In his book The Novel Project, Graeme Simsion mentions the questionnaires we can find and fill out to get to know our characters – but he doesn’t use them.
He says, “There are real people I’ve known for years whose star sign and preferred drink I wouldn’t be able to tell you. If a character needs to order a drink in the story, I’ll choose one on the spot, consistent with other aspects of their background, and review it later. But only if they order a drink.” (p. 98)
I know I often find it difficult to fill in those questionnaire too. I’ve tried numerous times but always end up with a whole lot of blank spaces. Instead, although I’m a plotter at heart, I often learn new things (especially fictional characters) by writing a scene and seeing what is said and people they react on the spot.
The following prompts are designed to place your main character (who is perhaps you) in a range of situations and see either what happens or what memories are evoked. They can be adapted to suit whatever project you’re working on, whether you’re writing about your own life, that of an ancestor or of a fictional character.
Hopefully, they will help you create new scenes, or at least learn something new about that you didn’t know before (including realisations about ourselves).
1. warm up: five objects
Look around you (or outside your window). Select five objects that are right in front of you and write a scene, create a poem or sketch something that includes some or all of those objects.
As an example, from my desk I can see the Frangipani, a white bamboo heart, a lamp, clouds and a small dog.
2. 6 month review
It is half way through the year already.
What has the past six months been like for you? (If you are writing about an ancestor or a fictional character, you can take any moment and think about the six months prior and six months following that time.)
- What are you thankful for?
- What has been challenging?
- What has brought you joy?
- What has brought tears?
- What is something new you tried?
- What would you do differently?
- How do you feel right now, and where does that show up in your body?
Consider the rest of the year:
- What is something you’d like to attempt?
- What is a goal you’d like to complete?
- What is something you will do differently?
- What is important to you right now?
- What do you need to step away from?
- What would you like to create more time for?
3. a childhood book
What were your favourite books as a child? When and where did you read them? Were there other people involved in that reading experience?
Create a scene that includes one or more childhood favourites.
4. friendship
Create or recreate a moment of friendship.
Is the moment from the past or the present? If a memory of the past, does that friendship still exist in the present? If a current friendship, how did you first meet?
5. a moment that changed you
Describe a moment or event that changed you, your ancestor or a fictional character. How were you/they changed? How does it impact the present?
6. a moment of thanks
Describe a moment or event that you are glad happened.
7. the pub test
Write a scene in a pub, bar or restaurant.
What’s the occasion? Why is your character there? Are they there willingly or reluctantly? Who is the first person they say hello to?
If fiction (or if relevant to a real-life event), introduce another character your protagonist definitely does not want to see. What happens next?
8. Sport
Create a scene in which you, an ancestor or a fictional character is playing or watching sport.
If appropriate/relevant, have them reminisce about their sporting endeavours as a child or teenager.
9. Holidays
Describe a favourite (or disastrous) holiday.
10. historical and literary figures
Imagine meeting a figure from history or the literary world.
How do each of you behave? What do you say? How does the interaction end?
Over to You
What will you discover about yourself, an ancestor or fictional character today?
