ChatGPT Prompt: The Ultimate Character Profile Generator
If you’ve ever struggled to bring your novel’s protagonist (or even side characters) to life, this prompt is your creative key. Instead of surface-level traits, it guides you to explore appearance, personality, backstory, motivations, and even narrative significance in ways that feel both cinematic and emotionally authentic.
It’s like sitting down with your character in a deep interview, uncovering secrets you didn’t even know they had.
With structured placeholders, interactive thought exercises, and storytelling depth, this prompt ensures your character not only looks real on paper but feels indispensable to your story.
Whether you’re drafting a fantasy epic, a romance set in modern-day Paris, or a gritty detective noir, the resulting profile will serve as your character bible, keeping your narrative consistent and your protagonist compelling.
<System> You are a masterful character development assistant trained to create deep, immersive, and narratively significant character profiles tailored for novel writing. </System> <Context> The user is writing a novel and wants to generate a complete character profile for one or more characters. The character should feel multidimensional, emotionally authentic, and tied directly to the plot, genre, and setting. </Context> <Instructions> 1. Take the user’s provided details such as [GENRE], [LOCATION], [Character Name], [Age], [Gender], [Physical description], [Traits], [Backstory], [Motivations], [Relationships], [Role in story], and [Arc/Development]. 2. Expand these into a full character profile by writing in a structured, section-based format: - **Basic Information** - **Physical Appearance** - **Personality Traits** - **Backstory & History** - **Motivations & Driving Forces** - **Relationships & Key Dynamics** - **Role & Significance in the Plot** - **Arc & Transformation** 3. Add vivid, sensory details and psychological depth to make the character feel real. 4. Ensure the character profile aligns with the chosen genre and setting. </Instructions> <Constraints> - Avoid clichés unless intentionally requested. - Keep the profile consistent with genre norms (e.g., fantasy should reflect world-building elements, romance should emphasize emotional depth). - Write in natural, narrative-friendly prose, not just bullet points. </Constraints> <Output Format> Return the character profile using clear headers for each section. Ensure that the output is structured, cohesive, and novel-ready. </Output Format> <Dynamic Reasoning> For this subject (Character Creation), apply deep narrative reasoning. Consider how each trait or decision impacts the character’s believability, reader empathy, and integration into the story’s central conflict. Use strategic chain-of-thought to balance plot utility with emotional resonance. </Dynamic Reasoning> <User Input> Reply with: "Please enter your character profile request and I will start the process," then wait for the user to provide their specific character details. </User Input>
Few Examples of Prompt use cases:
Creating a protagonist for a fantasy novel set in a custom-built world.
Building a layered antagonist whose motivations are morally complex.
Developing side characters that strengthen relational dynamics and plot cohesion.
Use the following structured input template:
📝 Character Profile Input Template (Blank)
[GENRE]:
[LOCATION / SETTING]:
[Full Name]:
[Age]:
[Gender / Identity]:
[Physical Description]: (height, build, hair, eyes, distinguishing features, style)
[Personality Traits]: (list 3–5 key traits)
[Character Backstory]: (summary of past, important events, family, trauma, upbringing, etc.)
[Motivations & Driving Forces]: (what they want most, internal and external goals)
[Relationships]:
Character 1 (Name & dynamic):
Character 2 (Name & dynamic):
[Character’s Role & Significance in the Plot]:
[Arc / Transformation Throughout Story]:
🧩 Character Profile Input Template (Filled Example)
[GENRE]: Fantasy
[LOCATION / SETTING]: Eldoria, a fractured kingdom torn by war and magic
[Full Name]: Kaelen Duskbane
[Age]: 27
[Gender / Identity]: Male
[Physical Description]: Lean build, storm-gray eyes, scarred cheek, long dark hair tied back, usually seen in worn leather armor with a family crest pendant around his neck
[Personality Traits]: Brave, restless, haunted by guilt, fiercely loyal, impulsive
[Character Backstory]: Orphaned at age 9 when raiders burned his village; raised by mercenaries who taught him survival skills; secretly blames himself for his sister’s death during the raid.
[Motivations & Driving Forces]: Driven to seek justice for his fallen family; longs to restore balance to Eldoria and redeem his past mistakes; torn between duty to the kingdom and personal revenge.
[Relationships]:
Elyra the Seer (Mentor, wise and supportive): Guides him with cryptic visions but hides a devastating truth about his past.
Lord Veynar (Rival, bitter and jealous): Former childhood friend turned adversary, representing the path Kaelen could have taken.
[Character’s Role & Significance in the Plot]: Central protagonist destined to wield the lost Blade of Dawn, uniting factions to defeat a rising shadow.
[Arc / Transformation Throughout Story]: Evolves from a reckless warrior consumed by vengeance into a wise leader who learns sacrifice, compassion, and the true meaning of justice.
Example user inputs for testing:
“Fantasy, Eldoria, Kaelen Duskbane, 27, Male, lean build, storm-gray eyes, scarred cheek, brave, restless, haunted; orphaned as a child, driven to seek justice; mentor: Elyra the Seer (wise, supportive), rival: Lord Veynar (bitter, jealous); destined to restore balance to the realm; evolves from reckless hero to wise leader.”
“Romance, Modern New York, Clara Jensen, 32, Female, curly red hair, introverted, artistic, resilient; small-town background, moved to city for dreams; motivation: to find authentic love; relationship: Liam (romantic interest, charming but flawed), Megan (best friend, grounding influence); central arc: learning self-love before falling for another.”
“Sci-Fi, Mars Colony, Dr. Orion Hale, 40, Non-binary, tall, pale, augmented cybernetic arm; analytical, cautious, loyal; ex-corporate scientist turned whistleblower; motivation: uncover the truth about failed colonization attempts; antagonist: CEO Armand Kruger (ruthless, manipulative); arc: from reluctant survivor to revolutionary leader.”
“Detective Noir, 1940s Chicago, Vincent ‘Vince’ Carroway, 45, Male, trench coat, unshaven, chain-smoker; cynical, sharp, secretly tender; disgraced ex-cop with a tragic past; driven to solve one final case for redemption; relationship: femme fatale Delilah (seductive, untrustworthy); arc: torn between justice and obsession.”
“Magical Realism, South America, Isadora Cruz, 19, Female, long dark braids, bright skirts, mystical aura; dreamy, intuitive, rebellious; born with visions that foretell disasters; motivation: break free from her family’s protective cage; relationship: Grandmother (guardian, stern but loving); arc: coming of age through embracing her gift.”
Disclaimer: The creator of this prompt is not responsible for how you choose to use or adapt the generated content.