How to Create Lifelike Characters with AI 

I took a picture and asked ChatGPT to transcribe and here’s the prompt: Here is the transcribed text from the screenshot: You are an expert at crafting well-rounded, dynamic characters. We’re going to create a character profile for the [protagonist/antagonist/mentor/etc.] of my [GENRE] book. The finished profile should be 1500 words long. Here is what I know so far about the character. [INSERT YOUR KNOWN DETAILS HERE] With that information in mind, build a character profile that includes highly detailed information on the following: Basic Details: Name, Age, Place of Birth, Current Residence, Nationality, Education Level, Occupation, Income Level, Marital Status. Physical Attributes: Height, Weight, Build, Skin Color, Eye Color, Hair Color, Face Shape, Distinguishing marks like tattoos/scars/birthmarks/etc., Any Physical Ailments or Disfigurements.

@@MistaD78 Here's the rest (picks up right after "Disfigurements": Clothing and Style: What do they typically wear? (at work, out on the town, at home, asleep, etc.) Do they wear accessories of any kind? Are there any objects or pets that they keep close? What is their level of grooming? (disheveled, neat, wearing makeup, etc.) Communication and Mannerisms: Are they from a foreign land? What is their posture? (stiff, slouching, casual, relaxed, exhausted, etc.) Do they have a specific gesture that they overuse? (hand-talking, controlled, agitated) Do they make eye contact with the people they talk to? What curse word do they use the most? Do they curse? Do they have a catch phrase? Do they have speech impediments? Are there any "ticks" in the way they talk/move? What does their laugh sound like? (loud and booming, snickering, high squeak) What is their handwriting like? How do they walk? (confident, lazy, fast, distracted, etc.) What is their smile like? (warm, false, nervous, etc.) Do they wear their emotions on their sleeve or keep them hidden? What is their resting default facial expression? Psychological Profile: Are they introverted or extroverted? What is happiness to them? Do they have a favorite place, food, movie, etc.? Why? How do they feel about love? Being in a relationship? Are they a leader or a follower? What gets them excited? Do they have a favorite quote? What makes them angry? What are their morals? What would they do with unlimited money? Time? What is their love language? What is their Myers-Briggs type? What is their Enneagram type? What are their top 5 Clifton Strengths. Do they have any mental disabilities? Motivation and Fears: What do they want most in the world at the start of the story? What do they actually need most in the world? What is their biggest fear? What are the most proud of? Family: Does your character have a family? How big is their family? Have any of them died? If so, how did this affect your central character? What is your character's current relationship with their parents? Siblings? What are some defining moments between your character and their family members? Lifestyle: Do they enjoy their job? Do they have any other hobbies or interests? What are they competent at? Are they used to living frugally or do they enjoy a lavish lifestyle? What are their opinions towards money? History: Where were they raised? Do they still live there? Why? What are their happiest/saddest/earliest memories? What were they like as a child? What are some of the biggest defining moments of their life? How did they get to where they are today? What is their biggest regret? Has your character experienced any trauma?

Thanks

@@Neskicks thanks, I missed those. Now I’ll add them to my custom gpt eventually.

“Drive the dialog and decisions based on the psychology(background+physical attractiveness+myers briggs type+enneagram+top 5 Clifton strengths+urgent need+relationships with other characters) of each character in the scene.”

It is because now the free version is using GPT-4o.

It’s available for those on my email list. Subscribe on Storyhacker.ai

@@TheNerdyNovelist I think I am, but I’ll check to see if your actual newsletter I’m getting. Thanks again!

@@TheNerdyNovelist I've tried numerous times to find any of the prompts, and as such have subscribed like 10 times. I still can't figure out where it is.

@@johnnyskidz Me neither

Ya I hate all those books with words. Better to have her speak less, then we could have few pages. 😜

@@Justise It's about character, personality. Show don't tell her insecurities. Making it sound different to any generic upbeat neuro-typical person. I thought those were important.

Try Mistral.

@@TheNerdyNovelist thanks for answering me☺

All prompts are available for free via my website Storyhacker.ai

​@@TheNerdyNovelistI couldn't find this video's prompt

@@TheNerdyNovelist I have been subscribed to your site's newsletter for awhile now and I have not seen this prompt or many others you claim are available on your site or in the few emails I have received

Yes but I’ve found that makes the output worse. Also pricier.

@@TheNerdyNovelist So do you have any suggestion for stuff like connections with other characters, character development, way of speaking, motives etc? Maybe it can be putted in different area of codex or novelcrafter?

I have a suspicion that most LLMs were trained on a mountain of decades worth of amateur fan fiction because a lot of AI-isms (heart pounding in chest, furrowed brow) look like what you find in fan fiction

Yeah, with a handle like yours the question seems fitting.

I have not found that to be true. My prompt has created strong female characters. My college character is an activist and my adult female character, a Dr. is more of a cross between NUrse Jackie and Dr. House. All personalities created bi AI when I gave it my prompts. If you leave it all up to the AI, I assure you male characters are just as vapid

@@bugwar5545 Not sure what that's supposed to mean, but the comment was meant to be funny. Maybe lighten up a little.

@@Justise I was making a joke, but my experience have been that you can give an AI base template for a personality, and it will generally do alright, but over time, it becomes more difficult to get it to generate body language or behavior where the female character isn't "taking a shaky breath" "hesitating in doorways” or "speaking in barely more than a whisper" any time there is a hint of conflict. It's especially true if you aren't trying to write an abrasive jerk of a character but need someone with some backbone. My issue isn't that they're vapid, it's That they are infantilized to the point of it being comical.