(Hopefully your characters will do more than breathe,
but it’s a good place to start.)
Introducing the character profile; this is the questionnaire you’re going to interview character X with. It is the most basic tool to get to know your protagonist. Sure there are other ways. You can dig into their core needs or concentrate on their strengths and weaknesses, but before you do, get the details.
The best way to find a character questionnaire is to write one for yourself.
Snitch, borrow, copy and invent your own questions until you have a list that works for you.
Here’s mine. I compiled it using all the above.
A word of advice: when you interview Mr X start with the assumption that he is the center of the universe, even if he’s just the milkman or a cab driver. This will give your world depth.
Perhaps that milkman is a retired assassin. Perhaps the cab driver was once a millionaire. Everyone has a story.
Some of this information your reader may never even see. Why write it then?
Because you want to know how your character is going to behave, and in order to do that you must know where they came from, what made them, and what they want.
Name:
Nickname: If the person has one.
Age: This may vary through the story.
Birthday:
Place of birth:
Parents: This is not biological parents. This is the person(s) who raised your character. Give a short description of them.
Relationship with parents:
What was important to parents: Example: Possessions was everything to John’s father. To his mother nothing mattered more than family. Growing up John had to survive many catastrophic family reunions.
Siblings:
Relationship with siblings:
Where did he/she grow up:
Education:
Favorite subject:
Jobs:
Travel: Perhaps you character has never been outside their home province.
Friends:
How do people view this character: People see John as a snob. This can be true or untrue. John may just be shy.
Lives with: Who does he/she interact with every day?
Fights with: Who is the one person(s) your character can’t stand?
Spends time with:
Who depends on him/her: John may have a little sister he has to take to school each day because his parents are too busy.
Who does he admire: This one is important. Who you admire says a lot.
Enemies: Most of us don’t have “arch enemies”. This can be a school bully, a bossy aunt or even a sibling.
Dating/marriage:
Relationship with spouse/girl/boyfriend:
Children:
Relationship with children:
What would he/she change about their life: John wishes his mom was antisocial.
Optimist/pessimist/realist: I usually end up with a combination like; pessimistic realist.
Appearance: Be thorough. You want to know exactly what this character looks like. Body type, head shape, hands, posture, eyes, nose, mouth, hair, skin, scars/tattoos, voice, clothes.
I like to browse the internet until I have a face for my character.
Personality type; choleric/sanguine/melancholic/phlegmatic: If you’re unfamiliar with this skip it, or look it up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_temperaments
How much self-control and self-discipline does this person have:
Good points:
Fears:
Flaws: Make sure your hero has flaws, otherwise people won’t like them. Flaws will make them relatable .
Talents:
Goals: This is your character’s agenda, their secret motives.
Mannerisms/habits: We all have these; I walk on my toes, my sister slurps her soup. These little facts make your characters unique.
What do people like best about him/her:
Collections:
Food/drink: What is this person’s relationship with eating and drinking? Can they go for days without food or do they have to eat every five minutes?
Pets:
Prize possession: Do they carry a lucky stone around in their pocket, or polish an Olympic medal every day?
What makes this person laugh:
Greatest success:
Biggest trauma:
What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to him/her: This can say a lot. John may find spilling coffee mortifying, where his sister can walk about in her underwear without giving a hoot.
What does this character care about most: What would they die for?
Does he/she have a secret:
Writing on the job 