Creative Writing Prompts Character

For many writers (like me!) the beginning of a story is character. Something about a character intrigues me and I find myself wanting to follow them to see what makes them tick. Being a pantser (writing by the seat of my pants) as opposed to a plotter, I meet a character, write to figure out who they are, then keep writing until I discover a character’s story. This can take a while, so I’ve developed a list of Writing Prompts Character to help you create characters from real life. Yes, from people you know.

Many times someone I know inspires me with a quirk or trait, or an idea emerges from a chance meeting with a stranger and my first impression of them. When someone is rude to me, I use that in my writing. Charming? That too can be used. If I don’t understand someone’s motivation, I make up different scenarios, some plausible and some insanely impossible. It’s all fodder for fiction!

These writing prompts character are designed to help you discover new characters through people you have known forever or just met for a few moments. Are there any chance meetings you’ve had that you can use in your stories?

Is there someone you met—if only for a few minutes—who made a big impact? What about them was so fascinating?

Begin with reality then keep asking questions and answering them with whatever comes to mind, until you build a character. Look around and see how the people in your life—whether you know them or just have a brief encounter—can inspire you. Follow them. Explore their lives. Let them tell you their story.

Writing Prompts Character, Write about the head of the PTA, or Library Board

• Why is she the leader?
  • What qualities does she have that make her one?
• Does she have a volunteer spirit?
  • Is she the type of person who can get things done?
• Does she truly care about others, or does she seek top office for other reasons?
• Is she inspirational, or does she seek control for her own reasons?
• Did she push her way in?
  • Manipulate people?
• Does she have an ulterior motive?
  • What is it?
• Is this her best way to achieve her goals?
• Did she get talked or pushed into doing the job? Does she love it? Hate it? Why?
• How does this responsibility affect her private life? Her children? Husband?
• Does she get done what she intends?
• Who stands in her way?
  • Why?
  • What are his motives?

Writing Prompts Character, Write about a frightening or mysterious person in a neighborhood

• Why does he cause a mystery?
  • What details about him are strange or frightening?
• What sort of house or building does he live in?
• Does where he lives reflect his personality?
  • Is it opposite of what you expect?
• What is really going on behind closed doors?
• Is he truly frightening, or does he just seem that way?
• Does he go out of his way to be frightening?
  • Does he like scaring people?
    • If so, why?
• How do the children in the neighborhood react to him?

Writing Prompts Character, Write about a person who makes a lot of enemies

• How does she do this?
  • Is she this way with everyone she meets?
• What actions does she take to cause this?
• Is she protecting herself?
  • From what?
• What in her past made her like this?
• Does she mean to make enemies, or is she oblivious to the feelings of others?
• Is it no fault of hers that she makes so many enemies?
• Why do people not like her to the point of being an enemy?

Write about a person who has no enemies.

• How does he manage this?
  • Is it natural, or does he have to work at it?
• What actions does he take to cause this?
• Is he being who he truly is with people, or does he hide a part of his personality?
• Is he really this nice?
  • Or is he truly an exceptional person?
• Is he protecting himself by being too nice?
• Does he hold back his true feelings so as not to cause conflict?
  • Is he afraid of conflict?
• Does he have a need to be needed by others?
• What in his past has caused this?
• How does this get him into trouble?

Writing Prompts Character, Write about a person you admire

• What about her is admirable?
  • What sort of traits does she have to admire?
• What happens when you push these admirable traits too far? (Example: someone who is charming is really manipulative, someone who is trusting doesn’t have a good grip on reality, someone who is flamboyant and fun is truly emotionally unstable.)

Writing Prompts Character, Write about a person you dislike/detest

• Why?
  • What about him is dis-likable?
• What actions does he take to cause this?
• What are the traits behind his actions?
  • Are they so bad?
• What in his past has made him this way?
• Is there a particular instance where he became this way?
• Or have his traits been years in the making?
• What about him is likable or admirable?
  • How does that balance with his other traits?
• Are any of his negative traits a positive? (Example: someone who is unreliable is also easy going, or someone who is inflexible can also be heroic, someone who is self-absorbed is also introspective and emotionally honest.)

Writing Prompts Character, Write about someone who is always in a hurry

• Where is he going?
  • Is it important or just important to him?
• Why does he have to hurry?
• Is he running to or running from something?
  • Or both?
• How does he approach his life?
  • Always with such intensity?
• What is his life about that he moves so fast?

Write about someone going nowhere.

• Has she planned it that way?
  • Is this her choice, or have circumstances beat her down?
• Is she truly going “nowhere” or does she have a different path than the norm?
• What traits does she have that makes her this way?
• Is this good, bad?
  • What does she have to realize to get herself moving again?
• Is she moving, but others don’t see it?
• Does she care?

On a final note, be sure to keep looking to people you know and meet to inspire you. There are ideas everywhere. Use them.
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Award-winning novelist Kathy Steffen teaches fiction writing and speaks at writing programs across the country. Additionally, Kathy is also published in short fiction and pens a monthly writing column, Between the Lines. Her books, FIRST THERE IS A RIVER, JASPER MOUNTAIN and THEATER OF ILLUSION are available online and at bookstores everywhere. Check out more at www.kathysteffen.com