100 Character Development Questions That Aren’t About Eye Color

Character development questions can help you transform a made-up person into a character that feels real. Like “on the verge of becoming sentient” real.

The only trick is that you have to ask the right questions.

When writers say that character interviews don't actually help, it's usually because they're using a questionnaire designed to nail down surface-layer details.

What color are their eyes? Do they wear makeup? What street do they live on?

Think of the last book you recommended to a friend. When gushing about how magnetic the protagonist was, did you happen to mention their facial features or eating habits?

Probably not.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with creating a comprehensive image of your character in your own mind. There is value in knowing your main character so well you can name what they had for breakfast and how long it took them to digest it.

But when it comes to character development, it's way easier to start with the deeper, more defining traits. Fears, dreams, relationships, flaws… when you clarify what's going on inside your character, the external details emerge naturally. That's why thought-provoking character development questions can make all the difference in the writing process.

I'll show you how. We'll talk about what a character interview is, when to use it, and how to use it. Then I'll give you what you came for: a tall stack of fresh-out-of-the-oven character development questions you can use today.

If you're a Dabbler and you don't want to clutter your beautiful Character Profiles with rambling answers to these deep inquiries, I recommend attaching a character interview note to each Profile. That way you always have your character's voice right there when you need to revisit it, and you can easily click over to the profile to add any key discoveries you make during the interview process.

And if you don't Dabble and have no idea what I'm talking about, you're definitely gonna want to get to know Dabble Writer. It's the best tool out there for planning, writing, and revising your novel. Explore it yourself by snagging a free 14-day trial at this link!

Now grab your most elusive character and get ready to interrogate.

What is a Character Interview?

A character interview is a list of questions you “ask” your character in an effort to get to know them better. And I do mean “ask.”

This isn't about building a character profile that lists facts about a fictional person, like their distinguishing facial features and whether they wear glasses or contact lenses.

In a character interview, you treat this shapeless wisp of inspiration as if they are an actual fleshy person sitting across from you. You envision them right there in the room like it's a real conversation that allows you to hear their voice and see their personality on display.

The specific questions you ask go well beyond facial features and birth dates, because the goal is to create a well-rounded character by unearthing a psychological and emotional profile, rather than focusing on basic surface traits.

It's a great exercise for planners who want to know their character's whole deal before they start writing. But a character interview is also a great tool for pantsers because it's essentially a form of discovery writing.

‍You're letting the character take shape as you write them. Instead of obsessing over whether your creature is “interesting” or “trending right now,” you get to step back and let them tell you who they are.

Even better, you can conduct a character interview at any phase of the writing process. If you want to launch into your draft all reckless and blind, go for it! When you get stuck on page ten (no judgment!), you can have an impromptu sit-down with your character.

The people who live in our heads tend to be available at a moment's notice. It's one of the benefits of living in imaginary worlds.

How to Use Character Questions

So, how exactly does one interview a half-formed thought? How do you choose the most important questions to ask a figment of your imagination?

Let me walk you through the details.

How Does a Character Interview Work?

Copy and paste the character development questions you like into your favorite writing software. Again, Dabble users can add questions to their Character Profiles, attach notes to their Profiles, or even create a separate Story Notes folder to house interviews for all your characters. Dabble Writer can be whatever you need it to be, and that's why it rocks.

But it's not your only option. You can also use notecards or a notebook if you're old-school and romantic like that.

Answer each question in writing, responding in your character's voice. This is super important. Writing in your character's voice sparks creativity and helps you forget about that article that said sassy witches are really hot right now.

It also makes the character feel more real to you. You know that feeling when you hear someone you love speaking in the other room? There's an instant familiarity—not just in the sound of their voice, but in the rhythm of their speech and the words they use.

The better you know their voice, the easier it becomes to ask questions and just let your character react. As crazy as it sounds, you can get to a place where it feels less like you're excavating ideas from your own brain and more like you're channeling this fictional being.

Bonus: This familiarity will help you write outstanding dialogue, and that dialogue will make your readers feel like they really know this person, too.

Which Characters Should I Interview?

Whomever! Which character is eluding you? Talk to that one.

Character development questions can help you shape any character, from your hero to your villain to the cranky newsstand guy who appears on exactly three pages.

When Do I Use Character Development Questions?

When you need to know more about your character.

This could be when you're still outlining your story and trying to get a better sense of the people who populate it. A character interview also comes in handy when you're blocked on a scene. If it's not clear what a character would do, pop into your character notes and ask them the questions that will help clarify their feelings and motivations.

You can even use character development questions during the editing process. Unless you're some kind of literary magician, there will be moments in your early drafts where your characters fall flat. Maybe their choices don't make sense or they feel a little generic.

Whatever it is, a nice imaginary chat can work wonders to get the wheels turning again.

Wherever you are in the process, be sure to ask your character questions based on where they are in their arc. If you're just starting to develop your character, have them answer from their perspective at the beginning of the story. If you're trying to make a breakthrough on a specific scene, let your character's answers come from where they are in this moment.

Keep in mind that you don't have to include your character's answers in your novel. Let your insights into your character's life and beliefs inform their attitudes and behaviors while only including details that are directly relevant to the story.

Which Questions Should I Ask My Characters?

Only you can answer that, and you'll know when you know.

How's that for a cop-out?

It's true, though. Not every question on a character questionnaire is going to help you find out what you need to know. Check in with yourself as you approach each query. Do you feel any resistance? Do you get the feeling you're digging into a topic that ultimately doesn't matter for your character? Are you bored by the question? If so, skip it!

‍Or do you feel the good kind of resistance—that sense that you've struck a nerve within yourself and you're a little nervous about exploring it? Does this question create an emotional response for you? Does it feel relevant to your story? Do you find that you're eager to know the answer?

Then ask!

And add questions as you go. As with any good interview, your character's answers will probably spark new areas of curiosity. Ask everything you want to ask.

For now, here are some character development questions to get you started.

Character Questionnaire

When you start building a character, you can start with the mingling questions. You know: the semi-nonsense you ask at a work friend's party. What do you do? Where do you live? Are you married? How do you know Sue?

‍But as soon as you get the basics down, you gotta be the introvert at the party. Bring up religion. Ask about politics. Ask them which of their children they'd rescue from a burning building if they could only choose one. Look them dead in the eye while you wait for the response.

What follows is a list of 100 character development questions. I've separated them out by phase:

• Character Conception: This is when you first start dreaming up your character and you need some concrete, foundational information. Here, we'll get into your character's personality, values, perspective, and world. Getting started is the hardest part, so if you need something to spark the imagination, check out our character archetype masterclass or our list of character ideas.
• Character Development: This is when you start finding the breathing human being inside the mental stick figure you drew in the previous phase.
• Character Clarification: This is when you realize you need to know more about your character. It may be that you're not sure what your character would do next or that you've read over your first draft and realize your character needs more texture.

By all means, mix and match as it suits you. You may find that a question in the first phase is exactly what you need to make a breakthrough in the third phase.

The only real rule here is that you ask what you need to know.

Phase One: Character Conception Questions

Let's nail down some basic details about what your character believes, where they're from, who they are, and what they value.

Personality Questions

1. How would your mother describe you?
2. How would your best friend describe you?
3. How would your guardian angel describe you?
4. What's your favorite song and why?
5. Describe your ideal Friday night.
6. Describe your ideal Sunday afternoon.
7. Describe your ideal Wednesday morning.
8. Do you prefer happy endings or sad endings? Why?
9. What are your pet peeves?
10. Your waiter brings you clam chowder. You ordered a cheeseburger. What do you do?

Self-Image Questions

1. What is the most offensive thing someone could ever say about you? Does any part of you fear that it’s true?
2. What is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you? How did you think you were perceived by those who witnessed it?
3. What’s your zodiac sign? Do you think it’s accurate?
4. What would you say is your best physical feature?
5. What would you say is your worst physical feature?
6. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
7. What quality are you most proud of? Are you openly proud of it?
8. What is your purpose?

Beliefs and Values Questions

1. What is your most treasured possession? Why is it so precious to you?
2. What is your all-time favorite movie or book? Why does it mean so much to you?
3. What are your political views?
4. Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?
5. Describe the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. What made it beautiful?
6. How do you define perfect happiness? Do you believe it's something you can attain?
7. Do you believe everyone has a purpose? Do you believe you have a purpose? If so, what is it?
8. Do you tend to expect the best or worst from others? Why?
9. What values or beliefs were you taught when you were young? Do you still carry those same values and beliefs today?
10. Why are we here? What's it all for?

Strengths and Weaknesses Questions

1. Do you have any bad habits you hide from other characters? What are they, and why are you so ashamed of them?
2. What is your greatest fear?
3. Tell me about your deepest longing.
4. From your perspective, what is your biggest flaw?
5. What do other people say is your biggest flaw? How do you feel about that characterization?
6. What do you do better than anyone else?
7. What does everyone else seem to do better than you?

Community and Lifestyle Questions

1. Who are the most important people in your life?
2. How do you spend your days?
3. What activity brings you joy?
4. What responsibility do you hate?
5. Where do you live? Do you feel that the answer defines you? If so, how? If not, why not?
6. What is your favorite food? Tell me about the first time you tried it.
7. Are you responsible for anyone other than yourself?
8. Is anyone else responsible for you?
9. Have you ever been in love? Are you in love now?
10. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
11. What does it mean to belong?
12. What role do you play in your family? In your friend group? In your larger community?
13. What was the greatest extravagance you have ever allowed yourself?

Phase Two: Character Development Questions

Now that we've got a solid foundation, let's get to know this character on a deeper level. We'll dig into the details that help make this character really compelling, including backstory, motivations, and key relationships. This is the stuff that leads to a great story and engaging character arc.

Backstory Questions

1. What is your worst childhood memory? What lesson did you learn from it?
2. What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
3. If you could go back to any moment in time and give advice to your younger self, what time would you travel to and what would you say?
4. Did you have a favorite stuffed animal or toy as a child? Where is it now?
5. Tell me about a time when you truly felt safe.
6. What smells remind you of school? Summertime? Your childhood home? Your favorite holiday? The worst day of your life? The best day of your life? 
7. What is your educational background? How do you feel about it?
8. What has been the greatest achievement of your life so far? Describe the experience. How did it shape the way you see yourself? Do you ever try to recapture that feeling?
9. Tell me about a time when you surprised yourself.

Goals and Motivation Questions

1. Do you feel you have the life you deserve? If not, what do you deserve?
2. Tell me about an enraging experience you had that everyone else thought was no big deal. Why was it so infuriating for you?
3. What is the outcome you're hoping for? How much would you sacrifice to make it happen?
4. What will happen if you don't achieve your primary goal?
5. What will happen if you do achieve your primary goal?
6. Who is counting on you? What happens to them if you fail?
7. How does your goal reflect who you are? What would it mean for you to fail? To succeed?

Conflict Questions

1. Who or what is challenging your belief system right now? How do you feel about that?
2. What is your biggest secret?
3. What is the greatest regret of your life? Does anything in your present conflict bring those old feelings of regret back to the surface?
4. What would it mean to live as your true, authentic self? What's holding you back from living that way now?
5. A hurricane is coming. You have time to grab exactly one object from your home before you evacuate. What object do you choose and why is it so important to you?
6. From your perspective, what's really standing between you and your goal? Do other people see it that way?
7. Who is your ally right now? How do you feel about having this person on your side?
8. Who is your enemy right now? How do you feel about being up against this person?

Relationships Questions

1. Is there a family member you wish you could go to for support right now? What’s holding you back?
2. Describe your ideal best friend. Is such a person already in your life?
3. If the world were going to explode and you could only bring one person with you on the escape pod, who would it be and why?
4. How do you want others to perceive you?
5. Who loves you with all their heart and soul? How does their love make you feel?
6. What's one thing you would change about the person you love most in the world?
7. What's one thing you admire about your worst enemy?
8. Who knows you better than anyone? Do you trust them with that knowledge?
9. Who guides and inspires you? Why do you trust them?

Phase Three: Character Clarification Questions

These character questions are great to ask when you're stumped on a scene or story beat. Find one that seems like it might lead to a breakthrough and get chatting.

1. What is the absolute worst thing that could happen to you at this point in the story?
2. What is the best thing that could happen at this point in the story?
3. Everybody's hiding something—a fear, a weakness, a strength, an unpopular opinion. What are you hiding right now?
4. How is this moment challenging your beliefs about yourself, the world, or the other people in the scene? If your beliefs are not being challenged, what would make you question everything?
5. Of the many actions you could take at this moment, which would be the most difficult? The most effective? The most terrifying? The least forgivable?
6. What do you know now that you didn't know at the beginning of your arc?
7. What are you still resisting? Is there a specific belief or past experience that makes that sense of resistance so strong?
8. What is the best memory you share with the person in this scene?
9. What is the worst memory you share with the person in this scene?
10. In what ways do you see yourself in the person in this scene?
11. Do you believe victory is possible at this point? Why or why not?
12. Gut check: Do you expect people to act in their own self-interest or in the interest of others?
13. If someone really wanted to hurt you right now, what should they do?
14. Who do you wish was here with you now? How would they make things better?
15. What power do you hold in this situation?
16. What did you dream about last night?
17. Tell me the story of this scene like you were recounting it over a beer with your best friend.
18. Who has it easier than you in this situation? Are you open to considering the possibility that they actually have it worse?
19. Has this journey already changed you? Do you like the change, or do you miss the person you used to be?

Great Character, Great Story

The first time all the Dabble writers got together, we discussed which content to prioritize. This sparked a delightfully heated debate about what matters more in crafting a good story: character or plot.

I did not chime in, because nothing I would have said would have been as entertaining as the debate that was already raging. My answer to nearly every argument is, “It's complicated,” and people hate that. I frequently get called “diplomatic,” which—as it turns out—is not a compliment.

But just between you and me, Internet, my answer to this great debate is that it's an impossible question. Sure, as a reader forced to choose, I'd rather read about a fascinating character who does nothing than a half-baked caricature who has grand adventures.

But as a writer?

As a writer I know that no amount of crazy twists and turns will make my readers care what happens to a protagonist who reads like a talking stack of character traits. I also know that compelling characters make decisions. Loads of them. Hard decisions that result in bigger problems and an engaging plot.

This is what I love about good character questionnaires (especially when the questions get weird). They help us drill down to what actually motivates our characters. Character interviews reveal secrets and feelings and old memories that spark fear and longing and questionable decisions.

Character development questions point us to the cross-section of character and plot, and that's where the good stuff is.

So open your Dabble app and get crackin'.

Don't have Dabble? No problem! You can try it for free for fourteen days by following this link. You don't have to enter a credit card, and you get access to all the premium features, from co-authoring to the famous Plot Grid and more.