Get To Know Your Characters With 25 Questions

Heroes, villains, and side characters are all the protagonists of their own stories. Knowing them intimately will allow a better experience for the readers. Details are key. What makes a character different from everyone else? What makes them the same? This can go a long way with figuring out goals and motivations for your character’s actions within the plot. Figure out what makes them who they are but beware not to info dump. The author should know more about their characters than the reader. Only reveal what needs to be revealed. Mystery = tension.

1. What lessons have been imparted while growing up? Example: hide emotions, trust adults, go with the status quo

2. Who do they trust and why?

3. If from a dysfunctional background have they recreated the dysfunctional situation or have they risen above their history?

4. What is their routine on a normal day?

5. What can you find in their wallet or on their person, at any given moment?

6. How would they consider their childhood? Filled with joy? Better if it never happened?

7. Are they from a big or small family? What family members were they closest too? How did that influence them?

8. What is their family history? Does addiction or mental illness run in the family? Have they ever experienced abuse? If so, how has this affected the character?

9. What are their happiest memories? List at least two.

10. Are they extroverted or introverted? Surrounded by people or a loner?

11. Do they have personal or family secrets? If yes, what are they and why are they important?

12. Are there any traumas in their past that could influence them in the story?

13. What is their style?

14. What is their dream job?

15. What is their worst fear?

16. What are their best personality traits?

17. What are their worst personality traits? (flaws)

18. What are some noticeable habits?

19. What are their physical attributes and how would they affect their perspective?

20. What is the sense (out of the five senses) they rely on most?

21. How do they best learn?

22. What do they think they do better than others?

23. What do they think their weaknesses are?

24. Do they have any strengths which could be weaknesses?

25. Do they have any weaknesses that they could use as strengths?

Exercise

If you're unsure how to go about answering these questions for your character or you want some practice, pick your favorite character from a book or movie and fill in the information for them first.