#Dabble writer how to

Work on finding that familiarity with your character while going through character development questions. You know that feeling when you hear the voice of someone you love in the other room? There’s an instant familiarity-not just in the sound of their voice, but in the rhythm of their speech and the words they use. Writing in the character’s voice also makes the character begin to feel more real to you. Writing in your character’s voice sparks creativity and helps you forget about that article that said sassy witches are really hot right now. You can also use notecards or a notebook if you’re old-school and romantic like that.Īnswer each question in writing, responding in your character’s voice. If you’re a Dabble user, your Character Notes are a great place to store your interviews.

How Does a Character Interview Work?Ĭopy and paste the character development questions you like into your favorite writing software. So, how exactly does one interview a half-formed thought? Let me walk you through the details.

#Dabble writer how to

How to Use a Character Development Questions It’s one of the benefits of living in imaginary worlds.ĭabble's Character Notes feature is a great way to keep track of your character development questions. The people who live in our heads tend to be available at a moment’s notice. If you want to launch into your draft all reckless and blind, go for it! When you get stuck on page ten (no judgment!), you can have an impromptu sit-down with your character. Instead of obsessing over whether your creature is “interesting” or “trending right now,” you get to step back and let them tell you who they are.Įven better, you can conduct a character interview at any phase of the writing process. ‍You’re letting the character take shape as you write them. But a character interview is also a great tool for pantsers because it’s essentially a form of discovery writing. It’s a great exercise for planners who want to know their character’s whole deal before they start writing. In a character interview, you treat this shapeless wisp of inspiration as if they are an actual fleshy person sitting across from you.

This isn’t about building a character profile that lists facts about a fictional person. Then I’ll give you what you came for: sixty-five fresh-out-of-the-oven character development questions you can use today.Ī character interview is a list of questions you “ask” your character in an effort to get to know them better. We’ll talk about what a character interview is, when to use it, and how to use it. That’s why thought-provoking character development questions can make all the difference in the writing process.

Fears, dreams, relationships, flaws… when you clarify what’s going on inside your character, the external details emerge naturally. There is value in knowing your protagonist so well you can name what they had for breakfast and how long it took them to digest it.īut when it comes to character development, it’s way easier to start with the deeper, more defining traits. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with creating a comprehensive image of your character in your own mind. When gushing about how magnetic the protagonist was, did you happen to mention the fact that they played the tuba in seventh grade? Think of the last book you recommended to a friend. What color are their eyes? Where were they born? What were they for Halloween last year? When writers say that character interviews don’t actually help, it’s usually because they’re using a questionnaire designed to nail down surface-layer details. The only trick is that you have to ask the right questions. Like “on the verge of becoming sentient” real. Character development questions can help you transform a made-up person into a character that feels real.