characterbuilding | Recent Entries

Welcome to Character Building, simple exercises to build and develop original characters.

Each week, a new list of prompts and questions will be posted.
You can choose to complete as many as you want.
Although intended for original characters, fanfiction authors may also find these exercises helpful.

This is less of a community in the traditional DW sense, and more of just a way to develop writing in the comfort of your own journal. You can either link to your responses on your journal by commenting on one of our weekly entries, or you can make a post to the community.

We use ArchiveOfOurOwn's rating system.

You can interpret these exercises however you want. Write as your character, in third person, as an author, or a combination of the three.

Posts should be formatted like this:

Example:

[Subject:] Prompt Week 2 | Word Count 456 | E

[Body:] Prompt: Week 2

Questions Answered: 1-4

Word Count: 456
Rating: E

Warnings: Gore

This is some cut text that link to your entry.

You should tag your post with the week number and your name.

Example:

Week: 3, Author: yourblogname

marshv

Week 4 prompts. Sorry about the lateness!

1. Has your character ever betrayed a friend? Why did they betray them? And how do they feel about this betrayal? Do they regret it or do they feel that it is justified?

2. What are your character's political preferences?

3. The concept of "world peace" is brought up often. What is your character's idea of world peace?

4. How does your character handle people who express opinions different than their own? Are they fairly passive? Or are they eager to argue? Maybe it depends on the subject being discussed. Are they more likely to ignore differing opinions on certain things but not others?

5. Describe your character's sense of humor. Does it correspond with mainstream humor? Or do they have unusual ideas of what is funny?

6. Your character, for whatever reason, has to do community service. How do they chose to serve the community? Volunteering at a soup kitchen? Cleaning up garbage?

marshv

Week 4 prompts are here! I apologize for the slight lateness. And remember that members now have posting access! Please see the stickied rules post for formatting information. You can also link to your responses by commenting on the weekly prompt posts, if you wish.

1. What is your character's dream job? What about that job draws them to it?

2. Write about a time your character was angry. How does your character act when they are mad at someone or something? Do they have a violent temper or are they passive?

3. Does your character try to see the good in every situation or are they pessimistic? Why are they pessimistic? If they're more of an optimist, why are they an optimist? Are other's irritated by your character's outlook?

4. What is an easy way to make your character sad. What about angry? Or happy? Are they easily swayed or are they apathetic? Does your character hide their emotions or do they wear their heart on their sleeve?

5. Let's say your character has three wishes. What would they wish for? They can wish for anything except for more wishes.

6. Your character can only take three things to a deserted island. They will be there for a month and the island has plenty of fresh water and food your character can eat. Assume there is an abandoned hut your character can live in. What items would they take?

marshv

Week 3 prompts are here early since last week's prompts were late. Have fun!

1. Is your character superstitious? Do they believe in psychics? What about things like bigfoot or the loch ness monster? What do they think of conspiracy theories?

2. How does your character feel about children? How do children act towards them? Are they good with kids? Are they intimidating or do children like them?

3. What do others first notice about your character? What are their most distinctive features and traits? What kind of first impression do they tend to make on strangers?

4. Does religion play a significant role in your character's life? How do they feel about religion, in general?

5. If your character was given $1,000 (or an equivalent large sum of money, if $1,000 isn’t much to them) what would they buy? Would they start spending immediately? Or would they think about their options first?

6. What kind of music does your character listen to? When do they typically listen to music?

marshv

As the title says, members may now post entries to the community with their filled prompts! We know how hard it can be as writers to get our work seen, and we hope this will increase your visibility. Of course, you don't have to post if you don't want to.

Please follow the format given in our updated rules post.

marshv

1. What is something your character hates about themselves that isn't related to their appearance?

2. Does your character have any mental illnesses? If they don't, do they have any unusual personality traits?

3. How does your character feel about touch? Do they enjoy physical affection? Do they initiate it or encourage it? Will they allow anyone to touch them or only certain people?

4. Think about any hobbies or interests your character has. How did they develop? Are they particularly skilled or are they a novice?

5. What is a time your character has been truly scared. If they've never been scared, what is something that would scare them. How do they handle fear? Are they a fighter or a flighter?

6. How does your character get ready for the day? Do they have a long and meticulous regimen? How would they feel if they didn't follow it or were unable to follow it?

marshv

1. Your character has just committed a crime. How do they react to what they've done? Do they feel justified? Are they ashamed? How are they dealing with it?

2. Your character ponders love. What are their thoughts on romance?

3. Write how your character would react to a national tragedy.

4. If your character is from a marginalized group, write about a time they've experienced prejudice. It can be prejudice from others, or internalized prejudice from themselves.

5. Take an alignment test for your character and write about what their result entails in their canon world and how they would express it in their thoughts and actions.

6. Write about how your character feels about their appearance, or their thoughts on physical appearances in general.

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Character Building Exercises

Character building for new and experienced writers

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