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How Detailed Should Character Profiles Be?

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In this thread, I'm exploring the different details that go into creating well-rounded characters. I'm asking the community about how much detail to include in character profiles, such as birthdays, family background, personality traits, fears, and past experiences.
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    • jamesalery

    Your first time is always over so quickly, isn't it?
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    Mar 22, 2025
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    Hey everyone!

    I'm new to writing and working on developing my characters. I've read a lot of advice about, including things like birthdays, family background, hobbies, personality traits (like introvert vs extrovert), and even quirks or habits. But I'm not sure how much of this stuff is truly necessary to make a character feel real and well-rounded.

    Is it important to include things like favorite foods, fears, or experiences? Or should I focus on the more basic aspects like goals, motivations, and conflicts? Also, I've heard some people use random generators for things like birthdays, age, or names.for example this birthday generator for characters, Is that a useful approach or unnecessary?

    I'm really just trying to find a good balance. Do these extra details really strengthen a character, or can they be overdone? What's your approach when developing characters?

    Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and tips!

    Thanks!
     
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