Character building checklist

Basic Character Questions

 * 1) First name?
 * 2) Surname?
 * 3) Middle names?
 * 4) Nicknames?
 * 5) Date of birth?
 * 6) Age?

Physical / Appearance

 * 1) Height?
 * 2) Weight?
 * 3) Build?
 * 4) Hair colour?
 * 5) Hair style?
 * 6) Eye colour?
 * 7) Eye Shape?
 * 8) Glasses or contact lenses?
 * 9) Distinguishing facial features?
 * 10) Which facial feature is most prominent?
 * 11) Which bodily feature is most prominent?
 * 12) Other distinguishing features?
 * 13) Skin?
 * 14) Hands?
 * 15) Make up?
 * 16) Scars?
 * 17) Birthmarks?
 * 18) Tattoos?
 * 19) Physical handicaps?
 * 20) Type of clothes?
 * 21) How do they wear their clothes?
 * 22) What are their feet like? (type of shoes, state of shoes, socks, feet, pristine, dirty, worn, etc)
 * 23) Race / Ethnicity?
 * 24) Mannerisms?
 * 25) Are they in good health?
 * 26) Do they have any disabilities?

Personality

 * 1) What words or phrases do they overuse?
 * 2) Do they have a catchphrase?
 * 3) Are they more optimistic or pessimistic?
 * 4) Are they introverted or extroverted?
 * 5) Do they ever put on airs?
 * 6) What bad habits do they have?
 * 7) What makes them laugh out loud?
 * 8) How do they display affection?
 * 9) Mental handicaps?
 * 10) How do they want to be seen by others?
 * 11) How do they see themselves?
 * 12) How are they seen by others?
 * 13) Strongest character trait?
 * 14) Weakest character trait?
 * 15) How competitive are they?
 * 16) Do they make snap judgements or take time to consider?
 * 17) How do they react to praise?
 * 18) How do they react to criticism?
 * 19) What is their greatest fear?
 * 20) What are their biggest secrets?
 * 21) What is their philosophy of life?
 * 22) When was the last time they cried?
 * 23) What haunts them?
 * 24) What are their political views?
 * 25) What will they stand up for?
 * 26) Who do they quote?
 * 27) Are they indoorsy or outdoorsy?
 * 28) What is their sinful little habit?
 * 29) What sense do they most rely on?
 * 30) How do they treat people better than them?
 * 31) How do they treat people worse than them?
 * 32) What quality do they most value in a friend?
 * 33) What do they consider an overrated virtue?
 * 34) If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?
 * 35) What is their obsession?
 * 36) What are their pet peeves?
 * 37) What are their idiosyncrasies?

Friends and Family

 * 1) Is their family big or small? Who does it consist of?
 * 2) What is their perception of family?
 * 3) Do they have siblings? Older or younger?
 * 4) Describe their best friend.
 * 5) Ideal best friend?
 * 6) Describe their other friends.
 * 7) Describe their acquaintances.
 * 8) Do they have any pets?
 * 9) Who are their natural allies?
 * 10) Who are their surprising allies?

Past and Future

 * 1) What was your character like as a baby? As a child?
 * 2) Did they grow up rich or poor?
 * 3) Did they grow up nurtured or neglected?
 * 4) What is the most offensive thing they ever said?
 * 5) What is their greatest achievement?
 * 6) What was their first kiss like?
 * 7) What is the worst thing they did to someone they loved?
 * 8) What are their ambitions?
 * 9) What advice would they give their younger self?
 * 10) What smells remind them of their childhood?
 * 11) What was their childhood ambition?
 * 12) What is their best childhood memory?
 * 13) What is their worst childhood memory?
 * 14) Did they have an imaginary childhood friend?
 * 15) When was the last time they were crushed with disappointment?
 * 16) What past act are they most ashamed of?
 * 17) What past act are they most proud of?
 * 18) Has anyone ever saved their life?
 * 19) Strongest childhood memory?

Love

 * 1) Do they believe in love at first sight?
 * 2) Are they in a relationship?
 * 3) How do they behave in a relationship?
 * 4) When did you character last have sex?
 * 5) What sort of sex do they have?
 * 6) Has your character ever been in love?
 * 7) Have they ever had their heart broken?

Conflict

 * 1) How do they respond to a threat?
 * 2) Are they most likely to fight with their fists or their tongue?
 * 3) What is your character’s kryptonite?
 * 4) If your character could only save one thing from their burning house, what would it be?
 * 5) How do they perceive strangers?
 * 6) What do they love to hate?
 * 7) What are their phobias?
 * 8) What is their choice of weapon?
 * 9) What living person do they most despise?
 * 10) Have they ever been bullied or teased?
 * 11) Where do they go when they’re angry?
 * 12) Who are their enemies and why?

Work, Education and Hobbies

 * 1) What is their current job?
 * 2) What do they think about their current job?
 * 3) What are some of their past jobs?
 * 4) What are their hobbies?
 * 5) Educational background?
 * 6) Intelligence level?
 * 7) Do they have any specialist training?
 * 8) Do they have a natural talent for something?
 * 9) Do they play a sport? Are they any good?
 * 10) What is their socioeconomic status?

Favourites

 * 1) What is their favourite animal?
 * 2) Which animal to they dislike the most?
 * 3) What place would they most like to visit?
 * 4) What is the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen?
 * 5) What is their favourite song?
 * 6) Music, art, reading preferred?
 * 7) What is their favourite colour?
 * 8) What is their password?
 * 9) Favourite food:
 * 10) What is their favourite work of art?
 * 11) Who is their favourite artist?
 * 12) What is their favourite day of the week?

Possessions

 * 1) What is in their fridge:
 * 2) What is on their bedside table?
 * 3) What is in their car?
 * 4) What is in their bin?
 * 5) What is in their purse or wallet?
 * 6) What is in their pockets?
 * 7) What is their most treasured possession?

Spirituality

 * 1) Who or what is your character’s guardian angel?
 * 2) Do they believe in the afterlife?
 * 3) What are their religious views?
 * 4) What do they think heaven is?
 * 5) What do they think hell is?
 * 6) Are they superstitious?
 * 7) What would they like to be reincarnated as?
 * 8) How would they like to die?
 * 9) What is your character’s spirit animal?
 * 10) What is their zodiac sign?

Values

 * 1) What do they think is the worst thing that can be done to a person?
 * 2) What is their view of ‘freedom’?
 * 3) When did they last lie?
 * 4) What’s their view of lying?
 * 5) When did they last make a promise?
 * 6) Did they keep or break their last promise?

Daily life

 * 1) What are their eating habits?
 * 2) Do they have any allergies?
 * 3) Describe their home.
 * 4) Are they minimalist or a clutter hoarder?
 * 5) What do they do first thing on a weekday morning?
 * 6) What do they do on a Sunday afternoon?
 * 7) What do they do on a Friday night?
 * 8) What is the soft drink of choice?
 * 9) What is their alcoholic drink of choice?

Miscellaneous

 * 1) What is their character archetype?
 * 2) Who is their hero?
 * 3) What or who would your character dress up as for Halloween?
 * 4) Are they comfortable with technology?
 * 5) If they could save one person, who would it be?
 * 6) If they could call one person for help, who would it be?
 * 7) What is their favourite proverb?
 * 8) What is their greatest extravagance?
 * 9) What is their greatest regret?
 * 10) What is their perception of redemption?
 * 11) What would they do if they won the lottery?
 * 12) What is their favourite fairytale?
 * 13) What fairytale do they hate?
 * 14) Do they believe in happy endings?
 * 15) What is their idea of perfect happiness?
 * 16) What would they ask a fortune teller?
 * 17) If your character could travel through time, where would they go?
 * 18) What sport do they excel at?
 * 19) What sport do they suck at?
 * 20) If they could have a superpower, what would they choose?