Writers Workshop: Interviewing Your Character

StarBase 118 Staff · December 30, 2019

During your time at the academy, you were required to provide a short biography about your character, giving a brief overview of them and their history. This time we want to take things a step further, to help you create a living, breathing character that acts like a real, genuine person. To achieve this, it is important that you know as much as possible about them.

Today we are going to ask questions about our character and answer honestly from their point of view. Think of it as interviewing your character, which is a great way to get inside their head. Feel free to use as many or as a few as you want.

Basics

Where and when were you born?
Who are/were your parents? (Their names, birthplaces, occupations, personalities, etc.)
Do you have any siblings? If you do, what are/were they like?
Are you right or left-handed?
What does your voice sound like?
On what occasions do you lie?
Do you have a motto? If so, what is it?
Do you have any annoying habits, quirks, strange mannerisms, or other defining characteristics?
What kind of distinguishing facial features do you have?
Do you have any physical traits that stand out, such as scars, birthmarks, tattoos, etc? If you have scars, how did you get them? If you have tattoos, why did you get them and what meaning do they have to you?
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Past

How would you describe your childhood?
How much schooling have you had?
Did you enjoy school? If not, why did you struggle?
Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?
Did you have any role models? If so, describe them and why they were role models.
How did you get along with other members of your family?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What were your favourite activities?
When and where were you the happiest?
Who were your friends and what were they like?
Describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today.
What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?
Who has had the most influence on you?
What do you consider your greatest achievement so far?
What is your greatest regret so far, why? Has this regret formed you into the person you are today? If so, why?
What is the most evil thing you have done so far?
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you so far?
If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?
What is your best memory so far? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
What is your worst memory so far? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
What is your biggest secret? Does anyone else know about this? Which persons do you least want to know about this secret, why?

Beliefs and Opinions

Are you optimistic or pessimistic?
What is your greatest fear? Which other person knows about this fear of yours? Who do you not want to know about this fear of yours, why?
What is your greatest extravagance?
What are your religious views?
Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?
In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any person could do?
Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?
How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings in the company of others?
Do you have any prejudices? If so, what are they and why do you have those specific prejudices?
Who or what would you die for, or otherwise go to extremes for?

Relationships With Others

In general, how do you treat others (politely, as they treat you, by keeping them at a distance, with sarcasm, etc)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how?
How close are you to your family?
Which person do you wish you were closest to?
Do you have a spouse or significant other? If so, describe them in brief.
Have you started your own family? If so, describe them in brief. If not, do you want to start a family? Why or why not?
Who is the most important person in your life, why?
Who is the person you respect the most, why?
Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? What do you most value in your friends? Describe them with some basics such as their personalities, how you met them, what you have in common, etc.
Have you ever been in love? If so, describe in brief what happened (love at first sight, unrequited love, ended up in marriage, ended up in heartbreak, etc).
What do you look for in a potential lover?
Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help?
Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why?
If you died or went missing, who would miss you?
Who is the person you despise the most, why?
Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict?
Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations?
Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not?
Do you care what others think of you? Why or why not?

Likes and Dislikes

What is/are your favourite hobbies and pastimes?
What is your favourite colour?
What is your favourite food?
What is your most treasured possession?
Do you like to read? If so, what do you like to read?
What do you believe is good entertainment (music, movies, dance, art, etc.)?
What makes you laugh?
What shocks or offends you?
What makes you happy?
What makes you sad?
What makes you angry?
If you usually walk away from a situation that makes you angry, where do you go to calm yourself?
How do you deal with stress?
How do you deal with pain (physical and emotional)?
Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
What are your pet peeves?

Personal

Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
Which talent would you most like to have? Why?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Are you generally introverted or extroverted?
Are you generally organised or messy?
Name three things you consider yourself to be good at and three things you consider yourself to be bad at.
What three words best describe your personality?
What three words would others probably use to describe you?
What goal do you most want to accomplish in your life?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?