Character Development Interview

[sarasa_cat]

As promised in a prior post, here is a character development interview with 120 questions. As many questions as that is, each section an be answered reasonably fast. Eight to ten sessions of writing (and research) to get it all done? Feel free to use, modify, or redistribute. (If you catch any lingering typos, please let me know.)

Character Development Interview

 

Answer these questions in the voice of your character as if you are interviewing them. Pick a specific point in time in the character’s life when conducting this interview. Feel free to role play the part of an interviewer by prodding the character to be more specific or to clarify answers when they are evasive. 

 

The questions are grouped into eight categories and some questions may require you to do external research. You may find it easiest to complete this interview over a series of eight or more sessions. I’ve tried to create a logical order to this interview but feel free to mix it up, skip questions that don’t apply, or add sub-questions when more involved answers are needed. 

 

This set of interview questions was developed from three other questionnaires plus additional questions I’ve added. The questions are aimed at adult characters and the questions have been generalized for fantasy, RPG, and speculative fiction settings. You may want to add questions that are specific to your setting. If you are developing child or adolescent characters, you probably want a different list.

 

The Basics

 

1. What is your real birth name? What name do you use? If you have a nickname, what is it and where did you get it? 
2. Age? Birthdate?
3. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
4. Describe what you look like: height, weight, body type, hair, eyes, skin, apparent age, distinguishing features, tattoos, scars.  
5. Do you have any allergies, diseases, long-term injuries, disabilities, or other physical weaknesses?
6. Describe how you are dressed right now? Is this your preferred mode of dress? If not, why are you dressed as you are right now?
7. How do you “dress up?” How do you “dress down?” What do you wear when you go to sleep?
8. Do you wear any jewelry?
9. In your opinion, what is your best feature?
10. What do you think of your physical appearance? Is there something about it that you want to change? Do you alter your appearance in any way on a regular basis (make up, hair dye, etc.)?
11. What social class do you belong to?
12. How would you describe the way your voice sounds? What kind of accent do you speak with? Does your accent say something about who you are?
13. Where were you born? Where are you from? 
14. Where do you live right now? Who else lives with you? Give a brief tour of your residence with introductions? 
15. What is your most prized possession? Why do you value it so much?
16. What is your occupation? Do you like it? If you do not have an occupation, where does your money come from?
17. If you have an occupation, what is your boss or employer like? What are your co-workers like? Do you get along with them and, if so, which ones? Who don’t you get along with? Why?
18. What is the most useful skill your occupation has taught you?
19. Do you tend to spend money or save money? Why?
20. Where do you see yourself in five years?

 

Childhood and Family

 

1. Who are your biological parents? What were they like? How was your relationship with them when you were young? How is your current relationship with them?
2. Were your parents married? If so, what was their marriage like? Did your parents have other romantic involvements?
3. Are there people you think of as social (non-biological) parents? If so, who are they and what are they like? How is your relationship with them?
4. Do you have siblings? If so, who are they and what is your relationship with them like? What is the worst thing you have done to them? What is the worst thing they have done to you?
5. When was the last time you have seen any member of your family? Where are they now?
6. What is your fondest childhood memory?
7. What is your worst childhood memory?
8. What did you want to be when you were growing up? What did your parents want you to become?
9. What were your favorite activities as a child? 
10. What kind of education did you receive while growing up? What did you enjoy most about it? What did you enjoy least?

 

Personality, Psychology, and Interpersonal Relationships

 

1. What is your Myers-Briggs Personality Type and/or Enneagram Type? Is it an accurate representation of you? Why or why not?
2. Do you have any debilitating or irrational fears? 
3. Do you have any personality quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
4. In general, how do you treat other people (politely, rudely, by keeping them at a distance, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on who they are or how well you know them? 
5. What kinds of people do you feel the most comfortable with? The least comfortable with? Why?
6. What do you think strangers and acquaintances think about you? Do they like you?
7. Can you get people to do what you want them to? If so, how?
8. Do you feel comfortable taking leadership roles or are you a follower in social situations? What about in occupational situations? Why or why not?
9. Were you popular when growing up? What clique were you associated with?
10. Are you still in touch with friends from five years ago? Ten years ago? More?
11. As an adult, do you make friends easily? What kinds of friends do you have right now? Many friends or few? Do you have a best friend?
12. Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help? Do you trust anyone to protect you if you were in trouble?
13. If you died or went missing, who would miss you?
14. Do you tend to argue with people or avoid conflict? Why?
15. Is it okay for you to cry? To get angry? When was the last time you cried? Last time you lost your temper?

 

Intimacy and Partnering

 

1. Do you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, or something else? How do your experiences rate on the Kinsey Scale? How do you describe your gender?
2. When and with whom was your first kiss? Where did it happen? What was it like?
3. Are you a virgin? If yes, how do you feel about your virginity? If no, when and with whom did you lose your virginity? Where did it happen? What was it like?
4. What was the wildest thing you have ever done sexually? With whom and when?
5. What are your sexual turn-ons? Sexual activities or practices you particularly enjoy? 
6. What are your sexual turn-offs/activities that you will not do under any circumstances?
7. Do you currently have one or more sexual partners? Their name(s)? Describe your attraction to them. How is your sex life like with them? 
8. What is your deepest, most well-hidden sexual fantasy? Would you ever try it?
9. Have you ever been in love? How do you fall in and out of love? (Easily? Devotedly? Rarely?) Have you had many romantic relationships or few?
10. What do you look for in a potential partner? What kind of person is the “perfect” partner?
11. Do you have a spouse, partner, or significant other right now? If yes, describe this person. If no, are you looking? Why or why not?
12. Briefly describe your prior partners. Who were they? What was the nature of your relationship with them? How long did the relationship last? Why did it end?
13. What is more important to you: sex or intimacy? Why?
14. How important is the institution of marriage to you?  If a legal marriage is important, how would you (or did you) evaluate someone as a potential spouse?
15. How important is sexual fidelity to you? Under what circumstances, if any, is it okay for someone to keep a mistress/lover?
16. Describe the perfect romantic date or getaway with a partner?
17. If you have a partner, how well do you get along with their family and friends? How important is this to you? How important is it to them?
18. Do you have children? If not, do you want children? Under what circumstances, if any, do you see children happening?
19. What is the worst thing you have done to someone you loved?
20. What is the worst thing that someone you’ve loved has done to you?

 

Morals, Beliefs, and Faith

 

1. What serves as your moral compass when making decisions? Do you have a specific moral code that you adhere to? What religion, if any, do you follow? 
2. To what extent are your actions dictated by this moral code? When do your actions come into conflict?
3. Do you believe in a God or Gods/Goddesses/Higher being of some kind? Do you believe in an afterlife? Superstitious? How do these beliefs affect your actions?
4. Do you ever have thoughts or feelings that disturb you? What are they? Why do they disturb you? How do you cope with these thoughts or feelings?
5. What is more important: faith/instinct or analysis/reason? Why?
6. Are you more likely to act for the good of the one or the good of the many?
7. How comfortable are you with people who hold religious, spiritual, or moral beliefs that are different from yours? Are you respectful or confrontational? Do you seek out such people or do you try to avoid them? Why?
8. Is redemption possible? If so, can anyone be redeemed or are there only certain circumstances when redemption can happen? If not, why do you think no one can redeem itself?
9. Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable? If you have killed or you are legally able to kill, how do you feel about it? Is revenge ever justified?
10. Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to great extremes for)?
11. What is the most admirable trait a person can have? How often do you express that trait?
12. What is the most important social and/or political problem right now in your world?
13. Is there anything you pretend to feel strongly about just to impress people?
14. What act in your past are you most ashamed of? 
15. What act in your past are you most proud of?

 

Likes and dislikes

 

1. What is your favorite color? What does that color remind you of?
2. What are your favorite hobbies, pastimes, and modes of entertainment? 
3. Reading any good books? What are they? Which would you recommend? Which are the guilty pleasures?
4. What do you seek out for comfort food?
5. Do you drink, smoke, or use recreational drugs? Does it cause problems for you? Do you want to quit?
6. Do you have any phobias? How debilitating are they?
7. What makes you laugh? What do you do to have fun? What do you find most relaxing?
8. What causes stress in your life? How do you deal with stress or counteract the effects of stress?
9. Are you spontaneous or do you need to have a plan? Do you make plans for others or do you rely on others to create plans for you?
10. How much do you care about what your clothing and environment looks like? 
11. What would be the perfect gift for you?
12. What is your favorite time of day? Favorite kind of weather?
13. What is your favorite animal and why? Do you have any pets? Do you want any?
14. What kinds of situations embarrass you?
15. Do you like yourself?

 

 Knowledge

 

1. Do you have a professional qualification or an occupational specialization, or are you a generalist? Do you have professional skills or knowledge that you are known for? Describe.
2. Do you have any hobbies that have given you specific knowledge, skills, or expertise? Are you a beginner, intermediate, or expert? Are you recognized by others for your knowledge, skills or expertise? 
3. How many languages can you read and/or speak? If more than one, under what circumstances did you learn the other language(s) and in what situations do you use them?
4. How well do you know your way around your local area? How often do you get lost? Do you know of places in your local area that most people do not know about?
5. Can you name the political leaders in your area? Leaders elsewhere in the world? Can you name major conflicts? Is this knowledge important to you? Why or why not?
6. Something in your home needs to be repaired. How do you go about fixing it? Do you know approximately how much it costs to replace flooring or to repair the roof?
7. What do you know about preparing food? How well can you do it? Would other people want to eat what you make? Do you know the current market price for a dozen eggs?
8. Do you know how to buy or sell items in the black market? Smuggle illegal goods? Launder money? Discretely dispose of a dead body? 
9. Do you know how to invest and manage your money and other assets? What kinds of investments have you made? What assets do you own? Is all of it legal and declared in your taxes? Do you pay or accept bribes? To you feel comfortable haggling?
10. Do you know how to survive in the wilderness? Could you make or find shelter? Hunt or gather food and prepare it?  Stay warm and dry?

 

Miscellaneous 

 

1. Describe your normal, daily routine. How do you feel when it is disrupted?
2. Are you a procrastinator or do you get things done in advance? How do you feel about deadlines? 
3. Are you organized or messy?
4. Do you prefer to work in silence or with sound? Alone or with others? Describe your most productive environment for getting work done.
5. Are you a night owl or an early bird? Do you sleep well or do you have trouble with sleep? Do you sleep on your side, front, or back?
6. Are you ticklish? If so, where?
7. Are you athletic? Dexterous? How far and fast can you run? Swim? Climb up a rope? 
8. How well can you defend yourself in a physical fight? Would you try to avoid physical conflict? If so, how?
9. How well can you verbally defend yourself in an argument? What tactics do you use to win or end arguments?
10. If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you have left.
11. If someone close to you suddenly died tomorrow, how would your life change? How would it make you a different person one year from now?
12. What is the most frightening handicap or disfigurement that you can imagine? What makes it so frightening?
13. If you found a genie in a bottle, what three wishes would you ask for?
14. If you were to gain an obscenely large sum of money, what would you do with it? How would your life change?
15. Right now, what words do you most need to hear from someone you respect or someone you are emotionally close to?

Comments

[ex_pendency799]

...something creepy/disturbing about this list: I could answer every question here for the two main characters in Murakami's 1Q84. As if the book had been structured with incidental plot just to answer these questions about two characters.

hmmm.

[sarasa_cat]

Lol! I haven't yet had a chance to read 1Q84 yet. Funny though.

Not sure what that says given that I created this list for my Kirkwall writing projects. ;)

[aorin]

I toyed with the idea of a double interview with the Ronsentwins.

... Somehow, they ended up fighting in my head. ORZ

I think I might just stick with Penelo. Or maybe having Vaan interview Penelo. I think it'll be fun.

[sarasa_cat]

Hahaha. A double interview would be hysterical although it might turn into a fist fight! XD

I need to catch up on reading your headcanon meme (and start posing more of mine once again). I wish it was easier to read tumblr on my iPhone. :/

Typo. Repost.

[aorin]

Basch tries to give short, succint answers on questions that he's not comfortable answering. Noah gladly elaborates. Basch frowns. Tension raises.

Noah tries to avoid giving out certain (embarrassing) details in some of his answers. Basch blurts it out by accident. Noah glares. Tension raises higher.

Basch recounts a story from his perspective. Noah corrects him. Basch insists. Noah disagrees. Tension raises even higher.

Basch ignores Noah and shifts in his chair, accidentally kicking Noah's leg. Noah shoves Basch's shoulder in response. Basch shoves back. More shoving. Noah hits Basch's jaw (may or may not be an accident) and looks smug. Basch cuffs back. Noah loses it and throws his chair. Basch goes into defense. Noah launches. Table flips. End interview.

(And no problem about the headcanon meme. I'd love to hear what you think about some of my headcanon, when you have time, that is. :) And good luck with yours! :D Four FFXII characters+Cullen is a lot. :3)

Re: Typo. Repost.

[sarasa_cat]

That is far too believable, especially the Noah hits Basch's jaw (may or may not be an accident) and looks smug part. ;D

I can imagine this character interview with Basch and Noah turning into a farcical comedy where the twins' interactions with each other speak far more about them than their spoken answers. *That* would be really funny to read.