Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Character

Is this character distinct from the other characters in the book?

Does this character have to be here or can his/her role be easily taken by another character?

Does this character have a reason for what s/he does in her/his own mind?

Does this character have a back-story (even if it is only in my own head)?

Does this character do stupid things for plot reasons?

Does this character want something desperately?

What is missing for this character? Will s/he find it?

What flaws does this character have? Are they loveable flaws? Are they flaws that will be difficult to forgive?

What friends and family does this character have? You can't have a character without a community, unless the character is a sociopath or autistic. And not even then, really.

What will change about this character in the course of the story?

When unpredictable things does this character do?

When will readers want to hit this character over the head with a brick? Are those the times you mean for the reader to feel this way?

Does this character live outside the pages of the book? Does the character ever seem to comment on real life? Because if you are a successful writer, it will feel that way to readers.

Who is this character's ultimate enemy or worst nightmare? Is that in the book? It should be.

What would happen if this character met his/her perfect match? Disaster? Or fun?

How quickly do you introduce the character in action? It should be in the first chapter, if possible. Maybe second chapter.

Is this character in a prophecy? How is that prophecy wrong?