Creative Writing Difficulty: Intermediate

Create Detailed and Engaging Side Characters for Narrative Development

This prompt directs an experienced writer or storyteller to create detailed and engaging side characters based on specified traits, roles, and narrative contexts. It requires defining character backgrounds, motivations, relationships, and unique attributes that enhance the main story. The output should be a structured character profile framework suitable for integration into a larger narrative.

The prompt

85 words3 blanks to fill in

Open in

Act as a professional storyteller with expertise in character development. Based on the provided [STORY SETTING], placeholder, [MAIN PLOT], placeholder, and [CHARACTER ROLES], placeholder, create detailed and compelling side characters by defining their backgrounds, motivations, personality traits, relationships to main characters, and unique attributes that enrich the narrative. Include a structured character profile for each side character that covers their role in the story, key conflicts, and potential character arcs. Present the output as a comprehensive character profile framework that integrates seamlessly into the overall story development process.

Highlighted text is a blank. Swap it for your own detail before you send the prompt.

What it produces

  • Create a side character profile for a loyal best friend who provides comic relief and has a hidden tragic past.
  • Develop a rival side character whose motivations challenge the protagonist and create tension in the plot.
  • Design a mentor figure with a mysterious background who guides the main character through critical decisions.

How to use this prompt

Four steps, about a minute. Nothing to install and no account needed.

  1. Copy the prompt

    Use the Copy button above. The whole prompt goes to your clipboard exactly as written. Nothing is trimmed.

  2. Fill in the blanks

    Replace [STORY SETTING] [MAIN PLOT] [CHARACTER ROLES] with your own details. Everything in square brackets is a blank for you to fill in.

  3. Paste it into your assistant

    Checked against ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini. It is written as plain instructions, so paste it into whichever of them you already use.

  4. Read the result, then push back

    Compare what you get to the example below. If it is close but not right, say what to change: shorter, warmer, more specific, then ask again in the same conversation.

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