character questionnaire

All tales, then, are at some level a journey into the woods to find the missing part of us, to retrieve it and make ourselves whole. Storytelling is as simple - and complex - as that. That's the pattern. That's how we tell stories.
-John Yorke, Into the Woods: A Five Act Journey Into Story

  • What does your character look like, how old, how tall, how fat?

  • How would they like to look?

  • How do they dress?

  • What is their favourite meal?

  • How often do they get to eat it, and why or why not?

  • Do they like cities or the countryside?

  • Hot countries or cold?

  • Describe the view from their bedroom window.

  • Which actor would play them in a film of their life?

  • Write their childhood memory.

  • Who do they confide in?

  • What is their favourite book?

  • Name one of their last New Years Resolutions.

  • What are they frightened of?

  • When did they last dance?

  • Who with?

  • What do they think about love?

  • What do they think about religion?

  • What is the one sentence they would never say?

  • Are they competitive?

  • For either yes or no, give an example?

  • Do they have any physical habits, gestures, etc?

  • What did they last celebrate?

  • How would they most like to spend Sundays?

  • Do they swear?

  • If so, what is their favourite curse?

  • What object would they save if their house was on fire?

  • Have they ever seen a ghost?

  • Who would they tell a secret to?

  • What relationship do they have with the mirror?

  • Do they have any hobbies, passions, interests?

  • What’s their favourite colour?

  • What are they ashamed about?

  • What makes them angry?

  • Do they dream? If so, of what?

  • What song do they know the words of?

  • What secret have they never told anyone?

  • What do they want in life?

  • What do they actually need?


#30everydaywords

Want to introduce your characters to the world? Use the hashtag #30everydaywords and tag me on instagram or twitter - @sarahsalway. I’d love to meet the characters you come up with!

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