20 Original Character Questions (This Might Get Weird)

So you’ve come here looking for original character questions.Not just character interview questions (though heaven knows, we’ve got ‘em.)Original character questions. Questions you’ve never even thought to ask your characters before. The kind of questions you wouldn’t think to ask your friends because they’re so obscure, weirdly specific, and honestly kind of invasive. Questions that force you beyond the polite, get-to-know-you formalities. Because you’re ready to discover the forbidden rooms of your character’s mind. You’re ready to go deep.That, or you’ve hit a creative wall and you’re hoping the Internet can save you. Either way, I’ve been there and will do my best to come through for you.We’ll go over a quick run-down of the components that make a character feel real, then I’ll dish out the original character questions you came for.

Components of Character
We, as human beings, contain multitudes. This means that if we hope to create human characters, our characters must contain multitudes, too.When you’re developing a character, you want to keep these character components in mind:
- Quirks
- Weaknesses
- Limitations
- Physical Appearance
- Occupations
- Hobbies
- Relationships
- Motivation
- Flaws
- Philosophy
If you want a closer look at what these different components entail, check out our article on character ideas. You’ll find brainstorming questions to help you out, plus sixty-five unique character ideas.On the other hand, if you’ve already answered all the questions out there about what your character wants and what they look like, it might be time for another tactic.

Why It’s Important to Ask Your Character Questions
Sometimes we need to get to know our characters the way our readers do: through their stories.After all, when it’s time to write your book, you’re not going to sit down and type, “Judy was a preschool teacher who wore a lot of bracelets. She was raised Catholic and had three brothers. She lived in a blue house on Acorn Street. Her greatest fear was death.”(Okay, honestly, I don’t hate that opening. But if you’re going to start your story with a list of facts about your protagonist, you have to have a reason.)More likely, you’re going to show Judy having coffee on the front porch of her blue house, watching the people of Acorn Street take their morning walks. You’re going to tell us how her bracelets feel on her wrists and you’re going to bring us along to the family potluck.The original character questions that follow are designed to do the same thing for you. They help you see the full picture of your character’s identity, not just a list of traits. Plus, when you ask your characters to tell you about their lives, you invite a creative flow. You’re not brainstorming. There are no lists to make or problems to solve. You’re just opening up and discovering.The other advantage of asking your characters super-specific questions is that the questions might spark story ideas. Ready to give it a shot and see what happens?

20 Original Character Questions
These twenty original character questions are written interview-style. This means you’re directing them to your character. Make sure you answer in your character’s voice.Also note that you can ask these questions to any character. It does not have to be your protagonist.
7 Questions About Your Character’s History
- Tell me about a one-off conversation you had with a stranger a long time ago. Why do you still remember this conversation?
- Tell me all about the dream birthday party you never got to have as a kid. Whine all you want.
- Have you ever done something immoral to make someone else happy? Why was it so important for you to impress that person or give them what they wanted?
- How do your grown-up experiences with romantic love compare to what you imagined when you were a kid?
- What’s the most selfless thing you’ve ever done? Do you think you’ll ever do anything that selfless again? Why or why not?
- When your significant other says, “Ugh, you’re just like your father/mother,” what are they talking about? Are they right?
- Have you ever had a recurring dream? What was it about? How did it make you feel? What do you think it meant?
13 Questions About Where Your Character is Now
- Have you ever had an entire argument in your head? Me, too. Tell me about your most recent imaginary throw-down. Who were you fighting with? What did you fight about? How did you feel when you saw them in real life?
- Everybody has at least one unpopular opinion. What’s yours? Give me the full rant.
- You know how we’re all a little different in different situations? We have a work self, a family self, a drunk self, the self we are with this friend, the self we are with that friend, etc. Which version of yourself do you like the best? Why?
- If you could blow up one part of your life and start completely new, what part would you choose? What would your redo look like?
- What YouTube channels do you subscribe to? If you don’t watch YouTube, what type of videos would you watch if you did?
- What does your therapist want you to work on? Are you going to work on it? Why or why not?
- What was the last teeny-tiny, seemingly insignificant thing that made you cry, pissed you off, or filled you with joy?
- What major flaw are you constantly aware of? Why can’t you change that part of yourself? What would happen if you did?
- You’re in line at Target. You start putting your items on the belt and you realize that your purchases tell the story of your life right now. What are you buying?
- Is there anyone you feel like you should like but you just… can’t? What’s going on there?
- What’s the last thing you posted on social media? Who were you hoping would see it? What did you want them to think about you when they saw it?
- Do you like talking about your job? Why or why not? What assumptions do you think people make about you because of your job?
- If you weren’t you, who would you want to be instead? If you could choose between being yourself or this other person, which would you pick?
[caption id="attachment_1393" align="aligncenter" width="500"]

Sometimes you think of your own character questions as you write. With Dabble, you can leave yourself reminders without interrupting your flow.[/caption]
Keep Track of the Weird Stuff Your Character Tells You
What I love about original character questions like these is that they tend to spark new questions. Suddenly, you’ve got a discovery snowball barreling downhill, gathering fresh ideas as you go.All you have to do is open yourself up to it. Stay curious. Ask more questions. Scribble your notes, write your scenes, let your brain work on it while you sleep. Check back in the next day and see if it all still rings true.Developing captivating characters is a process. It takes time and it gets a little messy. My best advice to you is to enjoy the adventure and embrace the mess.Oh! And consider using Dabble to keep track of everything. You can use Dabble’s Character Notes to write your character interviews, keep track of relationships, make notes, and more.When inspiration strikes at an inconvenient time, you can use Dabble Stickies so you don’t lose your thought. Or use the Comments feature to note inconsistencies or new questions as you go.Try these and all the other premium features for free for fourteen days. No credit card required. Just click this link and get Dabblin’.
TAKE A BREAK FROM WRITING...
Read. Learn. Create.
If you’re planning to become an indie author, one of the first things you might be wondering is: how do you price a self-published book?
Can't get a clear answer on how many scenes should be in a chapter? Here's how to calculate the answer for your book.
There's no easy way to determine how many chapters you should have in your book, but let's figure out how many will work for you.
You’ve cobbled together 100K words of sheer brilliance, but now you must tackle the hardest task. How do you write book titles, anyway?
Looking for great writing exercises for fiction writers? We've got you covered with prompts to inspire story, character, and more.
How much do authors make? It's a question every writer asks at least once. We break it down for you in this blog!
Theses six steps can help show you how to become a fiction writer. Figure out what works best for you!
Want to learn the secret of how to overcome writer's block? You've got to get to the root of the problem. We can help.
Fight scenes are what some readers live for, but writing them can be tough. Let's dissect how to write a fight scene in your novel.
Not sure how to describe clothing writing? It's easier (and more fun) than you might think. Here's everything you need to know.
Romance tropes are the heartbeat of what makes romance novels feel like cozy sweaters you want to snuggle into.
Character motivation is essential in creating characters your readers will care about. Learn about the types of motivation with Dabble!
How to start a first chapter: include action, character, plot, emotion, and motivation or you’re going to lose your reader.
Want to learn how to write exposition that's not so explainy? Divulge compelling backstory using these tried-and-true tips.
English is whack. Let's make something better. Here's how to create a fictional language in four simple steps.
How long should your chapters be? On average, chapters tend to range from 1,000-5,000 words, with most falling in the 2,000-4,000 range.
Need original character questions to inspire your work in progress? Dig deep with these one-of-a-kind character interview questions.
It isn't easy to write a good villain, at least not without the right ingredients. Let Dabble give you the perfect recipe for a villain!
There are a lot of pieces of writing advice you can ignore, but here’s one you shouldn’t: you need to include character goals in your story.
Why does character motivation matter? Find out why a thrilling plot is not enough and how to design motivation that resonates with readers.
Outlining your future bestseller isn't easy! But we break it down for you so you can plan a novel that rocks.
You might be wondering: how long does it take to write a book? The answer depends on a variety of factors.
Here are sixty-five character development questions, plus tips on how and when to interview your characters. Get inspired and get unstuck!
Conflict is what makes books worth reading. Join us as we explore the four types of conflict you can use to make you story memorable!
Do you have a writer in your life who needs a gift? Check out this list of 61 gifts for writers that will help them with their author dreams.
Need character ideas for your next story? Find a ton of original ideas and brainstorming questions right here!
The words you use to start a story are some of the most important you'll write. We'll help make sure you get them right!
A character flaw is a fault, limitation, or weakness that can be internal or external factors that affect your character and their life.
The Seducer/Seductress archetype can help you craft unforgettable villains and surprisingly sympathetic anti-heroes. Learn how.
The Orphan archetype makes for both inspiring heroes and unsettlingly sympathetic villains. Learn how to use this archetype in your story.
Explore the fundamentals of the Outlaw Archetype and how they serve your story. Explore famous examples of Outlaws in popular media.
The Common Person or Everyman is a powerful archetype that can instantly relate to your readers. Learn how to use it in your writing!
The caregiver archetype is more than a saint. Learn how to craft a fascinating, flawed, and deep-souled caregiver for your story.
The Creator Archetype breathes life into their art, often to an obsessive level. Learn all about using this archetype in your writing!
The Ruler archetype is one of the most recognizable and is about stability and maintaining order through control and power.
Get to know the Innocent archetype, from Buddy the Elf to Andy Dwyer. Learn how to write this lovable (and sometimes chaotic) character.
The Sage archetype is an important one in all storytelling—one that can either help or hinder the protagonist's journey in your book.
Explorer Archetypes long for adventure and seek out new places, ideas, and experiences to live a thrilling, exciting, and fulfilling life.
What is the Jester archetype? Find out what you need to know to give your funniest character true purpose and depth.
Lover archetypes embrace the love they hold for friends, family, their gods, or simply the world around them.
The Magician archetype is one of the most popular archetypes in writing. In this blog, we explain everything you need to know about Magicians!
What is the hero archetype? From epic heroes to anti-heroes, here's everything you need to know about crafting a compelling hero.
The seven basic plot points offer perhaps what is the most open-ended of the structure archetypes with broad, high-level descriptions.
Chekhov's Gun is a fundamental principle in writing. Join us as we examine what this principle is so you can apply it to your own writing.
What is three-act structure? Learn why this story structure is so effective and whether it can help you plot your novel.
The Hero's Journey is a classic story structure. Learn why it's so popular among writers and how to apply it to your own storytelling.
We call it John Gardner's aquatic monstrosity, the Fichtean Curve is a narrative structure that can help you easily plan out your novel.
We break down Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method, a type of outlining that can make writing your book much easier and faster.
A New York City story coach shares her best tips on how to create compelling characters. She walks through each step in the process.
Learn about Dan Harmon's Story Circle—what it is, how it can help you plot your novel, and whether it's right for you.
One of the original story structures, Freytag's Pyramid is the foundation for dramatic stories and tragedies. Learn all about it with Dabble!
Learn how to write a children's book with this ultimate guide and template for designing a story that resonates with young readers.
In this article, we’ll explore what active and passive writing is and when you should use them. Contrary to some beliefs, sometimes passive voice does make sense. Not everything you write should or needs to be active (though it should be most of the time).
Editing your book can be a daunting task. In this article, we breakdown the different types of editing and when you should apply them.
Learn how to write a book synopsis that gets the attention of agents and publishers. It's easier than you think.
3rd-person limited or 1st-person epistolary? Here is what you need to know about narrative point of view and your story.
Story structures are the frameworks that tie your story together. A story structure can help guide your book to be the best it can be!
Bestselling author Kristina Stanley breaks down the three questions you need to ask to self-edit your book's characters, plot, and setting.
Which of the four character arc types is right for your story? And what is a character arc?
To write a romance you need to manage three separate arcs: your main character, your love interest, and the romance itself.
Character archetypes can help you write complex, three-dimensional characters. Learn more about them, including 14 common types, with Dabble.
Learn how to write a book in this ultimate guide. Plus find editing tips, map out a publishing journey, & download a free outlining template.
Unsure of how to start writing? This easy guide and checklist will help you turn your writing dreams into a reality.
Writing with proper punctuation can feel like the hardest part of writing. Don't worry, we've made a Beginner's Guide to Punctuation to help!