Young Writers Society

So I made up a character questionnaire, and thought it might be good if I put it here both to help others, and so that we can all add questions to it, and hopefully make an ultimate one by putting our minds together. I'll keep it updated whenever someone suggests a new question, and I'll attach a preformatted word doc version.

I've tried to categorise the questions to make it easier. They're designed to be answered in 1st person from the character's point of view rather than the author's point of view.

Basic Information
How old are you
How old are your parents
How old are your siblings
What are your parents names
What are your siblings names
How old is your partner
What is their name
How did you meet
What do you do for a living
What does your partner do for a living
What do your parents do for a living
What do your siblings do for a living
Who are the other notable people in your life

Your World
What socio-economic class do you belong to
Describe your home
Describe your town or city
Describe the people who live around you
Where did you grow up
How has it affected your life
What are the memorable features of this place
What were the main industries
What were the notable cultural features
Where do you live now
How has this affected your life
What are the memorable features of this place
What are the main industries
What are the notable cultural features of this place

Relationships
What relationship problems have you and your partner had
What do you like about your partner
What do you dislike about your partner
How do you feel about your neighbours
How much were your parents there for you as a child
Did you fit in with other children
Do you fit in with others now
Describe your relationship with any past partners
Describe your relationship with your current partner
How have your parents influenced you
How have your siblings influenced you
How have any others influenced you
Who has had the best influence on you
Who has had the worst influence on you
Describe your ultimate partner

Personal Opinions
What are your religious beliefs
How do you see other religions
Express your view on the government
What 5 things would you change about the world
What 5 things would you keep the same
Do you feel fulfilled in your current line of work
What would be your ultimate job

Life Events
What jobs have you had in the past
At what point in life were you most happy
At what point in life were you most miserable
Have there been any major deaths that have impacted you
Any other major events
What is the most memorable event of your life
At what age did you leave home

I like this. It's not a fill-in-the-blanks character sheet but gets you thinking about a character as a product of their life.

One thing: Your questions about spouses gears this towards older MCs, and I personally write from a teenage MC (as I think most people on YWS do). I'd replace "spouse" with "partner" and add a question along the lines of, "Are you single?" then put the partner questions under "if no, then:"

Just my idea, because I couldn't use the actual spouse questions for my MC.

Again, good questionnaire.

I changed spouse to partner. I didn't add "are you single?" because I think the way a single person reacts to someone assuming them to be attatched will tell you about the character. On the same note, don't leave questions blank if your character can't answer them. Get into your character's voice and respond how they would if asked a question that doesn't apply to them. Someone who says "Um, I don't know." or "I don't feel comfortable answering that." will be different to someone who says "what you talking about fool."

My name is Gwen Clark.
Basic Information
22
56 and 54
No siblings
Jack and Karen
No siblings
No one? I guess Simon
Simon Lancaster
Work. We’re both astronomers
Astronomer
Astronomer
Run a tea shop downtown
No siblings
The Doctor is my best friend, and the way I get to see the universe. She’s amazing.

Your World
Middle class
Small flat. Enough to get me going. I also live in the TARDIS, but that’s a giant spaceship disguised as a Police Box
London
I live near people my age. Normal, human people
London
It was a great place to experience Earth as a child
I used to love the markets and the parks near our flat
??
The diversity
Still London
It allowed me to meet the Doctor
EVERYTHING
??
Still the diversity

Relationships
He, um, fell into a black wall :’(
He’s cute, sweet, funny, kind, and everything I could ask for
His glasses. THEY’RE SO UGLY
They’re fine. Human.
A lot.
Not really.
Still, not that much.
None
Well, we were friends. We kissed. We had one “date”. He fell into a black hole.
How have your parents influenced you
No siblings.
How have any others influenced you
The Doctor
The Timelords
The Doctor but you know, a guy + Simon

Personal Opinions
Athiest
Let them do what they want, I’ll stay out of it
Eh?
Dunno
The human race
Yes
Astronomer, my job.

Life Events
What jobs have you had in the past
Traveling with Simon and the Doctor
After Simon died
Simon. Mine, long story.
All my travels with the Doctor
Meeting the Doctor
18