The Saturday Character Clinic: What was your character like in her childhood before the world changed her?
Exploring the Questions that Bring Characters to Life
Characters are memorable only when the author has taken time to consider the whole person. Emotions, flaws, past experiences are important - details matter. While you can’t examine every aspect of a character’s life, each character must be considered carefully before writing your story.
THE SATURDAY CHARACTER CLINIC is dedicated to discovering how thoughtful questions help writers to better understand their character’s better.
THE QUESTION CORNER
Who was your character like in her childhood before the world changed her?
WHY THIS QUESTION MATTERS
Childhood experiences matter because they shape who the individual will become. It often explains fears and the choices that a character makes. For example, childhood often shapes a character’s personality. If the character experienced abuse or other trauma they might be suspicious as an adult.
UNLOCKING THE CHARACTER - QUESTIONS BENEATH THE SURFACE.
Below are some of the basic questions when starting to plot a character. This is not a complete list, but it will start the conversation.
What is the character’s favorite childhood memory?
What was a character most sure/unsure of as a child?
Did she enjoy where she lived? Did she ever leave and if she didn’t did she choose to stay? If she left, would she return?
Does she have friends/family in her old home? Does she visit them? Are her friends still there and does she visit them often? Explain her relationship with her friends and a favorite memory with them.
Did she go to school? Did she like school and what was her favorite subject? Why did she like this subject? Did she graduate? Did her schooling help her when she became an adult?
What was her favorite memory of childhood and why?
What was her greatest talent? Did she bake, play an instrument, race bikes - what did she like to do? Why did she like it and does she still do it as an adult?
Does she think she had a happy childhood? Is she proud of her past?
POCKET-SIZED WORKOUT- TRY IT YOURSELF
Write a short paragraph describing a character’s favorite memory. Make sure your character is an adult and she is looking back on the memory. How is she feeling when she is remembering the story and how did the memory affect her as an adult. I’d love to read them so please post your paragraphs in the comments.
CHECK IN
Is there a particular question that you ask your character when trying to design her childhood.
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION
What kind of friend is your character?
