---
title: Character Appearances
category: Timeline
tags: timeline, characters, appearances, point of view
contextKey: timeline.characterAppearances
micro: See where characters are present and active across the story.
quickTitle: Character appearances
quickSummary: Character appearance lanes show where characters appear, what role they play and how focused views can support character arc review.
screenshot:
---

# Overview

Character appearance markers show where a character is present in the story. They help you see who is active, who disappears for long stretches, and whether a character's role matches the arc you intend.

Presence can mean more than standing in the room. A character may be a point-of-view character, a main participant, a mentioned person or someone whose absence matters.

# How Authors Use This

Focus on one character to review their arc.

Check whether a point-of-view character has enough page presence.

Find long absences that may need a reminder, explanation or deliberate silence.

Compare character activity against relationship, knowledge and attribute changes in the Scene Inspector.

# Related Guides

- [Characters](/Help/Article/characters.overview)
- [Character Attributes](/Help/Article/sceneInspector.characterAttributes)
- [Relationships](/Help/Article/sceneInspector.relationships)
