Ernest Hemingway said, “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.”
In order to bring people to life on the page, a writer must get to know her subjects extremely well. One way to do this is to interview your characters. Here are 25 questions to ask each new character you’re writing. Try setting a timer for about 30 minutes and answering as your character. Let their voice come through as they tell you who they are.
- What’s your full name? Do you have any nicknames and, if so, who calls you this and why?
- How old are you? (And how old are you mentally? Do you act your age or much younger/older?)
- What is your occupation?
- Where do you live and who do you live with?
- What do you look like? What are your best and worst physical features? Do you have any scars or tattoos? If so, how/why did you get them?
- What are your best and worst habits?
- Who are/were your parents (names, occupations, personalities, traits you’ve inherited, etc.)?
- Do you have any siblings? Is so, what are/were they like?
- What was your childhood like?
- Did you enjoy school? If not, why did you struggle?
- Who are the most important people in your life now? How do these relationships affect you?
- What do you care most about?
- What is your biggest fear?
- What is the best thing that’s ever happened to you? What’s the worst thing?
- What do you consider to be the most important event in your life so far?
- What is your greatest achievement in your life so far?
- What is your biggest secret? Does anyone else know?
- What is your biggest dream for yourself?
- What is the most evil thing you’ve ever done? What’s the kindest thing you’ve ever done?
- Who has had the most influence on you?
- If you could use one word to define yourself, what would it be?
- What three words would others probably use to describe you?
- What do you have in your pockets or purse?
- What are your pet peeves?
- Do you like yourself?