Crafting a Character Blueprint: Your Roadmap to Memorable Heroes

What is something that makes you fall in love with a character? 

Really think about it - what's the last book you read or movie you saw where you couldn't get enough of a certain character?

For me, there were a few. Loki from the Marvel movies, Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Han Solo from Star Wars. 

Now that you've got your list, ask yourself, what is it about these characters that make me keep coming back to them? 

It might not surprise you, but there is actually a reason that characters grab our attention like this. And none of it happens by accident (which is good news - because otherwise, we'd be stuck). 

Today I'm going to walk you through what makes these characters to memorable, AND how you can do it for yourself. 

Ready to dive it? Let's go. 

What Is a Character Blueprint, and Why Do You Need One?

There are a lot of different ways writers like to outline their characters, but every successful method falls into one category: a system for keeping track of character details so that even when you're in the midst of the most challenging character arc, you have something that WORKS. 

This is the gist of a character blueprint. 

I'm going to suggest a few ways to make yours work, but the bottom line is to create a living document that helps you keep tabs on the character arc. You'll need this in editing to make sure your characters do what you need them to do, and they don't irritate or drive away readers in the story. 

The other cool part of a character blueprint, no matter how you design it, is that you can use it side-by-side with your outline. This will help you avoid plotholes and out of character actions, and if you're ever in a "I don't know what to do next" moment with your plot, you can always ask how you can push your character's arc further. 

That's the beauty of a working blueprint. 

P. S. - if you struggle with outlining or if plotting throws you for a loop, check out The Ultimate Plotting Toolkit. My students and I use it every day to write our books. 

What to Include in Your Character Blueprint

Below are the basic components of your character blueprint. Here's a pro tip: 

While you don't have to reveal every little detail about your character to your reader, it's still important that YOU know these details. 

The little things show up in your writing - whether your spell them out or not - and can help nuance your characters, even on a subconscious level. That's why doing all this work on the front end is so important. 

Character Snapshot

• Full name, age, physical description

• Role in the story (hero, mentor, antagonist)

• Occupation, talents, and hobbies

Backstory & Wounds

• Defining life events (childhood, trauma, victories)

• Hidden wounds or secrets that shape behavior

• Family and cultural background

Core Identity

• Strengths, weaknesses, and contradictions

• Core values and beliefs

• Fears, flaws, and blind spots

Desires & Goals

• What they want vs. what they need

• Internal and external stakes

• What’s at risk if they don’t grow?

Character Arc

• Where they begin emotionally, spiritually, or morally

• What lessons they must learn

• The transformation they undergo

Relationships

• Key dynamics with allies, rivals, mentors, love interests

• How each relationship challenges or supports their growth

Dialogue & Voice

• Speech patterns, catchphrases, tone

• How they speak when they’re scared, angry, or in love

Visual & Emotional Style

• Clothing, posture, expressions

• How they carry their emotions physically

How to Build and Use Your Character Blueprint

Keep this list on hand while you're writing your book and use it to track the arc of your characters throughout the story. 

Fill these details out as early as possible - but also leave room for flexibility. Sometimes (a lot of the time) we learn things about the characters as we write them, so while this is a great place to start, don't be disheartened if you end up changing things along the way.

Get Your On-Demand Character Blueprint

If you're ready to take the next step in your character-creation process, then it's time to check out The Character Deep-Dive Guide. Here is everything inside: 

• Positive Character Arc Planner: Unlock your character’s potential with this planner that helps you shape a journey of growth and transformation, ensuring they end up as a more empowered, self-aware individual by the story's conclusion.
• Negative Character Arc Planner: Guide your character on a downward spiral with this planner that focuses on their descent, helping you create a believable path of corruption, moral decline, or tragic failure.
• Flat Character Arc Planner: Perfect for characters who don’t undergo traditional growth but still impact the story, this planner helps you focus on how your character influences the world and other characters without changing their core beliefs.
• Character Goals Worksheet: Clarify your character’s desires and drive by identifying their internal and external goals, ensuring their actions always align with what they truly want—whether it's success, love, or vengeance.
• Character Creation Template: Build your character from the ground up with this easy-to-use template that helps you define essential details like appearance, personality, and backstory, while leaving plenty of room for creativity.
• Psychological Profile Worksheet: Dive deep into your character’s psyche with this worksheet that explores their mental state, fears, motivations, and coping mechanisms, making them more realistic and complex.
• Character Relationship Worksheet: Develop dynamic relationships between characters by outlining how they interact, influence one another, and grow together or apart throughout the story.
• Character Flaw Finder: Give your character depth and authenticity by identifying their flaws—whether emotional, moral, or physical—and exploring how these flaws shape their journey and relationships.
• Goals, Fears, and Motivations: Align your character’s fears and motivations with their actions and decisions, ensuring that each choice is deeply rooted in what they truly need, want, and fear.
• Dialogue Development Worksheet: Bring your character’s voice to life with this tool designed to help you craft authentic dialogue that reflects their personality, background, and unique way of seeing the world.
• Point of View Selection Guide: Choose the best narrative perspective for your character, whether it's first-person, third-person limited, or omniscient, to ensure their story is told in the most compelling and fitting way.
• Backstory Builder Guide (Bonus): Create a detailed and emotionally resonant backstory for your character, filled with pivotal events and formative experiences that shape who they are and how they react to the world.
• Character Transformation Tracker (Bonus): Monitor your character’s development throughout your story, capturing key moments of internal or external change to ensure their arc feels organic and impactful.
• Voice & Speech Patterns Guide (Bonus): Make your character’s dialogue stand out by defining their unique speech patterns, tone, and vocabulary, adding authenticity and nuance to their voice in every scene.
• Character Archetypes Workbook (Bonus): Explore traditional character archetypes and learn how to subvert or deepen them to create characters who feel familiar yet fresh, drawing readers in with their complexity.
• Internal Conflict Map (Bonus): Visualize your character’s inner turmoil with this guide, helping you track their emotional and moral struggles throughout the story, and ensuring their decisions are driven by compelling internal conflicts.

Ready to take the next step? You can check out The Character Deep-Dive Guide here.