The
Soulsmith
Character Creation & Development
Where characters gain depth, motive, history, and the spark that makes them unforgettable.
A story lives or dies by the people who inhabit it. A character isn’t just a name in a scene; they’re desire, contradiction, flaw, charm, power, fear, memory, and momentum. They shape the plot as much as the plot shapes them.
The Soulsmith is where those raw impressions become real. Together, we forge characters with depth, clarity, and emotional gravity — the kind of characters who feel alive long after the final page is turned.
The Shaping
Character creation can feel chaotic: scraps of personality scattered across notebooks, backstory spilling into the wrong places, motivations that shift, arcs that don’t quite land.
In the Soulsmith’s workshop, this chaotic energy becomes cohesion.
By the end of the process, you’ll have characters with:
• Clear internal motives and external goals
• Strong arcs tied to plot and theme
• Distinct voices and personality rhythms
• Flaws, contradictions, strengths, and pressure points
• Histories that inform behaviour without overwhelming the story
• Relationships that spark conflict or connection naturally
Your cast becomes the beating heart of the narrative.
The PRocess
We start with your sparks — a name, a personality note, a backstory fragment, a trope you enjoy, or even ‘I need a rival my protagonist can’t quite defeat.’ You can send as much or as little as you like; the Soulsmith’s workshop thrives on raw material in any form.
I take those threads and shape them into full character frameworks: motives, flaws, contradictions, histories, arcs, emotional dynamics, and behavioural patterns that support the tone and stakes of your story. Every character is built from the inside out, so their actions feel natural and meaningful.
Collaboration Style
Because character work can be deeply personal, you can choose how hands-on you want to be:
Continuous Collaboration
I share sections as they’re drafted — personality frameworks, arcs, relationship notes — and you can respond in real time. This is perfect for writers who like to sculpt characters collaboratively, watching them grow layer by layer.
Post-Revision Review
You receive the complete Character Bible in one document, then we refine it together during a dedicated revision round. This works best for writers who prefer to take in the entire cast at once before making adjustments.
Whichever rhythm you choose, the result is a cast that feels alive, distinct, and emotionally grounded.
What’s Included
A typical Soulsmith commission includes:
• A complete Character Bible (5–20+ pages depending on scope)
• Core personality profile and psychological framework
• Motivations, fears, desires, and contradictions
• Backstory and timeline shaping
• Character arcs (internal and external)
• Strengths, flaws, quirks, and behavioural markers
• Voice, speech patterns, and emotional tendencies
• Relationship dynamics and faction ties
• Role in the plot + pressure points that drive conflict
• Optional archetype analysis for extra depth
• Optional visual references or moodboards
Everything is tailored to your genre, tone, and narrative goals.
Price & Turnaround
Character-building projects vary widely, so quotes are based on complexity and the number of characters. As a guide:
Price:
Most Soulsmith commissions fall between €120–€600 depending on depth and extras (arcs, relationships, ensemble casts, etc.).
Turnaround:
Usually 2–4 weeks, depending on the scope and the number of characters.
Rush timelines can sometimes be arranged for smaller commissions.
FAQs
Can you help with just one character?
Absolutely — anything from a protagonist to a side character to a foil.
Do you decide the character for me?
No. I help shape your ideas, strengthen them, and fill in the parts that need clarity.
Can you build an entire ensemble?
Yes. Ensemble-building is one of the most rewarding parts of Soulsmithing.
Does this include plot development?
Only as needed to support character arcs. Full plot construction is handled by The Cartographer.
Do you ensure characters’ arcs interconnect logically?
Absolutely. Each profile considers relationships, dynamics, and how the character contributes to the overall narrative.
Can I request thematic or cultural specifics?
Yes. Character profiles can be tailored to reflect particular themes, cultural contexts, or worldbuilding elements from your story.
Writers usually say that character work makes their story easier to steer. Motivations feel clearer, conflicts make more sense, and characters behave more consistently on the page. The Soulsmith helps create characters who support — rather than fight — the story you want to tell.
