Character Development Part 3 - Questionnaire

I have filled out a Character Development questionnaire which gives details into the character's personality and background.

Felix Isaacs

(This questionnaire is found in Gotham Writers’ Workshop’s Writing Fiction.)

You might start with questions that address the basics about a character:

• What is your character’s name? Does the character have a nickname?

Felix Isaacs

• What is your character’s hair colour? Eye colour?

Black hair, brown eyes.

• What kind of distinguishing facial features does your character have?

Quite large eyebrows with slender eyes.

• Does your character have a birthmark? Where is it? What about scars? How did he get them?

No birthmarks. A scar on his leg from falling from a tree he was climbing.

• Who are your character’s friends and family? Who do they surround themselves with? Who are the people your character is closest to? Who does he wish he were closest to?

Mother: Laura Wakefield, Father: Charlie Isaacs. He doesn't surround himself with many people, he is quite introverted. He is closest to his partner, Sky Drew. He wishes he could have been closer to his family.

• Where was your character born? Where have they lived since then? Where do they call home?

Felix was born in Boston, Lincolnshire. He has lived there and in the local area all his life. He moved when he was thrown out of his home by his parents. He lived with an elderly foster lady who died when he was 17. He found work as an apprentice mechanic. He moved to Newark-on-Trent when he qualified. He finally settled in the outskirts of Lincoln with Sky.

• Where does your character go when they're angry?

He goes outside and sits quietly.

• What is their biggest fear? Who have they told this to? Who would they never tell this to? Why?

His biggest fear is letting people in. He wasn't much good at making friends and was isolated most of his life. When he does let someone in he's still cautious, but he feels great loneliness. He told this to Sky when they had been going out for 3 years when Sky asked why he didn't have any close friends or family. He would never tell anyone he didn't know well, because he would think they would use it against him in some way.

• Do they have a secret?

He doesn't really have secrets but he is quiet and doesn't talk much.

• What makes your character laugh out loud?

Sky when he's being silly.

• When has your character been in love? Had a broken heart?

He has only ever been in love with Sky. He did have a brief relationship with another man which lead to his being kicked out by his family.

Then dig deeper by asking more unconventional questions:

• What is in your character’s refrigerator right now? On their bedroom floor? On their night stand? In their garbage can?

Milk, yoghurt (Sky's), chocolate, cheese, jams, butter, three week old decomposing vegetables, left-overs. On the bedroom floor is a rug, used socks. On the night stand is a lamp, and alarm clock, and a photo of him and Sky. In the garbage can is the hoover dust, dinner, teabags.

• Look at your character’s feet. Describe what you see there. Do they wear dress shoes, gym shoes, or none at all? Are they in socks that are ratty and full of holes? Or are they wearing a pair of blue and gold slippers knitted by their grandmother?

His socks are worn but still in good use. They are black and thick.

• When your character thinks of their childhood kitchen, what smell do they associate with it? Sauerkraut? Oatmeal cookies? Paint? Why is that smell so resonant for them?

The smell he remembers is the combined smell of washing liquid and cigarette smoke. He associates this smell with his parents. Any smell of food was usually take-away (which he didn't get much of), and that was then covered by the cigarettes.

• Your character is doing intense spring cleaning. What is easy for them to throw out? What is difficult for them to part with? Why?

He doesn't own a great deal of clothes, any that he has he wears a lot. The only things he'd probably get rid off is underwear and things that don't fit any more (unless Sky gets in there and demands clothes that are no longer fit for outings to be used for work).

• It’s Saturday at noon. What is your character doing? Give details. If they're eating breakfast, what exactly do they eat? If they're stretching out in their backyard to sun, what kind of blanket or towel do they lie on?

Felix would likely be helping Sky tidy the house and cleaning. If he gets that done he'd go and do some much needed DIY outside (out of Sky's way). If that's done, he'd fiddle about with his cars and mechanic work.
The kind of breakfast he'd have would be a large bowl of whatever cereal is available (he's not fussy...Sky usually chooses it and it's usually healthy muesli). When he gets a chance to 'relax' he wouldn't sit outside, he'd be inside watching TV on the sofa. At the beach however, he'd lie on a towel chosen by Sky.

• What is one strong memory that has stuck with your character from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?

One of the strongest is when he was dragged into the house when he got home from school and beaten by his dad. The sounds he doesn't really remember because it was just noise, but it had something to do with him being involved with another man. Felix ran out, thinking he'd come back and explain everything when they'd calmed down, only to find all his things packed and stood outside the front door. He never made contact with his family after that.

• Your character is getting ready for a night out. Where are they going? What do they wear? Who will they be with?

He goes with Sky to a social gathering with music (maybe a friend's wedding). He wears a white shirt with a tie, black trousers, and shiny black shoes. 

Sky Drew

You might start with questions that address the basics about a character:

• What is your character’s name? Does the character have a nickname?

Sky Drew

• What is your character’s hair colour? Eye colour?

Light Brown hair, Grey-Blue eyes.

• What kind of distinguishing facial features does your character have?

Slender eyebrows with large eyes. He also has a few small moles dotted about his face.

• Does your character have a birthmark? Where is it? What about scars? How did he get them?

He has a faded birthmark on his leg. He only has a few small scars on his arms and legs from childhood accidents when playing.

• Who are your character’s friends and family? Who do they surround themselves with? Who are the people your character is closest to? Who does he wish he were closest to?

Only child of: Mother: Melanie Rogers, Father: William Drew. He surrounds himself with friends and friends of friends, pretty much anyone. He is closest to his mother (despite her wish that he get into acting or music), his father (despite the initial reaction to his sexuality, they are close in their interest in railways), and Felix.

• Where was your character born? Where have they lived since then? Where do they call home?

Sky was born in London, where his parents were into property development. They moved when Sky was 5 to Lincolnshire near Sleaford and settled there. Sky moved out after earning a teaching degree in History. He moved to Lincoln until he met Felix. He moved in with him when he was 24.

• Where does your character go when they're angry?

He goes into the bathroom and locks himself inside.

• What is their biggest fear? Who have they told this to? Who would they never tell this to? Why?

His biggest fear is not being able to do everything he wants to do in life, such as go to places he longs to go to, or meet famous people, or achieving something in life he longs to do. He doesn't fear dying or death, he fears that he will run out of time doing mundane things (like running a house and job) instead of going out and seeing the world.

• Do they have a secret?

He first had sex when he was 14, which he never told his parents about. He told Felix, who swore he wouldn't tell anyone.

• What makes your character laugh out loud?

Felix...tickling him.

• When has your character been in love? Had a broken heart?

He had been in love with a girl called Amy who was a little older than him, and she was already going out with someone. He fell completely in love with Felix on their second...or third meet-up, especially when they kissed. Oh my God, that kiss.

Then dig deeper by asking more unconventional questions:

• What is in your character’s refrigerator right now? On their bedroom floor? On their night stand? In their garbage can?

Milk, yoghurt, chocolate, cheese, jams, butter, three week old decomposing vegetables, left-overs. On the bedroom floor is a rug, used socks. On the night stand is a lamp, and alarm clock, and a photo of him and Felix. In the garbage can is the hoover dust, dinner, teabags.

• Look at your character’s feet. Describe what you see there. Do they wear dress shoes, gym shoes, or none at all? Are they in socks that are ratty and full of holes? Or are they wearing a pair of blue and gold slippers knitted by their grandmother?

His socks are fluffy and colourful, but when he goes out in shoes, he puts on thinner plainer socks.

• When your character thinks of their childhood kitchen, what smell do they associate with it? Sauerkraut? Oatmeal cookies? Paint? Why is that smell so resonant for them?

The smell of paint and sawn wood. His parents were often re-decorating. Any food was prepared by a woman who came in and cooked for the family. (His parents made their money by renting the properties they developed).

• Your character is doing intense spring cleaning. What is easy for them to throw out? What is difficult for them to part with? Why?

Any clothes that are either too small or too worn must go.

• It’s Saturday at noon. What is your character doing? Give details. If they're eating breakfast, what exactly do they eat? If they're stretching out in their backyard to sun, what kind of blanket or towel do they lie on?

Saturday is spent tidying the house and cleaning. That usually takes up his time. Any 'free' time is spent marking work. If they chance to have nothing to do most of the day, he and Felix will go out and spend the day at a museum or take a walk in the countryside.

• What is one strong memory that has stuck with your character from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?

One of the strongest memories he has is when he and his dad went to see a steam train coming through a village. This changed Sky to want to study history, in particular railways. He became influenced by early 20^th century fashion and style, and started to collect books and memorabilia on railways. From that day on his dad encouraged him to pursue a teaching career and encouraged the railway fascination.

• Your character is getting ready for a night out. Where are they going? What do they wear? Who will they be with?

He will usually go to see friends or a social gathering. He wears a short sleeved shirt with an open button at the top (no tie), with a dark tweed waistcoat. He wears dark trousers and sued shoes.