Character Questionnaire
From Building Believable Characters by Marc McCutcheon

Name:

Age:

Height:

Weight:

Body Type:

Physical Condition (Fit, unfit or something in between?):

Eye Color:

Hair Color and Style:

Distinguishing Features:
1.
2.
3.

Physical Imperfections/Would Like Most to Change:
1.
2.
3.

Characteristic Gestures:
1.
2.

Race:

Ethnic Group:

Religion:

Family Background/Lineage:

Years of Schooling:

Major and Minor Studies in College:
1.
2.
3.

Degrees:

Grades Achieved in School:

Special Occupational Training:

Skills, Abilities and Talents:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Areas of Expertise:
1.
2.
3.

Occupation:

Past Occupations:
1.
2.
3.

Military Experience:

Short-Term Goals:
1.
2.
3.

Long-Term Goals:
1.
2.
3.

Short-Term Needs:
1.
2.
3.

Long-Term Needs:
1.
2.
3.

General Personality Type:

Introvert/Extrovert:

Quirks:
1.
2.
3.

Eccentricities:
1.
2.
3.
4.

IQ:

Temperament:

Method of Handling Anger or Rage (Repress, throw things, etc.):

Admirable Traits:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Negative Traits:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Bad Habits/Vices:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Prejudices:
1.
2.
3.

Pet Peeves and Gripes:
1.
2.
3.

Things That Make Uncomfortable or Embarrass:
1.
2.
3.

Most Painful Things in One's Life:
1.
2.
3.

Even Been Arrested? (If so, for what?):
1.
2.
3.

Political or Social Issues Most Important to You:
1.
2.
3.

Opinion on Abortion:

Opinion on Environmental Issues:

Opinion on Homosexuality:

Opinion on Military Intervention:

Opinion on Progress:

Opinion on Crime and Gun Control:

Opinions Peculiar to Character:

Political Party:

Liberal, Conservative, Middle of the Road, Radical:

Income:

Sense of Humor (None, dry, understated, witty, slapstick, dirty, etc):

Fears:
1.
2.
3.

Phobias:
1.
2.
3.

Manias:
1.
2.
3.

Physical Illness or Afflictions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Mental Disturbances:
1.
2.
3.

Hobbies:
1.
2.
3.

Interests:
1.
2.
3.

Sports:
1.
2.
3.

Favorite Pastime:

Favorite TV Shows:
1.
2.
3.

Favorite Movie:
1.
2.
3.

Favorite Travel Destination:

Pets:

Drinks Alcohol? (How often?):

Favorite Alcoholic Drink:

Favorite Meal:

Favorite Books:
1.
2.
3.

Diet (Rich, low-fat, cholesterol, restaurant, etc.):

Favorite Restaurant/Ethnic Food:

Favorite Physical Attributes in Opposite Sex:

Attributes About Character That Turn on Opposite Sex:

Sexual Turns-On:
1.
2.
3.

Sexual Turn-Offs:
1.
2.
3.

Traumas/Psychological Scars from the Past:
1.
2.
3.

Clothing Styles/Favorite Outfit:

Favorite Pet Sayings, Words/Idiolect:
1.
2.
3.

Speaking Style (Talkative, taciturn, soft-spoken, loud, formal, casual, accent, fast, slow, etc.):

Philosophy of Life:

Type and Number of Close Friends:

Best Friend:

Other Friends:

Most Crucial Experience (Or experiences that helped to mold character's personality or attitude):

Home (Apartment/tenement building/high-rent/low-rent district/house/mansion/castle, etc):

Neighborhood:

Car:

Color:

Drive Fast or Slow/Obey Traffic Laws:

Major Problems to Solve or Overcome:
1.
2.
3.

Solution to Problems:
1.
2.
3.

Minor Problems to Solve or Overcome:
1.
2.
3.

Solutions to Problems:
1.
2.
3.

Character Growth (by the end of the story)/Character Change/Lessons Learned:



Chronology of Actions (From start of story to end):