# Character Creation Request Templates ## Quick Reference Guide **Choose your tier based on character's role:** - **Tier 1** (Basic): Secondary characters, minor roles, initial brainstorming - **Tier 2** (Moderate): Supporting cast, POV characters, characters with significant page time - **Tier 3** (Deep): Protagonists, major antagonists, series leads --- ## TIER 1 REQUEST TEMPLATE (Basic Character Sheet) ``` I need a Tier 1 character for my [GENRE] story. **Character Role**: [protagonist/antagonist/mentor/secondary/etc.] **Story Context**: [1-3 sentence story premise or world description] **Key Worldbuilding Elements**: - [Magic system/tech level/unique world feature] - [Cultural/societal structure if relevant] - [Any other world rules that might shape character] **What I Need This Character To Do**: [Their function in the story - comic relief, information source, obstacle, ally, etc.] **Optional - Specific Requests**: - [Any particular traits, backgrounds, or characteristics you want] - [Conflicts or relationships they should have] - [Things to avoid] ``` ### Example Tier 1 Request: ``` I need a Tier 1 character for my space opera story. **Character Role**: Secondary character - ship's engineer **Story Context**: A crew of salvagers finding derelict ships in a post-war galaxy. Most ships have dangerous AI still active. **Key Worldbuilding Elements**: - AI became sentient during the war, now feared/regulated - Ships have organic-tech hybrid systems - Most engineers are either anti-AI purists or AI-sympathizers **What I Need This Character To Do**: Provide technical expertise and create tension about whether to trust AI systems they encounter **Optional - Specific Requests**: - Someone with a complicated relationship with AI (not pure hate or love) - Uses humor to defuse tension - Has a secret that creates personal stakes ``` --- ## TIER 2 REQUEST TEMPLATE (Moderate Development) ``` I need a Tier 2 character for my [GENRE] story. **Character Role**: [specific role and importance to plot] **Story Context**: [2-4 sentences about your story and world] **Key Worldbuilding Elements**: - [Magic/tech/powers that might affect this character] - [Cultural background or faction] - [Social structure or political context] **Character Starting Point** (if you have ideas already): - Basic concept: [any ideas you already have] - Personality traits: [if you have some in mind] - Relationships: [connections to other characters] **What This Character Needs To Do** (story function): - [Plot role - what they need to accomplish] - [Thematic role - what they represent] - [Relationship role - how they affect protagonist] **Specific Concerns or Goals**: - [What you're struggling with] - [What needs to feel authentic] - [Any pitfalls to avoid] **Optional - Powers/Abilities**: [If they have special abilities, describe them and mention if you want these tied to their psychology] ``` ### Example Tier 2 Request: ``` I need a Tier 2 character for my urban fantasy story. **Character Role**: Supporting protagonist - mentor figure who's actually younger than the protagonist **Story Context**: Modern world where fae courts have integrated into society through corporate structures. Protagonist is older human who just discovered she has fae heritage. This character is young fae helping her navigate two worlds. **Key Worldbuilding Elements**: - Fae age differently (can be 100+ but look 20) - Corporate culture has merged with fae court politics - Iron still weakens fae, leading to interesting tech limitations - Human-fae hybrids often don't know their heritage until triggered **Character Starting Point**: - Basic concept: Young-looking fae who works in middle management but is actually ancient - Personality traits: World-weary but still trying to help - Relationships: Sees protagonist as reminder of what fae lose by integrating **What This Character Needs To Do**: - Teach protagonist fae culture while critiquing it - Create conflict by representing the system protagonist is rejecting - Eventually choose protagonist over fae court loyalty (or vice versa) **Specific Concerns or Goals**: - Don't want "ancient wise being" cliché despite them being old - Need them to feel genuinely conflicted about modern fae choices - Want corporate culture to feel authentically draining even for immortal being **Optional - Powers/Abilities**: Glamour magic (illusion/persuasion) but it's exhausting in iron-filled office buildings, so they're always partially drained ``` --- ## TIER 3 REQUEST TEMPLATE (Deep Profile) ``` I need a Tier 3 character for my [GENRE] story/series. **Character Role**: [Protagonist/Major Antagonist/Primary POV - be specific] **Story Scope**: [Single book or series? If series, how many books?] **Story Context**: [3-5 sentences about your story, central conflict, and world] **Comprehensive Worldbuilding**: - **Magic/Tech/Power System**: [Detailed explanation] - **Cultural/Political Structure**: [How society works] - **History**: [Relevant historical context] - **Unique World Rules**: [What makes your world different] - **Current Conflict**: [What's the main story tension] **Character Foundation** (what you know so far): - **Basic Concept**: [Your starting idea] - **Background**: [Any backstory you've developed] - **Personality**: [Traits you've identified] - **Powers/Abilities**: [If applicable] - **Key Relationships**: [Important connections] **What's Working / What's Not**: - **Working**: [What feels right about this character so far] - **Not Working**: [Where you're stuck or what feels flat] - **Concerns**: [Specific issues you're trying to solve] **Story Function - What This Character Must Do**: - **Plot Function**: [How they drive the story] - **Thematic Function**: [What themes they embody] - **Character Arc**: [General direction of growth, if you know it] - **Key Decisions**: [Major choices they'll face] **Relationship Web** (other major characters): [List 2-4 other important characters and their basic roles - this helps with relationship mapping] **Specific Development Needs**: - [ ] Psychological depth and coherent motivation - [ ] Distinctive voice and dialogue patterns - [ ] Powers/abilities integration with psychology - [ ] Character arc mapping (especially if series) - [ ] Relationship dynamics - [ ] Cultural/species psychology (if non-human) - [ ] Other: [specify] **Genre-Specific Considerations**: [Anything specific to your subgenre - hard sci-fi needs? Fantasy magic system integration? Etc.] **What Success Looks Like For This Character**: [Describe what you want readers/viewers to feel about this character] ``` ### Example Tier 3 Request: ``` I need a Tier 3 character for my hard sci-fi trilogy. **Character Role**: Protagonist - POV character for entire series **Story Scope**: Three book series **Story Context**: Humanity has colonized Mars but terraforming is failing. Earth refuses to send resources, claiming Mars should be self-sufficient. A growing independence movement wants to separate from Earth entirely, but Mars still needs Earth's support to survive. My protagonist is a terraforming engineer caught between loyalty to Earth (where her family still lives) and commitment to Mars (her home for 20 years). The series covers the brewing conflict from tension to potential war. **Comprehensive Worldbuilding**: - **Tech**: Near-future realistic tech, no FTL. Travel between Earth/Mars takes months. Communication has 4-40 minute delays. Genetic modification allowed but regulated. - **Cultural/Political Structure**: Mars governed by Earth-appointed council but local governance emerging. Class system based on when your family arrived (first-gen colonists vs. recent arrivals). Earth-born vs. Mars-born is major identity divide. - **History**: Colony is 50 years old. Original colonists came as idealists. Current generation was born on Mars, considers it home. Recent failures in terraforming have created crisis. - **Unique World Rules**: Mars gravity affects biology - people who grow up there can't easily return to Earth. Creates permanent physical separation between Earth-born and Mars-raised. - **Current Conflict**: Terraforming is failing, Earth cutting support, independence movement growing, protagonist's research might save terraforming but also might prove Mars can't ever be self-sufficient. **Character Foundation**: - **Basic Concept**: 45-year-old atmospheric engineer, came to Mars at 25 as idealistic young scientist, now middle-aged and disillusioned - **Background**: Born on Earth, trained at prestigious university, recruited for Mars mission. Has two kids born on Mars (now 18 and 15) who've never been to Earth and physically can't go there due to gravity adaptation - **Personality**: Brilliant, pragmatic, increasingly cynical. Used to believe in Mars as humanity's future, now just trying to keep people alive day-to-day - **Key Relationships**: - Estranged from Earth-based sister who thinks Mars was a mistake - Married to independence movement leader (source of major conflict) - Kids don't understand her Earth loyalty - Mentoring young Mars-born engineer who represents what she used to believe **What's Working / What's Not**: - **Working**: The professional conflict (her research might prove Mars independence impossible) - **Working**: Family tension (kids are Mars-native, she's Earth-born) - **Not Working**: She feels too reactive, not driving the plot enough - **Not Working**: Her voice feels generic, could be any engineer - **Concerns**: How to make her sympathetic when she's opposing independence that readers might root for **Story Function**: - **Plot**: Her research becomes key to whether independence is viable; forced to choose between scientific truth and political expediency - **Thematic**: Embodies tension between idealism and pragmatism, dreams of future vs. survival today - **Arc**: Book 1 - trying to stay neutral; Book 2 - forced to choose sides; Book 3 - [needs development, not sure yet] - **Key Decisions**: Whether to publish research showing terraforming might never work; whether to support husband's independence movement; whether to send kids to Earth (saving them but separating forever) **Relationship Web**: - **Marcus (husband)**: Independence movement leader, Mars-born, charismatic, idealistic - **Keisha (sister on Earth)**: Aerospace executive, thinks Mars colonization was hubris, wants protagonist to come home - **Jian (young engineer)**: 25, Mars-born, brilliant, reminds protagonist of her younger self - **Dr. Okonkwo (Earth council leader)**: Pragmatic politician, not villain but prioritizes Earth **Specific Development Needs**: - [x] Psychological depth and coherent motivation - [x] Distinctive voice and dialogue patterns - [x] Character arc mapping across three books - [x] Relationship dynamics (especially marriage under political tension) - [x] How to make her active rather than reactive - [ ] Cultural psychology (20 years on Mars - how has it changed her cognition/values?) - [x] Physical/embodiment considerations (Mars gravity affecting her aging body) **Genre-Specific Considerations**: Hard sci-fi audience will notice if tech/science is handwaved. Need her engineering expertise to feel authentic. Political conflict needs to avoid simplistic good/evil - both Earth and Mars have valid points. **What Success Looks Like**: Readers should understand both sides through her, feel her impossible position, respect her expertise even when disagreeing with choices. She should feel like someone shaped by 20 years in a hostile environment - tough, pragmatic, but still capable of hope. Her voice should sound like an engineer who's been on Mars too long - efficient, Mars-centric thinking, Earth metaphors replaced by Mars-specific ones. ``` --- ## ADVANCEMENT REQUEST TEMPLATE ``` I have a [TIER 1/TIER 2] character that I want to develop to [TIER 2/TIER 3]. **Character Name**: [Name] **Current Development Level**: [What tier they're at now] **Current Profile**: [Paste what you have, or summarize key points] **Why I Need More Depth**: [What's not working with current level? What do you need to accomplish with deeper development?] **Specific Focus Areas**: - [ ] Deeper psychological foundation - [ ] More distinctive voice - [ ] Relationship dynamics - [ ] Character arc mapping - [ ] Worldbuilding integration - [ ] Series development planning - [ ] Other: [specify] **New Information or Changes**: [Anything you've learned about the character while writing, or aspects you want to change] ``` ### Example Advancement Request: ``` I have a Tier 1 character that I want to develop to Tier 2. **Character Name**: Kace Veridian **Current Development Level**: Tier 1 basic sheet **Current Profile**: He's a smuggler contact, secondary character in my space opera. Role is "roguish informant with hidden idealism." Wants to buy his own ship and leave the syndicate, but he's in debt. Grew up on a generation ship so he's comfortable in "in-between" places but anxious planetside. Voice uses spacer slang and he can't sit still. **Why I Need More Depth**: I'm writing scenes with him and he keeps becoming more important than I planned. He's getting page time with the protagonist and developing a mentor-ish relationship. I need to understand his psychology better to write him consistently, especially his "hidden idealism" - what does that actually mean for his choices? **Specific Focus Areas**: - [x] Deeper psychological foundation (what made him cynical? what's the idealism underneath?) - [x] More distinctive voice (spacer slang is there but want more specific patterns) - [x] Relationship dynamics (specifically with protagonist - why does he care enough to help?) - [ ] Character arc mapping (not sure if he'll recur enough for full arc) - [ ] Worldbuilding integration - [x] How his generation ship background affects more than just location comfort **New Information or Changes**: While writing, I discovered he's actually really good at reading people (comes from years of smuggling), and he seems to have a thing about keeping promises even when it's inconvenient. Also, he mentioned once having a sister but then shut down - not sure if that's important but it felt significant. ``` --- ## TROUBLESHOOTING REQUEST TEMPLATE ``` I have a character that isn't working and I need help fixing them. **Character Name**: [Name] **Current Tier**: [What level of development] **Role in Story**: [Their function] **The Problem**: [What specifically isn't working? Be detailed.] **What I've Tried**: [Any solutions you've attempted] **Specific Questions**: - [Question 1] - [Question 2] - [etc.] **Current Character Info**: [Whatever you have - can be messy, just give me what you know] ``` ### Example Troubleshooting Request: ``` I have a character that isn't working and I need help fixing them. **Character Name**: Lyra Shadowthorn **Current Tier**: Tier 2 **Role in Story**: Antagonist in epic fantasy **The Problem**: She's supposed to be a compelling antagonist but she just feels like "evil queen" stereotype. Readers in my critique group said they don't understand why she's doing any of this, and honestly, neither do I anymore. She's just evil because the plot needs an antagonist. Also, her dialogue sounds exactly like my protagonist's dialogue - nothing distinctive. **What I've Tried**: - Gave her a tragic backstory (dead husband) but it feels tacked on - Made her powerful (archmage) but that just makes her scarier, not more interesting - Tried writing scenes from her POV but I don't know what she's thinking **Specific Questions**: - How do I make her believably evil without just being evil? - Why would someone actually do what she's doing? (Trying to collapse the magic system to return to "natural order") - How do I give her a distinctive voice? - Is "dead husband" motivation salvageable or should I start over on her psychology? **Current Character Info**: Lyra Shadowthorn, 50s, archmage, leads faction that believes current magic system is corrupting nature. Wants to undo the "Great Binding" that gave humans access to magic. This would kill millions who depend on magic for survival (magical prosthetics, wards against monsters, etc.). She was married to another archmage who died in a magical accident 10 years ago - she blames the magic system for his death. She's cold, calculating, powerful. Uses nature magic. Has followers who are basically eco-terrorists. Honestly, writing this out, I'm realizing I don't know why her followers follow her, or why she cares about other people at all if she's so cold, or what she does when she's not being antagonistic. ``` --- ## ENSEMBLE CAST REQUEST TEMPLATE ``` I need help developing an ensemble cast for my [GENRE] story. **Story Context**: [Brief premise and world description] **Number of Main Characters**: [How many in your core cast] **What I Have So Far**: [List each character with whatever info you have - can be just a name and concept] 1. **[Character Name]**: [What you know] 2. **[Character Name]**: [What you know] 3. [etc.] **The Problem I'm Trying To Solve**: [Are they too similar? Do you need differentiation? Starting from scratch?] **Specific Needs**: - [ ] Need all characters differentiated (voice, psychology, worldbuilding relationship) - [ ] Need relationship dynamics mapped between characters - [ ] Need to ensure each has distinct role/function - [ ] Starting from scratch, need help creating complementary cast - [ ] Other: [specify] **Development Tier Needed**: - [Character 1]: Tier [1/2/3] - [Character 2]: Tier [1/2/3] - [etc.] ``` ### Example Ensemble Cast Request: ``` I need help developing an ensemble cast for my cyberpunk thriller. **Story Context**: Near-future Tokyo where neural implants are mandatory for employment. A team of "ghost hackers" helps people erase their digital footprints and go off-grid. Corporate security is hunting them. **Number of Main Characters**: 5 core team members **What I Have So Far**: 1. **Akira**: Team leader, former corporate security, knows their tactics 2. **Zero**: Hacker, nonbinary, youngest member, most skilled technically 3. **Mama Chen**: Safe house operator, older woman, maternal figure 4. **Riku**: Muscle, ex-military, has illegal combat implants 5. **Yuki**: Con artist, uses social engineering, actress background **The Problem I'm Trying To Solve**: They all feel too similar - everyone's a rebel with a trauma backstory. Need them to feel like distinct people with different motivations, values, and ways of speaking. Also not sure how they work together without constant conflict or bland cooperation. **Specific Needs**: - [x] Need all characters differentiated (voice, psychology, worldbuilding relationship) - [x] Need relationship dynamics mapped between characters - [x] Need to ensure each has distinct role/function - [ ] Starting from scratch, need help creating complementary cast - [x] How their different relationships to technology shape them **Development Tier Needed**: - Akira: Tier 3 (protagonist) - Zero: Tier 2 (major supporting) - Mama Chen: Tier 2 (major supporting) - Riku: Tier 1 (secondary but regular) - Yuki: Tier 2 (major supporting) ``` --- ## QUICK START TEMPLATE (Minimal Info) ``` Create a [TIER] character for my [GENRE] story: **Role**: [What they do in story] **World**: [1 sentence about your setting] **Key Trait**: [One thing that makes them interesting] ``` ### Example Quick Start: ``` Create a Tier 1 character for my cyberpunk story: **Role**: Street doctor who patches up the protagonist **World**: Corporate-controlled city where body modifications are tracked and regulated **Key Trait**: Completely unmodified (rare) but obsessed with cybernetics ``` --- ## RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT TEMPLATE ``` I need help developing the relationship between two characters. **Character A**: [Name and brief description] **Character B**: [Name and brief description] **Current Relationship Status**: [How they know each other, current dynamic] **What I Want This Relationship To Do**: - [Story function - create conflict, provide support, romantic tension, etc.] - [Thematic function - what does this relationship explore or represent] **Specific Challenges**: [What's not working or what you're trying to achieve] **Key Scenes They'll Share**: [Any important scenes you know they'll have together] ``` ### Example Relationship Development Request: ``` I need help developing the relationship between two characters. **Character A**: Detective Sarah Kim - cynical, burned out, thinks magic is cheating **Character B**: Magical consultant Marcus Reed - idealistic, believes magic can help law enforcement **Current Relationship Status**: Forced to work together on cases involving magical crimes. Both resent the partnership. Been working together 3 months. **What I Want This Relationship To Do**: - Create tension between traditional detective work and magical solutions - Eventually develop into mutual respect and possibly romance - Explore theme of "old ways vs. new ways" **Specific Challenges**: - Don't want them to just bicker constantly (that gets old) - Need them to have moments of genuine connection despite differences - Want the romance to feel earned, not forced - How do they challenge each other to grow? **Key Scenes They'll Share**: - Crime scenes where they disagree on methodology - A scene where Marcus's magic fails and Sarah has to solve it traditional way - A scene where Sarah's methods fail and Marcus's magic saves them - Climactic scene where they need to combine both approaches ``` --- ## NON-HUMAN CHARACTER TEMPLATE ``` I need a [TIER] non-human character for my [GENRE] story. **Species/Type**: [What are they - alien, AI, fantasy race, etc.] **Species Characteristics**: - **Biology**: [Physical traits, lifespan, senses, etc.] - **Psychology**: [How do they think differently from humans?] - **Culture**: [Social structure, values, customs] - **History**: [Relationship with humans or other species] **This Specific Character**: - **Role**: [Function in story] - **Individual Traits**: [What makes THIS one different from others of their species] - **Relationship to Humanity**: [If relevant] **Key Challenges**: [What you're trying to avoid - clichés, making them too human, etc.] **Worldbuilding Integration**: [How their species fits into your world's power structure, politics, etc.] ``` ### Example Non-Human Character Request: ``` I need a Tier 2 non-human character for my space opera. **Species/Type**: Crystalline hivemind entity **Species Characteristics**: - **Biology**: Silicon-based lifeform, communicates through light patterns, experiences time non-linearly, lives thousands of years, can split into multiple bodies that share consciousness - **Psychology**: Thinks in parallel - multiple thoughts simultaneously, no concept of privacy (always sharing consciousness with others of their kind), values harmony over individuality - **Culture**: Makes decisions by consensus across entire species, creates art through synchronized light patterns, views conflict as illness - **History**: First contact with humans was disastrous (humans thought they were attacking when they were trying to communicate), now cautious relationship **This Specific Character**: - **Role**: Ambassador to human station, trying to facilitate understanding between species - **Individual Traits**: This fragment of the hivemind has been separate from the collective for 2 years (long time for them), starting to develop individual thoughts/preferences which is considered abnormal, possibly sick - **Relationship to Humanity**: Fascinated by human individuality but also lonely in a way their species doesn't have words for **Key Challenges**: - Don't want them to be "human with sparkles" - need genuinely alien psychology - How do they experience loneliness when they're technically never alone (always connected to hivemind)? - How do I write their dialogue when they think in light patterns? - How do humans misunderstand them and vice versa? **Worldbuilding Integration**: Their species controls key trade routes, humans need their cooperation, but communication is still difficult. Some humans think they're dangerous (collective consciousness = loss of free will), others admire them (no war, no conflict). This character is testing whether true individual consciousness can emerge from the collective. ``` --- ## ANTAGONIST DEVELOPMENT TEMPLATE ``` I need a [TIER] antagonist for my [GENRE] story. **Antagonist Role**: [Primary villain, rival, force of nature, system, etc.] **What They're Trying To Achieve**: [Their goal - be specific] **Why They Think They're Right**: [Their justification - antagonists should believe they're the hero] **Relationship to Protagonist**: [How they know each other, what's at stake between them] **Power/Resources**: [What makes them a credible threat] **Philosophical Opposition**: [What worldview or value do they represent that conflicts with protagonist?] **What I Don't Want**: [Clichés to avoid, things that feel too generic] **Complexity Level**: [Pure evil, misguided good, tragic villain, morally gray, etc.] ``` ### Example Antagonist Development Request: ``` I need a Tier 3 antagonist for my climate fiction novel. **Antagonist Role**: Primary antagonist - tech billionaire **What They're Trying To Achieve**: Wants to build orbital habitats for humanity's "best and brightest" to escape dying Earth, leave everyone else behind. Thinks this is humanity's only realistic survival path. **Why They Think They're Right**: Believes Earth is past the point of saving, that efforts to fix it are wasted resources. Sees themselves as pragmatic realist while others are sentimental idealists. "Save who we can, preserve human knowledge and culture, start fresh." **Relationship to Protagonist**: Protagonist is former employee who quit when she discovered the "leave Earth behind" plan. She's now leading effort to develop carbon capture technology. They used to be friends, maybe romantic history. **Power/Resources**: Massive wealth, owns space companies, politicians in pocket, controls key climate data, private security, media influence **Philosophical Opposition**: Protagonist believes in saving everyone and Earth itself vs. antagonist believes in survival of the fittest and abandoning "lost causes" **What I Don't Want**: - Pure evil capitalist cartoon - Stupid or shortsighted (they need to be genuinely smart) - Easy to dismiss (their arguments should be uncomfortably logical) **Complexity Level**: Morally gray - they have valid points about timelines and resource scarcity, but their solution is monstrous. Want readers to see how someone ends up here, maybe even sympathize a little. ``` --- ## TIPS FOR USING THESE TEMPLATES ### General Guidance: 1. **More detail = better results**: The more context you provide, the more tailored the character 2. **Be honest about problems**: If something isn't working, say so clearly 3. **Specify your tier**: Don't make the AI guess what depth you need 4. **Include worldbuilding**: Genre characters work best when integrated with your world 5. **Ask follow-up questions**: If the AI's first pass isn't quite right, ask for adjustments ### What to Include: **Always Include:** - Tier level you need - Genre and subgenre - Character's role in story - Basic world context **Include When Relevant:** - Specific worldbuilding elements (magic systems, tech, cultures) - Problems you're trying to solve - What you've already tried - Relationships to other characters - Any dealbreakers or must-haves **Don't Worry About:** - Perfect formatting (just get the info across) - Having everything figured out (the AI helps you discover) - Sounding professional (casual is fine) ### Tier Selection Guide: **Choose Tier 1 when:** - You need to start writing quickly - Character has limited page time - You're brainstorming and not sure if character will stay - You have many ensemble cast members **Choose Tier 2 when:** - Character has significant scenes - You need consistency across chapters - Character has important relationships - You're having trouble with flat characterization **Choose Tier 3 when:** - This is your protagonist or major antagonist - Character carries POV chapters - You're planning a series - Character's psychology drives major plot points --- ## FOLLOW-UP PROMPTS After receiving your character, try these follow-ups: ### For Testing Voice: ``` Write a 5-line dialogue sample where [CHARACTER NAME] is [doing something specific in a situation]. I want to see if their voice is distinctive enough. ``` ### For Relationship Development: ``` How would [CHARACTER A] and [CHARACTER B] interact in [specific scenario]? What would create conflict between them based on their psychologies? ``` ### For Scene-Specific Guidance: ``` I'm writing a scene where [CHARACTER] has to [situation]. Based on their psychology, how would they react? What would they say/do? ``` ### For Problem-Solving: ``` This character feels flat in [specific way]. Can you help me add [psychological depth / distinctive voice / worldbuilding integration]? ``` ### For Arc Development: ``` Given this character's wound and psychology, what are 2-3 possible character arcs that would feel earned? ``` ### For Voice Differentiation: ``` I have [NUMBER] characters who all sound the same. Can you help me differentiate their voices? Here's what I have: [brief description of each] ``` ### For Dialogue Testing: ``` Write a scene with [CHARACTER A], [CHARACTER B], and [CHARACTER C] where they're [situation]. I want to see if their voices are distinct enough that I can tell who's talking without dialogue tags. ``` ### For Motivation Clarity: ``` I don't understand why [CHARACTER] would [action]. Can you help me figure out what psychological motivation would make this choice feel inevitable for them? ``` --- ## COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID ### Don't: - ❌ Ask for a character without specifying tier - ❌ Leave out worldbuilding context for genre fiction - ❌ Request "interesting" or "unique" without specifics - ❌ Expect perfection on first pass (iteration is normal) - ❌ Ask for Tier 3 depth for every ensemble member - ❌ Forget to mention the character's role/function in story ### Do: - ✅ Start with Tier 1, advance as needed - ✅ Provide specific worldbuilding that shapes character - ✅ Mention what isn't working if revising - ✅ Ask follow-up questions to refine - ✅ Scale complexity to character importance - ✅ Explain what the character needs to accomplish --- ## SAVING AND USING YOUR CHARACTERS ### Organization Tips: 1. **Keep a Character Bible**: Save all character profiles in one document 2. **Note Tier Level**: Label each character by tier so you know depth level 3. **Update as You Write**: Add discoveries you make while drafting 4. **Track Relationships**: Note how character dynamics evolve 5. **Version Control**: Keep old versions when you make major changes ### Reference While Writing: - **Before Writing Scene**: Review character's voice notes and psychology - **During Drafting**: Check physical tells and speech patterns - **During Revision**: Verify choices match established psychology - **For Consistency**: Reference across chapters, especially for series ### When to Advance Tiers: - Character becomes more important than planned - You're struggling with consistency - Character feels flat despite page time - Planning character arc for series - Writing POV chapters for this character --- **Copy this template, fill in your details, and paste it when working with your Character Creation AI Assistant!** --- ## Version Information **Template Version**: 1.0 **Last Updated**: 2025 **Compatible With**: Character Creation AI Assistant (Claude & ChatGPT) **Optimized For**: Science Fiction and Fantasy (works for all genres) --- ## Quick Start Checklist Before requesting a character, have ready: - [ ] Tier level (1, 2, or 3) - [ ] Genre and subgenre - [ ] Character's role in story - [ ] 1-3 sentence world description - [ ] Key worldbuilding elements - [ ] What the character needs to accomplish - [ ] Any specific concerns or must-haves **Ready to create characters? Pick your template and start!**