WEIRDLY SPECIFIC BUT HELPFUL CHARACTER BUILDING QUESTIONS
Whatās the lie your character says most often?
How loosely or strictly do they use the word āfriendā?
How often do they show their genuine emotions to others versus just the audience knowing?
Whatās a hobby they used to have that they miss?
Can they cry on command? If so, what do they think about to make it happen?
Whatās their favorite [insert anything] that theyāve never recommended to anyone before?
What would you (mun) yell in the middle of a crowd to find them? What would their best friend and/or romantic partner yell?
How loose is their use of the phrase āI love youā?
Do they give tough love or gentle love most often? Which do they prefer to receive?
What fact do they excitedly tell everyone about at every opportunity?
If someone was impersonating them, what would friends / family ask or do to tell the difference?
Whatās something that makes them laugh every single time? Be specific!
When do they fake a smile? How often?
How do they put out a candle?
Whatās the most obvious difference between their behavior at home, at work, at school, with friends, and when theyāre alone?
What kinds of people do they have arguments with in their head?
What do they notice first in the mirror versus what most people first notice looking at them?
Who do they love truly, 100% unconditionally (if anyone)?
What would they do if stuck in a room with the person theyāve been avoiding?
Who do they like as a person but hate their work? Vice versa, whose work do they like but donāt like the person?
What common etiquette do they disagree with? Do they still follow it?
What simple activity that most people do / can do scares your character?
What do they feel guilty for that the other person(s) doesnāt / donāt even remember?
Did they take a cookie from the cookie jar? What kind of cookie was it?
What subject / topic do they know a lot about thatās completely useless to the direct plot?
How would they respond to being fired by a good boss?
Whatās the worst gift they ever received? How did they respond?
What do they tell people they want? What do they actually want?
How do they respond when someone doesnāt believe them?
When they make a mistake and feel bad, does the guilt differ when itās personal versus when itās professional?
When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?
If they committed one petty crime / misdemeanor, what would it be? Why?
How do they greet someone they dislike / hate?
How do they greet someone they like / love?
What is the smallest, morally questionable choice theyāve made?
Who do they keep in their life for professional gain? Is it for malicious intent?
Whatās a secret they havenāt told serious romantic partners and donāt plan to tell?
What hobby are they good at in private, but bad at in front of others? Why?
Would they rather be invited to an event to feel included or be excluded from an event if they were not genuinely wanted there?
How do they respond to a loose handshake? What goes through their head?
What phrases, pronunciations, or mannerisms did they pick up from someone / somewhere else?
If invited to a TED Talk, what topic would they present on? What would the title of their presentation be?
What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?
What language would be easiest for them to learn? Why?
Whatās something unimportant / frivolous that they hate passionately?
Are they a listener or a talker? If theyāre a listener, what makes them talk? If theyāre a talker, what makes them listen?
Who have they forgotten about that remembers them very well?
Who would they sayĀ āyesā to if invited to do something they abhorred / strongly didnāt want to do?
Would they eat something they find gross to be polite?
What belief / moral / personality trait do they stand by that you (mun) personally donāt agree with?
Whatās a phrase they say a lot?
Do they act on their immediate emotions, or do they wait for the facts before acting?
Who would / do they believe without question?
Whatās their instinct in a fight / flight / freeze / fawn situation?
Whatās something theyāre expected to enjoy based on their hobbies / profession that they actually dislike / hate?
If theyāre scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?
Whatās a simple daily activity / motion that they mess up often?
How many hobbies have they attempted to have over their lifetime? Is there a common theme?