I’m still interviewing my characters, in an attempt to solidify what they look like in my mind as well as their motivations. Here’s a great questionnaire I found on the Gotham Writers web site:
Gotham Character Questionnaire
1. What is your character’s name? Does the character have a nickname?
2. What is the character’s hair color? Eye color?
3. What are your character’s distinguishing facial features?
4. Does your character have a birth mark? Where is it? What about scars or tattoos? How did he/she get them?
5. Who are your character’s friends and family? Who does she surround herself with? Who are the people your character is closest to? Who does she wish she is closer to, but isn’t? Why?
6. Where was your character born? Where has he lived since then? Where does he call home?
7. Where does your character go when he’s angry?
8. What is her biggest fear? Who has she told this to? Who would she never tell this to? Why?
9. Does he have a secret? (News flash: WE ALL HAVE SECRETS!)
10. What makes your character laugh out loud?
11. When has your character been in love? Had a broken heart?
Optional Extra Questions
12. What is in your character’s refrigerator right now? on the nightstand?
13. Describe what is on your character’s feet right now.
14. When your character thinks of her childhood kitchen, what smell does she associate with? Why does that smell so resonant with her?
15. It’s Saturday at noon. What is your character doing? Give details.
While this set of questions doesn’t really dig deep, it does fill in some holes. I know when I am in the process of beginning to write, the physical attributes of the characters I’m writing about aren’t exactly clear. It’s as though I’m looking at them without my glasses on. Then I put my glasses on, but I’m still not seeing the entirety of them, the whole of them as a person. Writing authentic characters means you have to go everywhere with them – inside and out. That’s why writing isn’t exactly an easy gig!
More next week…
California tall trees.
