136 Character Development Questions

141 Character Development Questions Personal Questions 1. What is their real, birth name? 2. What name do they use? 3. Do they have a nickname? - What is it? - Where did they get it? 4. What do they look like? - Height - Weight - Hair - Eyes - Skin - Apparent age - Distinguishing features 5. How do they dress most of the time? 6. How do they "dress up?" 7. How do they "dress down?" 8. What do they wear when they go to sleep? 9. Do they wear any jewellery? 10. In their opinion, what is their best feature? 11. What's their real birth date? 12. Where do they live? 13. Do they own a car? 14. What is their most prized possession? - Why do they value it so much? 15. What one word best describes them?

Familial Questions 1. What was their family like?

2. Who was their father? - What was he like? - What was their relationship with him like?

3. Who was their mother? - What was she like? - What was their relationship with her like? 4. Were their parents married? 5. What was their parents’ relationship like? 6. Did they remain together?

7. Do they have any siblings? - What are their siblings’ names? - What are they like?

8. What's the worst thing one of their siblings ever did to them? 9. What's the worst thing they've done to one of their siblings?

10. When's the last time they saw any member of their family? - Where are they now?

11. Did they ever meet any other family members? - Who were they? - What did they think of them?

Childhood Questions 1. What is their first memory?

2. What was their favourite toy?

3. What was their favourite game?

4. Who was their best friend when they were growing up?

5. What is their fondest childhood memory?

6. What is their worst childhood memory?

Adolescent Questions 1. How old were they when they went on their first date? - Who was it with? - How did it go? 2. What was their view of authority? 3. What event most affected it?

4. What were they like in high school? 5. What "clique" did they best fit in with?

6. What were their high school goals?

7. Who was their idol when they were growing up? 8. Who did they first fantasize about in life?

9. What is their favourite memory from adolescence?

10. What is their worst memory from adolescence?

Schooling Questions 1. Did they finish high school? - Why or why not? - What were their grades like? - What did they study? 2. Did they attend university? - Why or why not? - What were their grades like? - What did they study? 3. Did they enjoy their time at school? - Why or why not?

4. Do they have any regrets about their schooling?

Occupational Questions 1. Do they have a job? - What is it? - Do they like it? - If no job, where does their money come from?

2. What is their boss or employer like? 3. What are their co-workers like? - Do they get along with them? - Any in particular? - Which ones don't they get along with?

4. What is something they had to learn or do that they hated?

5. Do they tend to save or spend their money? - Why?

Likes & Dislikes Questions 1. What hobbies do they have?

2. Who is their closest friend? - Describe them. - How does the character know them?

3. Who is their worst enemy? - Describe them. - Why they don't get along?

4. Do they listen to music? 5. What bands do they like?

6. What tape or CD hasn't left their player since they purchased it?

7. What song is "their song?" - Why?

8. Do they watch movies? 9. What is their favourite movie of all time?

10. Do they read? 11. What are their favourite books?

12. Do they watch television? 13. What do they watch on television?

14. Do they care about politics? - Why? 15. Which way do they tend to vote? - Why?

16. What type of places do they hang out in with their friends?

17. What annoys them more than anything else? - Why? 18. What would be the perfect gift for them?

19. What's the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen?

20. What time of day is their favourite? - Why?

21. What kind of weather is their favourite? - Why?

22. What is their favourite food? 23. What is their least favourite food? 24. What is their favourite drink? 25. What's their favourite animal? - What do they like about that animal?

26. Do they have any pets?

27. Do they want any pets? 28. What do they find most relaxing? 29. What habit that others have annoys them most?

30. What embarrasses them? - Why?

31. What do they like about themselves? 32. What don't they like about themselves?

33. How would they like to look?

Sex & Intimacy Questions 1. What is their sexuality?

2. Who was the first person they had sex with? - When did it happen? - What was it like? - How well did it go?

3. Have they ever had a same-sex experience? - Who with? - What was it like? - How did it go?

4. What is their deepest, most well-hidden sexual fantasy? - Would they ever try it? 5. What is the wildest thing they've ever done, sexually? - Who was it with? - When did it happen?

6. Is there any sexual activity that they enjoy and/or practice regularly that can be considered non-standard? - Why do they like it?

7. Is there any sexual activity that they will not, under any circumstances, do? - Why not?

8. Do they currently have a lover? - What is their name?

- What is the relationship like? - What are they like? - Why are they attracted to them?

9. What is their idea of the perfect date?

10. What their idea of the perfect partner?

11. Do they ever want to get married and have children? - When do they see this happening?

12. What is more important - sex or intimacy? - Why?

13. What was their most recent relationship like? - Who was it with? 14. What's the worst thing they've done to someone they loved?

Drug & Alcohol Questions 1. How old were they when they first got drunk? - What was the experience like? - Did anything good come out of it? - Did anything bad come out of it?

2. Do they drink on any kind of regular basis?

3. What kind of alcohol do they prefer? 4. Have they ever tried any other kind of "mood altering" substance? - Which? - What did they think of it? 5. What do they think of drugs and alcohol?

Morality Questions 1. What one act in their past are they most ashamed of? 2. What one act in their past are they most proud of?

3. Have they ever been in an argument before?

- What was it about? - Who was it with? - Who won?

4. Have they ever been in a physical fight before? - What was it about? - Who was it with? - Who won? 5. What do they feel most strongly about?

6. What do they pretend to feel strongly about, just to impress people?

7. What trait do they find most admirable?

8. Is there anything they think should not be incorporated into the media or art? -Why or why not? 9. Do they have any feelings in general that they are disturbed by? - What are they? - Why do they disturb the character?

10. What are their religious views? 11. Do they think the future is hopeful? - Why?

12. What do they consider the worst thing that can be done to another person? - Why?

13. What's the worst thing they could actually do to someone they hated?

14. Are they a better leader or follower? - Why? 15. What is their responsibility to the world, if any? -Why?

16. Do they believe that redemption is possible? - Can anyone be redeemed, or are there only certain circumstances that can be? 17. Is it okay for them to cry? - When was the last time they cried?

18. What do they think is wrong with the world?

19. What do they think is wrong with society? 20. Do they believe in the supernatural? - If so, what? - If no, why?

Miscellaneous Questions 1. What frightens them the most? 2. Has anyone or anything they’ve ever cared for died? - How did it affect them? 3. What was the worst injury they’ve ever received? - How did it happen? 4. Are they ticklish? 5. What is their current long term goal? 6. What is their current short term goal? 7. Do they have any bad habits? - What are they? - Are they aware of them? - Do they plan to get rid of them? 8. If they could be anyone else, who would they be? - What job would they have? - What hobbies would they have? - How would they spend their time? 9. What are they nostalgic for? 10. What time period do they wish they could have lived in? - Why? 11. Are they a private person? - Why? 12. If they became rich overnight, what would they do with the money? 13. What would they wish for if they found a genie? 14. What do they do when they are bored?

15. What is the worst handicap or disfigurement they can conceive? - Why is it so frightening to them? 16. What would be their preferred way to die? 17. What would be their worst way to die? 18. What is their deepest regret?