These prompts are inspired by Ted Gioia’s “My 8 Best Techniques for Evaluating Character.” I’ve revised his techniques to create fictional characters.
- What childhood experiences formed your character? List three and write a paragraph about each.
- How do they handle their time and material resources? What do they do with their free time? What sorts of things do they surround themselves with?
- Identify what irritates your character the most about others. (This may be the trait or flaw they dislike most in themselves.)
- Describe your character’s long-term relationship(s) so that it reveals what the character longs for and what they think they deserve or will settle for.
- How does your character treat people assigned to serve them, especially people who have no power or influence over them?
- Does your character cheat at small things? (Why would or wouldn’t that guarantee they will cheat at big things?)
- How do they handle unexpected problems? Do they exacerbate the issue (intentionally or not), try to ignore it, negotiate, or attempt a solution alone or with others?
- Describe the character’s inner conflict. What do they want? What will they not do to get it?
Writing Fiction 