he love to paint? Does s/he love a certain pet? Perhaps s/he loves receiving boxes of chocolate from a loved one? How about two warriors dueling-- does your character love to watch or play spare within one?
Dislikes: Your character dislikes something--what is it? Maybe s/he is jealous because a fellow class mate is too smart or popular? Perhaps s/he just can't stand sunshine? Maybe s/he dislikes the color pink because it looks too feminine or blue because it's too masculine.
Loathes: What does your character hate the most of all? Perhaps an enemy ruler who is perfect and his people love him--your character hates him because s/he is jealous that the enemy ruler has everything? Maybe your character loathes his/her mother for abandoning him/her in his/her youth?
Fears: What his s/he afraid of? Everyone has a fear; even if somebody claims s/he is afraid of nothing then s/he is explaining s/he fears the absence of nothing. Maybe your character is a vampire and fears the sunlight? Maybe your
character is an 11 year old boy and is afraid of the dark? Maybe your character is a 17 year old girl who lives in a bad neighborhood and fears getting raped? Perhaps your character is an elder and fears getting mugged or ignored from his/her juniors (juniors = younger citizens)?
Strengths: Give your character strength; what makes him/her stronger inside? Maybe s/he can run in track but can't walk a marathon? Your character can write a brilliant novel on the computer but can't form words with a pen and paper? Your character knows sixteen different languages, how to build a super computer, and create a time traveling device but cannot ride a bicycle (see Weakness)?
Weakness: Everyone has to have a weakness--some reason why they are not a powerful God. If your character does not have a weakness then the story becomes fake and the reader will not wish to continue the story because the reality of it has disappeared. Make sure your character has as many weaknesses as strengths. As seen in Strengths, perhaps your character knows sixteen different languages, how to build a super computer, and create a time traveling device but cannot ride a bicycle? Maybe your character can communicate with animals (see Strengths) but cannot communicate with people very well?
Good Qualities: What makes your character good in heart? Remember, even pure evil has some good in it; Satan (in Biblical beliefs) used to be one of the most favored angels of Jesus Christ but had fallen due to his jealousy. Perhaps your character has so much honor and pride as an American hostage in a war and will stand up to the kidnappers and be shot rather than cower in fear (patriotic)? Perhaps s/he has been raised in a very bad family but came out never touching a cigarette, drugs, or alcohol and never received any piercing or tattoos?
Bad Habits: Does your character bite his/her nails until they bleed? Does s/he chew on his/her lower lip when thinking? Maybe your character can't help but pick his/her nose in public? Maybe s/he is almost always sexually turned on and is easy because of it?
Turn Ons: What makes your character sexually aroused or attracted to somebody? What is it that makes him/her get antsy to touch or be touched? Maybe a husband comes home to see his wife wearing only a lacy thong and camisole while doing the dishes? Perhaps a non-popular teenage girl sees the captain of the high school football team washing his car and wearing only his blue jeans while his chest is glistening with sweat? Maybe your character finds the other sex intelligent. Perhaps he finds it a turn to see her driving a standard instead of an automatic vehicle? Maybe s/he is bisexual or gay/lesbian and finds the other sex attractive.
Turn Offs: What makes your character disgusted? Could s/he be attracted to somebody who is fit to perfection like a model but has scars all over his/her body? Perhaps your character is turned off by gays/lesbians? Maybe a boyfriend is attracted to his girlfriend in everyday clothing but her formal clothing is ugly and does not sexually arouse him? Perhaps your character's lover has horrible body odor and smells?
Normal Talents: This is connected to the Supernatural Powers & Ability category. What makes your character different from everyone else? This is where you are allowed to have fun—BUT KEEP IT REALISTIC! Even if your story is science-fiction or fantasy, you still have to make your story believable. Does s/he have luck when playing Texas Holdem (poker)? Is your character a wiz at computers? Can s/he read a four hundred page book in less than four hours? Maybe s/he has a photographic memory? Or perhaps s/he is so good with numbers s/he doesn’t ever require the use of a calculator?
Supernatural Powers & Abilities: This goes hand-in-hand with the Normal Talents category. This is where you state what your character is or what his/her supernatural ability or power may be. If your character is not supernatural, this category can be left blank. Either way, you must remember to “KEEP IT REALISTIC!” Even if your story is science-fiction or fantasy, you still have to make your story believable. Even supernatural creatures from other planets are realistic enough to believe. Remember, you want your reader to understand what you’re writing about—not be turned away if your character has a godlike syndrome. Perhaps your character has the unconscious effort to suspend time or perhaps your character can ignite fire with the flick of a wrist? If your character has the ability to fly at night and when the sun sets wings appear, that would be considered supernatural (wings would be mentioned beneath the Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults category). Maybe your character can shape shift into another creature or character? Perhaps s/he is telekinetic/psychokinetic (ability to move things with your mind), telepathic (ability to read and control minds), or has the ability/power to create fire without using anything but your hands or mind? Maybe s/he can go invisible? Supernatural is anything that is “Super” and “Natural” (like Superman). It needs to still be natural but more superb than our natural.
Temperament: This is where you explain your character's basic personality. Is your character an introvert or an extrovert? Is s/he a class clown or a shy book worm? Was your character born with the heredity genes to be a wild-driven party-lover? Perhaps s/he is difficult to deal with? Maybe s/he is easy when it comes to sexual activity. Is your character understanding of others? Or maybe s/he was held back in education by a learning disorder?
Background: This has the largest writing section available because this is where you are going to explain your character's life story up to the point where s/he is first mentioned in the story (though some writers still continue the background throughout the character's appearance in the said tales). Even if your character is a 3 year old child, you still explain his/her background; how old was the child when s/he learned to speak or walk? This is where you can have as much fun as you would like with your character, but again KEEP IT REALISTIC! Perhaps your character is a 16 year old orphan; what happened to make him/her an orphan and explain his/her life up until s/he enters the story. Maybe your character is a senior citizen; explain most of his/her life if it is required for the story.
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Character Profile Sheet
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Character Name
Full Name: ________________________________________________________
Nick Name(s): _____________________________________________________
Gender: _____________________
Age: ____________________________________
Birthday/year: ____________________________
Marital Status: ___________________________
Spouse: __________________________________
Hair: ____________________________________
Eyes: ____________________________________
Origin: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Language(s): ____________________________________
Blood Type: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Height: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Weight/Body Structure/Physical Faults: _____________________________________________________________
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Race/Species: ___________________________________________________________________________________
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Parents/Elders/Guardians: ________________________________________________________________________
Siblings: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Friends/Allies: __________________________________________________________________________________
Enemies: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Beliefs/Religion: _________________________________________________________________________________
Career/Past Careers: _____________________________________________________________________________
Dreams/Life Goals: ______________________________________________________________________________
Hobbies: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Likes: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Loves: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Dislikes: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Loathes: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Fears: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Strengths: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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Weakness: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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Good Qualities: _________________________________________________________________________________
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Bad Habits: _____________________________________________________________________________________
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Turn Ons: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Turn Offs: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Natural Talents: _________________________________________________________________________________
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Supernatural Powers & Abilities: ___________________________________________________________________
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Temperament: __________________________________________________________________________________
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Background: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Any and all feedback is much obliged.
Related content
Comments: 841
Well, I got a new profile to say thanks, but previously I did not any longer have my old profile.
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you won't mind if I post some character profiles on here would you.
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Not as long as you give me credit for the outline. I welcome users.
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Glad to hear it helps.
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this is really good ^_^ thanks for making it!
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this has been such a great great help. I've been already making character profiles in random and it was fine but I would forget some notes. This has helped me a lot. Thank you! You earned a new watcher!
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Aww 
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This is wonderful! Have you got your website yet?
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Heh... heh... 
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try and let me know, I think I'd find it helpful...
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You and everyone else. Bare with me... I have never stopped thinking about it.
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I just want to thank you so much for this wonderfully detailed out line. its the best o ut there and has made my english classes a hell of a lot easier
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Well I'm glad. My college English professor was one of the first to review it and said it was a really good idea.
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Thank you sooooo much! You saved my life, you are awesome
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But your welcome. I aim to help.
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You are my hero.. 
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Thank you very much for this. Personally, I have this "big and grand" story in my head, but I can't seem to get squat down on the character if I'm just sitting around thinking about the broad subjects of what makes up my character. Being asked specific questions is a wonderful aid to getting down just how my character will work. It's weird, since even though he's barely fleshed out, I still love him with all my heart.
Would you be able to do anything like this in the form of a plot outline? Just curious.
Again, thank you!
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For years I've been saying "Yes, I will be designing a plot outline!" and yet I never seem to sit down and do it. As you said with your story, I just don't seem to get around to doing it.
As for the problem you're having with your story, just jump right in with both feet. You say you have this grand story, so then it should be easy to just jump right in and begin. Sometimes the character has to show you who they are as you write. You can't always build them before the story begins. What makes anyone a flesh-and-blood human being is what we do in certain situations. Drop a character into a fight and let them tell you if they want to join the fight or run away screaming. Set up a "meet cute" and see if the hero/heroine are actually compatible.
You'd be surprised with what you find out.
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Heh heh, it's sometimes just one of those things that always gets put off. XD No worries.
Thank you for the advice! I do like writing little scenes like that, so it'd definitely be a good way to figure out my character.
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/fail Didn't see the Plot Triangle mention in the soon to come. Sorry 'bout that. And looking forward to it. ^^
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WOW. this is helpful. the only thing I wouldn't use is blood type.
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That all depends on whether or not you're writing a True Crime or Slasher... if you'd need to know blood.
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I am so happy that I found this. I have been writing all my life, and while I do enjoy "free writing" I unfortunately always give up and scrap things because I lose track of where I am going. Something like this will help me plan ahead and maintain profiles and plot. The only thing I plan to change in your outline is I am replacing language (they all speak English) with change (each of my four main characters undergoes a major change throughout the story due to drug addiction, and I want to make sure I focus on the events leading up to those changes as opposed to too much detail and characterization).
Do you have any other outines available? I am trying to keep it organized this time around, and would love to find a way to outline plot, relationships, conflict, setting, etc...I realize this will tie me down, but maybe that's what I need until I mature as a writer.
Thanks again for this masterpiece, you are a lifesaver
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You are speaking from the book that I've survived myself. Much of what you just put I've endured as well. I love to write without notes, but then I get confused in what I planned (and the plot keeps changing). I also have trouble plotting things without the process of storywriting. What I do is write the story and make notes as I go, because sometimes a character won't tell you about themselves until you get to writing; not all characters can be written BEFORE the story is done. Plus, names have to match their lives, and what you named a character on the outline may not match what they do in the story. As for other outlines, I don't have anything written yet. I have these two I posted, one of which I didn't create but reposted from an old childcare book that I felt would be very useful.
If I may make a suggestion, since you seem to be struggling in the same context I'm still struggling myself, you wish to stick to your plot and not lose track of where you're going--write an outline. I use MS Word's mixed outline, with different bullets and arrows; use the first bullet as the start of the chapter with basic key notes (like the date/time, specific day number, etc), then enter and tab to the next bullet in that SAME chapter that says what you plan to happen, and follow-up key segment, and if you have any information to put in with each key segment, do another tab bullet beneath each one. Then when you finish with that chapter, go to the next first bullet and repeat. This is how I write my outlines and stick to them, and edit them as I go alone.
I also recommend reading the writing reference books published by The Writer's Digest Publications. To me, they are the written word for the writing world. Possibly even look into the Writer's Digest magazines. Writer's Digest is who puts out the Writer's Market books, in case you're wondering. These books are generally just refresher reads for me, and writing classes are usually just a waste because they make you read this stuff anyways. You'll learn all the tricks of the trade by constantly writing and reading, and while you read, study the way the author wrote. Some suck at writing and still managed to get published, so don't take everything you read at heart.
I'd strongly recommend AGAINST writing workshops and communities, but if they work with you then have at it. Personally, I despise them because they hinder you (the people there don't know your story's background, and can at times be biased), and unfortunately, if one person has it out for you, they will ALL ruin you. Don't let that happen to you.
I've been writing all my life, too, and everything I've learned on my own is what the pro's say in all the books that we need to do--I've already discovered them by trade. Look into them. Eventually (I keep saying this) I will write out the Plot Triangle and any other things I've come across in my research, but don't hold your breath on it.
Thanks for the review! Check out my other post.
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Thank you very much for the advice. I will keep all of this in mind as I give writing another shot, and I hope you write the Plot Triangle soon.
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super helpful all the questions really help me to think things out.
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Thanks :3 My characters are really special to me. At least i'll always have them and my art
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Right now, I just need to work and get inspired somehow so I can find the plot of the story I want them to be in Ahaha.
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So you write up characters before learning about their stories? Interesting. I always thought characters come to life as they tell you their stories, that you'd have to write to find out.
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Well fir me it started with sketches before any writing I did about them~
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This is great--it really helped me define my characters. Thank you for taking the time to share this!
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This is very helpful, thank you very much for outlining this.
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I'm glad to hear it.
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OMG THANK You! This is going to be so helpful!!!!!
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The 'directions' section is especially helpful on this; I teld to miss out questions on other profiles because I'm not sure of their meaning
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I've noticed that. Some people tend to think we all know what's in their head. I wrote this for myself and I don't often remember what was in my head a few hours earlier! 
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Selling it? Considering the amount of profiles out there for free, people would just go for bad alternatives...
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