how to develop a character: 15 questions to build a better character

Character development is the art of creating a fictitious personality. It’s the how and the why of your creation. The interesting, the mundane, the way their eyes move, what their fingers are doing when they talk, the dialogue in their head. All of that and more make a character enduring and worth reading. Let’s create one of our own.

What does your character look like? Is it a teapot or a can of La Croix? A sales clerk at Kohl’s? A right-wing Republican? Describe.

What are your character’s quirks? Idiosyncrasies? Do they have ferret-eyes, an Australian accent, a gangly tooth? Permed hair a secret? Wears a portable disk player? Forgets to wear deodorant? Give your person some enduring qualities. Why do we like her? What makes her compelling?

Give thoughtful details that reveal your character’s personality.

Most importantly, what motivates your character? It doesn’t have to be something lofty; it can be ephemeral and fleeting. For instance, right now, I’m motivated by snacks, mostly cheese.

Give your hero some conflict—something that stands in their way or an obstacle they have to overcome.

Where is your character? How does their setting relate to their personality? Let’s follow.

Make her move, talk, give her a purpose. Maybe that purpose is cheese.

15 Questions to help build your character:

  1. Name?
  2. Do they have a pet? What kind? You can tell a lot about a person by what type of animal they keep, or if they have one at all.
  3. What is their age
  4. What type of clothing? Work clothes? Dress clothing? Stains? Holes? Are they polished or frumpy?
  5. Memories your character has
  6. Is your character eating/drinking? What is it? Is it cheese?
  7. Family/Friends? How is family important to your character? How do they interact with these?
  8. Are they sick or do they have a disability of some sort?
  9. Are they poor/rich/ somewhere in the middle?
  10. What do they like to do?
  11. Significant other?
  12. What are they searching for/longing?
  13. What conflict is in their way?
  14. Where is your character going?
  15. What are they doing?