Description Guidelines
Principles to consider when you are writing a Codex entry.
Many of our users feel stuck when they begin writing Codex entries. With so much possibility at your fingertips, where do you start? Whilst this is not a comprehensive list, hopefully it will help you make an informed decision about what to include in your entries.
Start simple; cheaper/small context AI models cling to data that you provide. If after a few generations of prose you find that a character’s eye colour is always being mentioned, then remove this information and place it in the notes. Likewise, if the way they speak is prominent, add it in.
You could also place these bits of information into a Codex detail that is set as not seen by the AI.
As a rule of thumb, start out with the smallest Codex that gives you what you need, to save on token costs.
It does not make a huge difference if you write your Codex entry as a giant paragraph or under headings, save for your own ease of reading. Feel free to experiment with what makes you happy, but don’t get bogged down on the perfect form set-up. Perfection is the enemy of done.
Keep additional information in the notes section of the Codex. We recommend to also add physical descriptions in here, as the AI likes to pick up things like “green hair” and mentions them every time it can (see point A).
Avoid putting spoilers into your Codex entry; the AI will use the information it finds in the Codex to enhance its understanding of your story.
In the same vein, only include information you actually want including in the prose generated. This might mean you need to change your Codex entry as you write. You can also use progressions to achieve this.
Example Codex descriptions
If you want to include all information in the description, rather than in Codex details, here are some further examples to help you. These examples will use the March sisters from Little Women as an example.
Character Summary
These can be as simple as one paragraph (see example below), or multi-paragraph descriptions.
Meg March, the eldest of the four March sisters, is a conventional and maternal figure. She is beautiful with dark hair and eyes, and a fair complexion. Meg embodies the virtues of the 19th-century domestic woman: she is kind, nurturing, and prioritizes her family, often taking on a motherly role towards her younger sisters. Meg speaks in a gentle and refined manner, reflecting her aspirations towards a genteel lifestyle. She often grapples with the constraints of poverty, yearning for luxury and comfort, which is evident in her occasional envy of richer girls and her brief indulgence in vanity and materialism. Despite this, Meg’s character fundamentally revolves around her deep sense of responsibility and her commitment to family values.
The Character Bio
These convey the same information as a character summary, but in a “form” format, that allows for easier editing and scanning for information.
Appearance: Long, chestnut hair, large eyes, and a slender, energetic figure. Her appearance is more tomboyish than her sisters.
Personality: Jo is spirited, independent, and impulsive, with a strong sense of justice. She often challenges traditional societal expectations of women, showing a preference for literary pursuits and outdoor activities.
Key Mannerisms: Jo exhibits brisk, energetic movements and is known for her animated expressions. She often uses her physicality to emphasize her emotions and thoughts.
Patterns of Speech: Jo’s speech is bold, direct, and sometimes blunt. She uses casual, spirited language, which sets her apart from her more reserved sisters.
Goals: Jo’s primary goal is to become a successful author. She is passionate about writing and sees it as a means to express herself creatively and support her family financially. Her journey involves navigating her personal ambitions, her reluctance towards traditional domestic roles, and her deep commitment to her family.
Including Examples
This combines either of the above options, adding in examples of how the character speaks.
Beth is delicate and petite, with a fair complexion, soft eyes, and a shy demeanour. She has immense kindness, selflessness, and a love for domestic tasks and music, particularly the piano. Beth is notably reserved and speaks softly, often with a thoughtfulness and sincerity that reflects her inner goodness. Despite her shyness, Beth exudes a quiet strength, especially in her moral support to her family and her resilience in the face of her own frail health.
Speech examples:
“Oh, sir, I cannot thank you. I’m so glad, it will make Jo so happy to have me learn to play that she will not mind my being dumb.”
“Mother, dear, don’t be sad about me. I’m not afraid.”
Which Codex style is best?
This isn’t a straightforward answer. In our experience, we have found that there is a bigger emphasis on the model than the content in the bio. Smaller AI models (i.e. those trained on lower amount of information) are more prone to bringing up Codex information in every generation. Those that are trained on more information use Codex entries are more selective with which information they use, and as such the outputs are more nuanced.