Character+Development+Questions

How much about your characters do you really know? Small details might seem superfluous even irrelevant to the story you intend to write, but the smallest detail informs the bigger picture. The more you know about your characters, the better you’ll create believable characters who live and breathe on the page and in their own fictional world. Take time to answer each of these questions candidly and deeply. Expand your responses to include other questions that may arise.
 * 1) What do you know about this character now that s/he doesn’t yet know?
 * 2) What is this character’s greatest flaw?
 * 3) What do you know about this character that s/he would never admit?
 * 4) What is this character’s greatest asset?
 * 5) If this character could choose a different identity, who would s/he be?
 * 6) What music does this character sing to when no one else is around?
 * 7) In what or whom does this character have the greatest faith?
 * 8) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s favorite movie?
 * 9) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Does this character have a favorite article of clothing? Favorite shoes?
 * 10) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Does this character have a vice? Name it.
 * 11) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Name this character’s favorite person (living or dead).
 * 12) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s secret wish?
 * 13) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s proudest achievement?
 * 14) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Describe this character’s most embarrassing moment.
 * 15) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s deepest regret?
 * 16) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s greatest fear?
 * 17) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Describe this character’s most devastating moment.
 * 18) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s greatest achievement?
 * 19) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s greatest hope?
 * 20) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Does this character have an obsession? Name it.
 * 21) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s greatest disappointment?
 * 22) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s worst nightmare?
 * 23) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Whom does this character most wish to please? Why?
 * 24) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Describe this character’s mother.
 * 25) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Describe this character’s father.
 * 26) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">If s/he had to choose, with whom would this character prefer to live?
 * 27) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Where does this character fall in birth order? What effect does this have?
 * 28) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Describe this character’s siblings or other close relatives.
 * 29) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Describe this character’s bedroom. Include three cherished items.
 * 30) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s birth date? How does this character manifest traits of his/her astrological sign?
 * 31) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">If this character had to live in seclusion for six months, what six items would s/he bring?
 * 32) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Why is this character angry?
 * 33) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What calms this character?
 * 34) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Describe a recurring dream or nightmare this character might have.
 * 35) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">List the choices (not circumstances) that led this character to his/her current predicament.
 * 36) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">List the circumstances over which this character has no control.
 * 37) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What wakes this character in the middle of the night?
 * 38) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">How would a stranger describe this character?
 * 39) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What does this character resolve to do differently every morning?
 * 40) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Who depends on this character? Why?
 * 41) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">If this character knew s/he had exactly one month to live, what would s/he do?
 * 42) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">How would a dear friend or relative describe this character?
 * 43) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character’s most noticeable physical attribute?
 * 44) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">What is this character hiding from him/herself?
 * 45) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Write one additional thing about your character.