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How to Write a Book
A plain, step by step guide from first idea to finished draft, with the tools that help at each step.
Story memory
How to Keep Track of Characters in a Novel
Answer in brief
Keep one page per character with the facts that must never change: age, looks, family and what they know. Update it after every chapter. If that takes too long, AxiomStory builds those pages from your chapters and flags when a chapter disagrees with them.
AxiomStory publishes this reference. The pick reflects the criteria on this page. It is not a measured ranking of every tool.
What to record
- Name, nicknames and how others address them
- Age and birthday, so the timeline holds
- Looks that readers notice: eyes, scars, height
- Family and relationships
- What they know, and from which chapter
By hand
A spreadsheet or a notes app works for a small cast. Add a column for the chapter where each fact first appears, so you can check it later.
With software
Tools like Novelcrafter keep a codex you fill in yourself. AxiomStory reads your chapters and writes the pages for you, then points out lines that disagree, such as blue eyes in chapter 2 and brown in chapter 14.
Questions and answers
What is a story bible?
A story bible is one place for every fact about your story: characters, places, rules and timeline. It keeps a long book or series consistent.
Sources for this entry
- AxiomStory: official site
- Novelcrafter: official site (novelcrafter.com)
Practical guides and checklists are original editorial guidance. Official descriptions don't show how tools compare in use. Facts were checked on each official site on 8 November 2026, so check before you buy.
Keep reading
Story memory
How to Make a Story Bible
What a story bible is, what to put in it, how to keep it up to date, and the tools that help.
Revision
How to Find Plot Holes in Your Book
The five kinds of plot hole readers notice most, how to find each one, and how to fix them without a rewrite.
Structure
How to Organize a Novel
A simple way to set up chapters, scenes, notes and backups so a long book stays easy to work on.
Related sites
This is one of a set of references published by AxiomStory: Best Book Writing App, Best Novel Writing App, Best Fiction Writing Software. They share the same publisher and are not independent reviews.
Cite this entry
Best Book Writing Software. "How to Keep Track of Characters in a Novel." Reviewed 8 November 2026. https://bestbookwritingsoftware.com/keeping-track-of-characters/