Yay! Characters!

So, today I sat down at my computer and typed up a character interview. Now, I know I've posted one on here before (see Procrastination), but I have greatly expanded it. Before the list of questions took up a page and a little bit on a Word document. My new one takes up almost 3 pages. Yeek! That's a lot of questions! I haven't started to fill one out yet, but I'll be doing that today, since I have quite a bit of time. :)

Now, let's talk about character development. Let's be honest: without great characters, your story isn't going to be that good. And by great characters, I mean real characters. Characters with whom the readers can connect with. Characters that are more than words on a page, but that seem to be real, living people. If the reader loves your characters, more often than not they'll love your story. So how do you create great characters? Learn about them. Sit down and interview them. Delve into their past. Find out what makes them tick. It's a long process, but it is so completely and entirely worth it. Feel free to use the interview I've typed up (with some inspiration from K.M. Weiland...) and make any changes necessary to it to help you discover your characters.:)

Name:

                Nicknames:

                Does he like his name?:

                What does his name mean (to him, in general):

Physical appearance:

                Build:

                Posture:

                Head shape:

                Eyes:

                Nose:

                Mouth:

                Hair:

                Skin:

                                Tattoos/scars:

                Voice:

                Clothing:

                What people notice first:

                How would he describe himself?

Health disabilities/handicaps:

Characteristics:

                Personality:

                Strength:

                Weakness:

                                How can his strength be his weakness?

                How much self control and self discipline does he have?

                What makes him angry?

                What makes him cry?

                Fears:

                                What people, places, situations does he avoid?

                Talents:

                What people like best about him:

                Interests and favorites:

                                Political views:

                                Collections:

                                Favorite food/drink:

                                Favorite music:

                                Favorite books:

                                Favorite sport/recreation:

                                Favorite color:

                                Childhood daydreams:

                                Current daydreams:

                                How they spend their free time:

                                Pets:

                Typical expressions:

                                When happy:

                                When angry:

                                When frustrated:

                                When sad:

                                When afraid:

                                Most used facial expressions and gestures:

                Idiosyncrasies:

                Laughs or jeers at:

                Ways to annoy him:

                Ways to cheer him up:

                Hopes and dreams:

                                How does he see himself accomplishing these dreams?

                Worst thing he’s ever done to someone:

                Greatest success:

                Biggest trauma:

                Biggest embarrassment:

                Cares about most:

                Secrets:

                If he could be one thing and succeed at it, what would it be?

                He is the kind of person who:

                What do you love most about him?

                Why will the reader sympathize with him right away?

                How is he ordinary or extraordinary?

                Core need:

                Defining moment:

                History:

Background:

                Birthday:

                Place of birth:

                Parents:

                                What was important to the people who raised him?

                Siblings:

                Economic/social status growing up:

                Ethnic background:

                Places lived:

                                Current place where they live:

                Describe their current room/house:

                Education:

                                Where they got an education:

                                Favorite thing to learn about:

                                Special training:

                Job:

                                What they like/don’t like about their job:

                Friends:

                                Lives with:

                                Fights with:

                                Spends time with:

                                Wishes to spend time with:

                                Who depends on him and why?

                                Who does he depend on and why?

                                People he most admires:

                                How do other people view him?

                Enemies:

                Dating, marriage:

                                Children:

Overall outlook on life:

                Relationship with God:

                Does he like himself?

                What, if anything, would he like to change about his life?

                What personal demons haunt him?

                Is he lying to himself about something?

                Optimistic/Pessimistic:

                Confidence level:

Items in his pocket:

Typical day:

               

                

Happy writing!