Lights flash, cameras hum. Murmurs join the shuffling of paper on clipboards as a red light blinks in the corner of the screen. The Auth...

    Lights flash, cameras hum. Murmurs join the shuffling of paper on clipboards as a red light blinks in the corner of the screen. The Author settles into one of the two high-backed leather armchairs. A make-up team flutters about her, applying a dash of blush, spraying a puff of rose perfume, then bouncing her curls one last time.

    "Send them in," calls the producer, from behind the camera's vision. 

    The Author sucks in a breath and smooths down her skirt.

    The Character shuffles in and raises a brow. "Was all this really necessary?"

    She rises; extends a hand. "Character. Pleasure to finally meet you. Why don't you have a seat?"



    
    I'm a sucker for character interviews. I don't always write them down, but in the early stages of my writing process, I always at least chat to my characters in my head. I let them talk, and talk, and talk. I scribble down notes in my mental clipboard. I probe and ask and inquire.

    In celebration of the final few days of NaNoWriMo prep, I've been switching things up in my blog series, "Questions to Ask When...". The last two weeks have been all about characters! So if you'd like to dig deeper into your character's mind, and roast them over the coals in an interview, here are some questions just for you:

1) Let's start with the basics. What's your name, age, occupation?

2) Who are you closest to at the moment? Who are you angriest with? Why?

3) How do you feel talking to me? Are you nervous, excited? Are you even going to answer these questions?


4) What's your biggest secret?

5) Where are you living? Who are you living with? Why? Do you want to live somewhere else? What is your favourite part of your house, and your least favourite? Can you describe it to me?

6) How would you describe the inner workings of your mind? Is it dark, chaotic, bright, organized? Are you afraid of someone seeing it one day?


7) If you learned someone close to you died, what would be your first reaction? Have you ever lost someone close to you? Can you walk me through that experience?

8) What is your greatest strength? Has this changed over time?

9) What is your greatest weakness? Has this changed over time?

10) How would you describe yourself in three words? In one? In six words? How would your mother describe you? Your father, friends, siblings, romantic love?

11) What's your biggest fear? Why?

12) What is your greatest desire/dream? Do you feel it's possible to achieve it, or not? Why/why not?

13) Would you break under torture? How long do you think you would last? 

14) Describe an average day for you. Do you enjoy it? Do you work for money, so you can feed your family, or for fun?

15) Do you fear death? Why/why not? Do you believe in an afterlife? Re-incarnation? That there's nothing left after death? What has shaped your beliefs on that?

16) Do you believe in angels/demons/spirits/ghosts/the supernatural? Why or why not?

17) If you were in a house on fire, and you could either go into a burning room and possibly save someone, (but there's no guarantee either of you will live), or you could run straight out and live, what would you do?

18) How do you feel about your appearance? Who do you compare yourself to, looks-wise? Who was the first person to call you "beautiful/handsome" and the first person to call you "ugly"?

19) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? Does it remind you of someone or a memory? When did you learn about this place, and who/what told you about it?

20) Would you rather go out to a night-long celebration, or stay at home?

21) What are your thoughts on money? Is it something to throw away, cling onto, or detrimental to society?

22) What are five things you believe about yourself?

23) If you could give the younger version of you a piece of advice, what would you say? Do you think your younger self would follow the advice?

24) Would you ever kill? In what kind of situation? Do you think you would forever live with guilt, or would you get over it quickly?

25) The most important question of them all: what's your favourite food?

    I hope these questions help you get to know your characters better! Let the interviews begin!


Do you interview your characters as a way of getting to know them? Or do you use some other method? Tell me about it! 
Good luck with your writing, and have an excellent day! <3 

    Backstory is crucial for characters. Unless your story starts the moment they're born, your character will have lived many, many yea...

    Backstory is crucial for characters. Unless your story starts the moment they're born, your character will have lived many, many years already. Figuring the ups and downs of their past will give you deep insight into who they are as a person. So let's get to some questions you can ask to learn more about them!


1) Where were they born? In a hospital, a home, elsewhere? Who delivered them; a midwife, a doctor, a relative? Were there any complications? Did their mother survive? Who was present to witness their birth?

2) What name were they first given? Who chose it for them, and why? How, and why, has their name changed over time, if it all?

3) How has their living situation changed from when they were born economically, socially, and geographically? Has their family gained or lost a fortune? Has someone close to them died? Have they moved house?

4) What occupations did their parents have when they were born? Did it ever change as they grew older? How has this influenced the way they think about the world, and what they were trained in?

5) At what age did they begin school, or training? Did they ever learn to read or write? Why or why not? How high can they count, and which languages were they taught?

6) Who was their first childhood friend? Where did they meet? What is their happiest memory of them, and their worst? Are they still friends? Why or why not?

7) Did they have any childhood enemies? What caused the tension between them if they can remember? Are they now friends, or still enemies?

8) How did their parents' ethnicity influence what kind of culture they grew up in? Did this cause them to feel "different" from others their age, or did they not care? Which culture would they consider themselves to be a part of, then and now?

9) What kind of religious beliefs did their parents hold? Did they teach these to them from birth? Were there any ceremonies they made the character take part in, to initiate them into the religion, with or without their permission?

10) How many siblings did they have? Did they fight often; what about? Which sibling are they closest to, and why?

11) What is their fondest childhood memory? Who or what is in it? Is this memory accurate, or a lie they have told themselves?

12) If they could name the worst moment of their life, what would it be? How has that changed them as a person? How has it changed how they see the world, themselves, and others?

13) What sights, smells, tastes, sounds, and textures do they associate with their childhood, or teen years? 

14) If they were to make a timeline with their key life events, which ones would they list? Which ones would they leave out? Why?

15) Have they ever moved house, city, or country? What led to this change? Which place do they consider their "home"? Do they view this move or its cause with bitterness, hope, something else?

16) How would they describe themselves as a child? How would their family, friends, describe them? 

17) What's the hardest lesson they had to learn growing up? Who or what taught it to them?

18) What kind of friends did they have? Were they a "good" or "bad" influence? How did they change them? How long did they remain friends? Did they spend more time at their friends' house than their own?

19) Which occupations did your character want to be in growing up? Is this the same as what they wish to be, or are in, now? What inspired them to want this career?

20) Did they face any kind of bullying or abuse? How has this altered them? Does this still affect them today, and if so how?

21) Are there any aspects of their past they keep secret from those around them? Why? Or are they very open about their past?

22) What role have the arts (literature, music, dance, etc.) had in their life? Have they given them a sense of belonging, of wonder, or do they not connect with them at all? How have their culture's arts impacted them?

23) Did they live near extended family? How did this shape their family environment? Are any of their relatives near their age? Is there any relative they despise, or one they couldn't imagine living without?

24) What was the stupidest thing they did growing up? Did they break any laws, pull a prank, disappoint a parent?

25) Would they rather go back and relive their childhood, or do they never wish to return to it? Why?


Are you participating in NaNo? What's one key element of your character's backstory? Any topic you'd love for me to write questions for?
Have fun answering these questions, and have a great day! <3