I am developing characters at the moment, and as part of this process I ask twenty questions to each character. I would like some suggestions on questions please. Anyone who volunteers can expect me to review a peice of their work at their request in exchange
1. What are your characters' greatest fears? 2. What are your characters' greatest strengths? 3. What are your characters' greatest weaknesses? 4. Who or what matters most to your characters? 5. What are your characters' hobbies and interests? 6. Who are your characters closest to, and who do they dislike? 7. Do your characters have secrets? 8. What are your characters' regrets? 9. What are your characters' goals? 10. What are your characters' occupations? 11. What are your characters' motivations? 12. Where do your characters live, who with, and why? 13. Do your characters have any unusual physical characteristics?
~What is their favorite color? (I only offer that as a question because one of my characters is obsessed with teal since she was moved to a space station, and the lighter colors of the spectrum don't exist out there.) ~Do they have a favorite food, or a food allergy? (Could be interesting if it's bizarre enough.) ~What's their biggest pet peeve? Or is there something that they just cannot stand, no matter the setting or circumstances? (one of mine hates when silverware scrapes against a dish, like nails on a chalkboard to him) ... I think proserpine pretty much covered everything else
Does your character drink alcohol? Use drugs? Smoke tobacco? What is your character's greatest weakness?
What's in your character's pocket? -- if you were to turn out this person's pockets, what kinds of things would you find in there? That's my all-time favorite character question.
How does your character view other people? How does your character think other people view him/her? If your character's sense of self is threatened or marginalized, how do they respond? If your character interacts with someone they strongly agree with on a idea or topic, how do they act around that person? And how do they act if they strongly disagree on said idea or topic?
-You are placing a bet on the Grand National. How do you choose your horse? -Paperback or Kindle? -When strolling by, at close quarters, a Big Issue seller, how do you respond to the seller's solicitations? -A beach barbecue turns frolicsome. Some swim naked. Some do not. Do you?
what does your character want? what does your character fear? Deepest Shame? Proudest moment? What, if anything, would your character die for? kill for? who does your character love? despise? admire? hold in contempt? envy? pity? (why?) Who loves / despises / admires / holds in contempt / envies / pities your character? (why?) What would be the most painful choice your character could have to make? How would your character spend three wishes? What would your character want their epitaph to be? What does your character love about him/herself? What does your character hate about him/herself? What can your character see clearly? What are your character's greatest blind spots? What false accusation against your character would he/she find most painful?
