75 Character Interview Questions

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All great stories have one thing in common–memorable, realistic, well-rounded characters. Dynamic characters draw the reader into the story and entice them to become emotionally involved. The need to know what is going to happen next with those characters keeps the reader turning the pages.

To create characters that cause the reader to become emotionally involved requires the author to have an intimate knowledge of each character. That knowledge needs to go beyond physical traits, although that is important, to the character’s deepest desires and fears, the past events that influence behaviour, and the ultimate goals that motivate action.

When developing a new character, an effective way to get to know them is to interview them. Conduct an interview with your character and answer truthfully, as the character, in first person. These questions will help you develop a dynamic character with the potential to grow throughout the course of the story and keep the reader turning the page.

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1. Tell me about yourself (name, age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, etc.)?
2. Is there anything you would like to change about yourself?
3. What is your temperament (easygoing, impatient, etc.)?
4. What are your positive traits?
5. What are your negative traits?
6. What do you look like?
7. Do you have any unique or strange physical attributes?
8. Do you have any quirks or eccentricities?
9. Do you have any special skills or abilities?
10. How is your physical health?
11. How would you describe your style?
12. Where do you live? What is it like there?
13. Describe your home/house?
14. Do you have any pets?
15. Tell me about your family?
16. Do you get along with your family? Why or why not?
17. How would your family describe you?
18. Tell me about your childhood?
19. What was the best thing about your childhood? The worst?
20. Tell me about your occupation?
21. Who is your best friend?
22. How would your best friend describe you?
23. Who is your mentor/hero?
24. How would your mentor/hero describe you?
25. Who do you love most in the world? Why?
26. Who do you trust most in the world? Why?
27. How do you decide to trust someone?
28. How do you know when you are in love?
29. Who do you like least in the world? Is there anyone you hate?
30. Do you have any enemies/rivals?
31. How would your enemy/rival describe you?
32. What do you like about yourself?
33. What do you not like about yourself?
34. How well do you know yourself?
35. What do you deceive yourself about?
36. What puts your self-esteem at risk?
37. What secrets are you keeping?
38. What is your deepest, darkest secret?
39. Why have you kept this secret for so long?
40. Does anyone else know your deepest, darkest secret?
41. What are you afraid of?
42. What fear do you need to overcome?
43. What is preventing you from overcoming your fear?
44. What happens when you are faced with your biggest fear?
45. When are you brave?
46. What are your goals in life?
47. What is preventing you from reaching your goals?
48. How can you overcome this?
49. What will happen if you reach your goal? How will you feel?
50. What is your greatest source of frustration?
51. What is your greatest source of joy?
52. What embarrasses you?
53. What upsets you?
54. What are your insecurities?
55. When are you proud of yourself?
56. What makes you happy?
57. What is your fondest memory?
58. If you could forget something from your life, what would it be?
59. What do you notice when you first walk in a room?
60. What is your initial reaction to strangers?
61. If you had a theme song, what would it be?
62. What is your religion/philosophy on life?
63. Do you have any superstitions?
64. What are your political views?
65. What are you highly opinionated about?
66. What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
67. What is the worst thing that ever happened to you?
68. Do you have a favourite book? Movie? TV show? Sports team? Band/music? Food?
69. What is your dream vacation?
70. How do you see the world?
71. Describe your perfect world?
72. How do you learn best?
73. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
74. If you had one wish, what would it be?
75. What three words would you use to describe yourself?

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