Character Development: Getting inside the minds of those you write about

Last night I completed my character development questionnaire for the antagonist in a new project I am toying with.   Usually, the antagonist is the easiest character for me to develop; I get to infuse the character with all of the cool, evil and twisted things I wish I could do and say.

I’ve mentioned the questionnaire I use before and thought I would share a bit of it with you.  Some questions are fairly basic and standard. Others reflect my own unique ways of getting into a character’s head. Here are 20 of the 100 questions I answer about each of the characters in my stories.

What is your character’s name? Does the character have a nickname?
What is your character’s hair color? Eye color?
What kind of distinguishing facial features does your character have?
Does your character have a birthmark? Where is it? What about scars? How did he get them?
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 he wish he were closest to?
Where was your character born? Where has she lived since then? Where does she call home?
Where does your character go when he’s angry?
What is her biggest fear? Who has she told this to? Who would she never tell this to? Why?
Does she have a secret?
When has your character been in love? Had a broken heart?
Describe a recurring dream or nightmare this character might have.
List the choices (not circumstances) that led this character to his/her current predicament.
List the circumstances over which this character has no control.
What wakes this character in the middle of the night?
How would a stranger describe this character?
What does this character resolve to do differently every morning?
Who depends on this character? Why?
What is this character hiding from him/herself?
Does this character believe in god?
What has this character lost?

There you have it. Now you know where I start with my characters. At some point I’ll post the entire Q&A lists for the main characters in Asylum Lake. I think you may find some of the answers quite surprising!