Building character profiles for your story is, in my opinion, an essential part of storytelling. You need to know your own characters, and it doesn’t hurt to return to your character profiles and refresh your mind on the personality of the character(s) that you are currently writing about. The example below is a character profile of David from my series of books, The Davidic Chronicles. As you’ll see, the profile is rather in depth allows me to keep David in character as I wrote the novels.

You’ll notice that I kept track of David’s changing physical appearance as he grew older in each book. For continuity, this is important to do.

Hopefully, this example will help you, too.

David, Son of Jesse           

Summary and History: David, of course, is the main character. He was anointed by Samuel to replace King Saul, killed Goliath, had to run from Saul, and eventually became king of Israel.

Description: “David’s hair, as did his skin, tended toward the lighter side—perhaps a trait inherited from his mother. At nearly seventeen, he struck a striking figure—at least he hoped the girls thought so. He had a man’s build already, despite his youth, his arms and legs were well muscled from years of herding sheep and practicing with the sling and staves. He could outrun every man in the village, and he was by far the best shot with the sling. Not as tall as his eldest brother, David nonetheless was above average height.” “The warmth would bring a ruddy glow to his checks and face, marred only by the very beginnings of a beard.” [Anointed]

“Adriel stood several finger widths shorter than David, and while David was still putting on muscle and filling out in the shoulders, Adriel, in his mid-twenties from what David could tell, possessed a lean, handsome frame that did not lack for well-toned muscles. His light brown hair nearly matched David’s in shade and cut, though Adriel’s skin color was several shades darker.” [Valiant]

“This was no boy that had come before his king. This was a warrior, a man who had shed much blood. The boyish face had long since faded in favor of a leaner, more rugged appearance. The scraggly beard had filled out and was well trimmed and reflected the strength of the man beneath. David had added a handbreadth to his height and his body had swelled with well-toned muscles. Saul could pick out battle scars, one particular one that ran raggedly from David’s left ear and disappeared into his beard, but leaving a path in the skin that the beard would never be able to fully hide. It was more than David’s appearance that grabbed Saul’s attention. It was his presence, the air of command and self-assurance that clung to him like a well-used cloak. David was truly a leader of men on par with Saul himself. Here was a true challenger to Saul’s throne, not an upstart boy with delusions of grandeur. And the Spirit of the Lord was so obviously upon David that it sent a cold spike of dread deep into Saul’s heart, like a death knell that would forever ring in his ears.” [Valiant]

“David ran a hand through his light-brown hair, his grayish eyes scanning every inch of his wife’s face.” “No longer the boy, David carried himself like a lion, every step conveying lethal power and dominance. His muscles rippled with supple grace when he moved, and his grey eyes could pierce right to her soul with a keen intelligence that stripped away her emotional barriers with ease. Years of frontline battle had given his face a rugged, hard aspect made even more fierce by a scar that ran from his left ear into his beard—a gift from a now dead Philistine warrior. He kept his hair cropped short, so nothing was hid of his chiseled features and strong, square jaw. Standing several handbreadths taller than she, David was the preeminent warrior in Israel, the Hebrew champion who had felled Goliath and turned back the Philistines time after time. [Fugitive]

He tugged at his beard and then traced the scar on his left cheek. It had darkened over the years since a Philistine spear had kissed his skin. Once fair skinned, weather and sun had darkened him to match the scar. His hands and forearms were crisscrossed with thinner scars, testimony to the many battles he had fought. He studied the scars, old friends that sometimes reminded him of things best forgotten. He clenched his fists, making scars along his knuckles show white. So many battles. So much death. [Delivered]

The Hebrew carried lethality about him as another would a cloak or armor. David was truly a dangerous man. Muscular and fit, above average height for a Hebrew, David looked every handspan a king. His close-cropped beard and hair mingled with battle scars that gave David a rakish air that exuded authority. Even his gray eyes seemed to pierce to Achish’s very soul, seeing everything, laying his deepest secrets bare. [King]

Defining Character Trait: A man after God’s own heart.

Character Strengths: Loyal to a fault. Tenacious. Loves God and seeks to do God’s will. Can play the harp incredibly well. Does not necessarily want to be a leader, but can lead very well when in that position. He is a strong and skilled warrior. He can willingly admit when he has done wrong, so he possesses a degree of humility.

Character Flaws: Anger issues. Depression issues. Has a wondering eye for women. Likes attention. Doesn’t take defeat well.

Quirks: Claustrophobic. The dark bothers him somewhat, part of his claustrophobic nature. Hates goats as an animal and as a food.

People Interaction: David generally gets along with people. He is a quick judge of character, and not always successfully. He can forgive others for the sake of appearances, but will hold an emotional grudge. He is a peacemaker, more interested in resolving conflict than in uplifting himself.

Ambition: To honor the king and his God.

Story Goal:

• • Anointed – Main character. Kills Goliath. Age 17.
  • Valiant – Main character. Behaves wisely, but must flee from Saul to keep from being killed. By the time the book ends, he is 22 years of age. Five years have passed.
  • Fugitive – He runs from Saul, fleeing first to Gath than to the cave of Adullam. He is 22 when the story starts and 23 when the story ends.
  • Delivered – He continuously runs from Saul, eventually sparing Saul’s life on two separate occasions. In the end, he takes his army and flees to Gath. He is 23 when the story begins, and likely 27 when it ends.
  • King – He is finally anointed king in Judah. Age 30.

Conflict: Saul is out to kill him, but he doesn’t feel he can defend himself.

Epiphany: God will defend him. He must trust God.