http://www.creative-writing-now.com/writing-character-profiles.html

Do you write up character profiles like this? If you do, how often do you find yourself referencing it to see if what you're writing really fits the character? Does it help you keep your story straight?

I do for my main story...I find it helps me better clarify my character and keep details straight. They are detailed for main characters and basic for non main characters, and some of them contain snippits and info - like memories, etc.

I'll post mine in a topic later on when I get them out.

Character profiles are very helpful. I use them especially when I write a story with many various characters. That way I'm sure that I won't forget important details.

Yes, character profiles are as important as the characters themselves. That way, you have an idea of how each character is like and the like. I think it's always a good idea to write down the character profiles because you often use them and will be using them later in writing.

It is a great way to ensure authenticity when creating a character and to start from scratch and build on that as your story evolves. If you create a basic character profile and then add bits on as the story evolves then I feel you get a more realistic and credible bunch of characters. Without these our stories wouldn't have that sparkle and attraction from the reader.

I'm not too bothered about profiles. I don't really want to know my character's favourite colour or things like that, it seems to irrelevant to me. I think what creates the character and makes them real and gives them personality, is the way in which they respond to what's going on around them.

I throw a bunch of stuff at my character, and he/she gets angry/ sad depending and therefore shows what kind of character he/ she is. As for seeing how the character looks, I like the reader to make up their mind on how the character looks, really. I will mention little things like the build (short/ tall/ skinny) or hair colour, but everything else I leave to the reader.

I know some people benefit from doing these profiles, but I dunno, I just don't.

It works differently for most people. Writing character profiles in my opinion demands too much from the writer. For instance, you need to know your characters to the point where you can be able to tell what kind of decision they'd make in a specific situation.

Avoiding writing character profiles doesn't mean the writer will have difficulty creating 3-D characters. This is a short-cut I use and it works. In my life I've met a lot of people some real, others in stories. These are ready-made fleshed-out characters. All I do is find someone who'd fit the role a character plays in a story and initially in the draft, I'll use their names (and project their personality to the character in the story) then change the names later when I'm re-writing the story. Unfortunately, this strategy can't work for everyone.

Well, I do the profiles as a way to be able to refer back if I'm confused....and also to better get to know them.

Also if I take a 3 year break I have something solid to work with .