Do any of you know of any good character interview templates? I've heard of them, and think it might be cool to fill one out. It'd be a good way to get into my character's mind, and figure out what their motives are. It could also help me to think of things I wouldn't think of on my own. I'm a very unorganized writer, and I'd like to put some of my characters in line. Usually I'd try to make a template myself, but if I did that I'd probably end up writing the questions around my character and what I already know of him or her. I need something random and unexpected, that I could put my whole cast through.
I think this is a fun one. Not to serious, but it make you play around with the character concept. Some of the questions the character might not be able to answer "really" in the setting it is meant but just pick the answer the character would pick if it had the right cultural reference. If you medieval knight never read a comic book just for a moment pretend that he have, and so on. 1. What is your name, and is there any thought/meaning behind it? 2. What is your favourite animal and why? 3. Who is your favourite historical person? 4. What is the most prominent aspect of your personality? 5. What kind of clothing do you wear and why? 6. What historical period is your favourite? Why? 7. Who is your favourite fictional character? 8. Have you ever committed a crime? 9. Have you ever done something you regret and/or embarrass you? 10. What is your greatest flaw? 11. Do you like yourself (despite eventual flaws mentioned above)? 12. If you could change anything about yourself (physically or mentally) - would you? 13. If you were suddenly to become a superhero/villain, what would you nickname yourself and what would be your power(s)? 14. Do you have any pets? 15. Are you vain? 16. What colour is your hair and in what manner do you wear it? 17. Do you have any titles? 18. If you could delete any person and his/her doings out of history, whom would be the unlucky one? 19. What is your favourite colour? Why? 20. Have you ever been close to death? 21. Have you ever killed someone? 22. What do you fear? 23. One morning, you wake up only to discover you've been transformed into a gigantic insect! What do you feel, think, and do? 24. You live in Tolkien's Middle-Earth. What kind of species are you and whose side are you on? 25. You live in the STAR WARS universe! Do you prefer the dark or the light side of the force? 26. You are singing the lead of a musical. What is the name of the musical and what is it about? 27. What would your dream-house look like? 28. If you could make -one- fictional character become real, who would you choose? 29. What kind of books do you prefer? 30. Lastly; How do you think you will die?
Writing a short story is a great suggestion for an alternative or an additional character development tool; every author has his or her own character development style, so some authors might find one or the other, or both, the most helpful approach. A favorite, rather silly, question of mine is one I learned as an icebreaker in school, but works just as well to ask your character: When you walk into a house, what's the first room you look at, and why?
Oh no, I wasn't rejecting the interview thing at all. I just thought the "short story" revolving around a character (something mundane perhaps, like a trip to the grocery store) ALONG with the interview would be especially effective.
I do both my blog is a bit outdated (hopefully once my flu is overwith my new one will be started), but it is how I got about it. I also write scenes and short stories about my characters or to explore ideas relating to them.
http://www.writing4success.com/dl/character-interview.pdf I've used that one on several occasions. I don't actually put on two different hats and play it out, but the questions are good. Skip the ones that don't seem at all relevant to your story.
The comment wasn't directed towards you, and is no longer applicable. I think that's a great approach
1. What is your name, and is there any thought/meaning behind it? Katrina my name was just a name my mom liked until the storm gave it new meaning. 2. What is your favourite animal and why? I like dogs , in part because a dog is how Xavier became part of our family. 3. Who is your favourite historical person? Johnny Drama …oh you mean real life , tall people creep me out so Lincoln is out, umm lemme think ok ok George Washington ….Washington must have liked the sisters, let me ask, have you met anyone white with Washington as a last name. 4. What is the most prominent aspect of your personality? Wait I have a personality ? wow how cool is that, hoe-old up I need to text Tiffany… I have personality. 5. What kind of clothing do you wear and why? Dude I lost almost 80 pounds I wear what ever the fug I want whenever I want because I can ! 6. What historical period is your favourite? Why? I don’t know I am a musician not a scholar. In my personal life the 90 days before the storm were pretty epic to those close to me. 7. Who is your favourite fictional character? Duh…Josie from Josie and the pussycats ...yo pe lepew's gurl friend was pretty hot 8. Have you ever committed a crime? In addition to giggin’ on Bourbon Street ? 9. Have you ever done something you regret and/or embarrass you? Nah …I would go from size two to size twenty two all over again. 10. What is your greatest flaw? I am very messy not a great housekeeper. I can not balance a checkbook. I sometimes fart on stage. 11. Do you like yourself (despite eventual flaws mentioned above)? Just for this day I am cool with me but I am keeping my fingers crossed….ya dig ? 12. If you could change anything about yourself (physically or mentally) - would you? I am not sure porn star boobs are great for violinists, I guess would be more taller, lithe like my mom. 13. If you were suddenly to become a superhero/villain, what would you nickname yourself and what would be your power(s)? What ya talkin about Willis , I was a super-hero called Blub-a-Gon, I used to be so fat people jogged around me for exercise ! My powers, dawg I could polish of 3 liters of Mountain Dew and down a large pepperoni while watching an episode of Entourage. 14. Do you have any pets? Not now , I lost my dog in the storm , I have not found it in my heart to get another yet 15. Are you vain? Growing more vain everyday , youth is wasted on the young 16. What colour is your hair and in what manner do you wear it? My hair is black but your questions are turning it gray. 17. Do you have any titles? My last name is Concepion , My birthday falls on December 8 the feast of the Immaculate Concepion a Catholic Holy day , my grandfather nicknamed me “The Immaculate Concepion” this of course was before the storm as you can well imagine my nickname now is “Hurricane.” 18. If you could delete any person and his/her doings out of history, whom would be the unlucky one? Osama Bin Landen , next question please. 19. What is your favourite colour? Why? Purple , why? Duh I am from New Orleans Mardi Gras bay-bee 20. Have you ever been close to death? Ugg , next question please 21. Have you ever killed someone? Not yet but ask me another death question my answer may change. 22. What do you fear? Other than shopping for big girls clothes at Chitty City, I fear The Philadelphia Eagles and Michael Vick , the Saints have no solution for that dude. 23. One morning, you wake up only to discover you've been transformed into a gigantic insect! What do you feel, think, and do? Been there , I felt fat, huge ,I thought I answered this already. 24. You live in Tolkien's Middle-Earth. What kind of species are you and whose side are you on? Huh ? Where is middle-earth Kansas ? 25. You live in the STAR WARS universe! Do you prefer the dark or the light side of the force? Dude, you got way too much time on your hands . 26. You are singing the lead of a musical. What is the name of the musical and what is it about? HELLO....I was the lead in the musical by whats-his-face , what’s it about ? , dude you did not see it ?….for shame ! 27. What would your dream-house look like? It would look down from higher ground that’s for sure 28. If you could make -one- fictional character become real, who would you choose? You do know as a newlywed I lost my husband in the World Trade Center ….I would make Aladdin come alive so I could steal his fugging lamp, keep Barry out of the building have 9 kids and write music in my spare time. 29. What kind of books do you prefer? I love, love, love that dude from Philadelphia. 30. Lastly; How do you think you will die? Not sure but I am 1000% sure I will not die having sex with you so take your hand off my leg ! Thanks so much for having on your show ….Hey yall buy the book…..see the movie ….check us out on XAVIERBATTLE dot com. Who dat mudder fuggers who dat !
I have a thread going on in the Word Games section called "character development clinic" - that basically does this.
