Build-a-Character-Character Creation Aid

Example

Asking questions to uncover a character's childhood experiences, significant life events, or the origin of specific fears or desires.

Scenario

A writer develops a character who is afraid of the dark. Through backstory exploration, the writer discovers this fear stems from an incident in the character's childhood where they were locked in a dark room as a punishment.

Example

Guiding writers to delve into the character's emotional responses to various situations, their vulnerabilities, and potential for emotional growth.

Scenario

A novelist is crafting a character who seems emotionally detached. Through emotional depth probing, they explore how the character's detachment is a coping mechanism for dealing with the loss of a loved one, adding layers to the character's emotional landscape.

Example

Presenting hypothetical situations to explore how the character would react, thereby understanding their psyche, values, and emotional resilience.

Scenario

In the process of developing a screenplay, a writer uses conflict scenarios to test how their protagonist would handle betrayal by a trusted friend, revealing the character's capacity for forgiveness and personal growth.

Example

Offering feedback on maintaining consistency in the character’s behavior and actions throughout the story, ensuring logical development.

Scenario

While reviewing a draft, the writer realizes a character's actions contradict previously established traits. Through consistency checks, the writer revises these actions to align with the character's core personality and values.

Example

Ensuring characters are both relatable to readers while maintaining their unique complexities and not falling into stereotypes.

Scenario

A fiction writer is creating a character from a diverse cultural background. The tool helps ensure the character is authentically represented, avoiding cliches while highlighting relatable struggles and aspirations.