Have You Completed A Character Questionnaire

Creative Writing Tips –

Complete a character questionnaire for each of your main characters or even secondary characters that play a vital role in your story. This way you will know your characters well before you start writing about them.

Fill in as much information about them as possible. Don’t only answer what you will need in your story. The objective here is to get to know your character till he becomes a ‘live’ person in your mind.

So let’s begin…

1. In a few sentences write down a summary of the plot

2. Character’s personal details
   1. First name
   2. Surname
   3. Age

3. In a few sentences write down the character’s back story a bit about his background

4. The role of the character in your story
   1. What are character’s goals
   2. What are character’s motivations
   3. What is the character’s conflict
   4. How will the conflict stop the character from reaching his goal
   5. What is he going to do to overcome the conflict
   6. What problems will crop up during the story
   7. How will those problems get worse
   8. What will the character do to overcome those problems
   9. How will he resolve the conflict
   10. How will your character’s background influence how he behaves in your story
   11. What is the relationship with other characters, if any, in your story

5. Physical Descriptions
   1. Height
   2. Eye colour
   3. Hair colour
   4. Hairstyle
   5. Hair length
   6. Complexion
   7. Shape of face
   8. Body type
   9. Weight

6. How does his expression change when…
   1. He’s with a loved one
   2. He’s with someone he dislikes
   3. He’s with his boss
   4. He’s with a colleague

7. Personality
   1. Type shy, outgoing, insecure, dominant etc
   2. Distinguishable traits
   3. Mental scars Complexes etc
   4. Ambitions
   5. Sense of humour
   6. Fears
   7. Anxieties
   8. Phobias
   9. Overall personality
   10. How does his personality change when he’s experiencing different emotions
   11. How does he act when he feels confident
   12. How does he act when he feels inadequate
   13. What gestures does he use when he talks and thinks
   14. How does he walk With confidence Does he slouch or stride
   15. What mannerisms does he have Does he fold his arms Does he flick his hair
   16. How does he speak Clearly, mumble, confidently, drawl etc.
   17. His voice Rich, loud, soft, etc
   18. His vocabulary Casual, formal, illiterate etc
   19. What does he think when he’s alone
   20. Does he have any secrets he hasn’t disclosed to anyone
   21. His prejudices
   22. Dominant motives
   23. Values most
   24. Desires most
   25. How does he treat those around him children, superiors, etc
   26. Any vices or virtues

8. Likes and dislikes
   1. Favourite colour, food, etc
   2. Favourite music
   3. Taste in clothing
   4. Does character like something in particular
   5. Does character dislike something in particular

9. Lifestyle
   1. Where does the character live country, city
   2. Does character live in a house, apartment etc
   3. Does character like where he lives
   4. Does where he lives reflect what kind of person he is
   5. Does he have a favourite room Or a piece of furniture or other object etc
   6. Does he have a car What type Does the car reflect the person he is
   7. Any hobbies Personal habits neat, sloppy etc

10. Background
    1. Parents names
    2. Parents occupations
    3. Describe relationship with parents
    4. Any siblings
    5. Describe relationship with siblings
    6. What kind of childhood did the character have
    7. What kind of adolescence did the character have
    8. What kind of schooling did character undergo Private or public Has this shaped who he is
    9. What was the highest-level achieved in school
    10. Citizenship/Ethnic Origin
    11. In which country does he currently live
    12. If the country he lives in is not where he was born, why does he live there

11. Character’s current position
    1. Any friends
    2. Any enemies
    3. Acquaintances
    4. Has character been married before
    5. Has the character been engaged before
    6. Any children
    7. Most meaningful experience
    8. Any disappointments
    9. What is the character’s goal in life
    10. Attitude towards the opposite sex
    11. Attitude towards life

12. Employment
    1. What kind of job does character currently have
    2. What kind of jobs has the character had previously
    3. Is character content in current employment
    4. If not, what would be their dream job

13. What do you feel for this character
    1. Admire
    2. Love
    3. Hate
    4. Dislike
    5. Like
    6. Pity
    7. Envy

Whatever you feel for this character, your emotions must be strong. If they are not, either build on this further or begin building another character altogether.

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