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Writing a Novel Part 7
Interviewing Characters for Depth

As I discussed on my fiction writing character outline page (see link at bottom of this page), interviewing your protagonist and antagonist, along with any other relatively important players in your novel, is a great way to get to know them well enough to write their story. And to make it believable by making them believable.

So, using the main character outline as a background, we'll expand on what you know of a character. Depending on whether you know more about the characters or the story, you may need to slant your interview appropriately.

More Than Just Some Questions

To start with, pay attention to how the characters talk to you when they answer your questions. Make notes of their turns of phrase, their attitude. (I know, they aren't really sitting across from you and having a chat, but the whole point of this exercise is to make them more solid and real in your head. So "listen" to how they say things and what they leave out.)

Next, look at what they're wearing to this interview. Is your antagonist a slob? Does he wear clothing that hasn't seen a washer in weeks? Describe how he smells, if so.

Maybe it's your heroine you're interviewing. How is she dressed? Prim as a nun's habit? Or flashy and sexy and deliberately turning men's heads?

Okay, those are background notes to make. Now on to the interview.

Let your questions mirror the depth you need out of the character. Is the character a walk-on? Just the bare minimum is all you'll need (and likely don't really need to interview for). Main player? You need to get personal... really personal sometimes.

So, let's assume you're interviewing your protagonist or antagonist. Here are some questions to get your ideas rolling. Adjust them and add to them (or delete) as needed for your particular story.

Here's how I'm interviewing a new character I have a story idea for. I don't know much about her yet, except she's a Scotswoman in her mid-twenties, single still and works for herself in an era where that was frowned upon. And she lives in a small town out west. (If you've been reading these awhile, you'll recognize Kate from Issue 6 of my newsletter.)

The Interview

(Kate comes into my small office, drops into the straight-backed chair across the desk from me and folds her hands in her lap. Eyes direct on mine. She's dressed in an everyday, serviceable calico gown in blue, no bonnet or hat, and strands of hair coming down from the twist at the nape of her neck. Her hands and face both show signs of sun.)

Me: Hi Kate. Thanks for talking to me.

Kate: Fine, but let's hurry. I've got things to do.

Me: Great. So what is it you do?

Kate: I run the boarding house in Durango.

Me: Who tends to stay there and how many boarders do you generally have at a time?

Kate: Folks passing through, or looking to move into the area. The miners, when they come down from the mines. Maybe three or four passing through plus ten miners or so at a time, unless they come in stone drunk from the saloon. Then it's the streets for the night. No room refunds, either.

Me: Do you run the place alone?

Kate: I have a cook to help and a kid that helps me clean and do wash once a week. Free room and board to the cook, who lives at the boarding house. The kid is widow Greenleigh's girl. Helping her ma out. I pay her a bit.

Me: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Kate: (snorts) What spare time?

Me: Do you take Sundays off?

Kate: Do my boarders feed themselves on Sundays?

Me: Who are your friends, and how did you meet them?

Kate: Annie Winslow and I grew up here together. She helps out when I have too big a crowd, but not so much anymore. She's got a kid, now.

Me: Anyone else?

Kate: I'm not so popular. Unladylike, they call me. I call it avoiding starvation.

Me: So there are those in town who disapprove?

Kate: (gives me a scathing look)

Me: I've heard you draw. Is that one of your drawings on the dining room wall at the boarding house?

Kate: (blushes) Yes. But it's frame was made by Ely West. Wasn't much till it was framed.

Me: I beg to differ with you, but... So you like to draw when you can squeeze in time. Do you read and write?

Kate: (looking offended). Of course I do. How else would I know if someone tried to cheat me, if I didn't know my numbers and letters and all? Are we about done? I've got supper to put on the table.

Me: Sure. We can be done. Thanks for your time. See you again soon.

Interpreting the Interview

Wow. Kate's definitely got attitude, and impatience with what she views as frivolities, as well. I think she's prickly because some of the local townsfolk don't approve of her making her own way. I didn't get a chance to ask what her parents thought of her, but I imagine they aren't thrilled with her choice of job.

She dresses to be comfortable. The interview did not induce her to dress in anything fancier. Indeed, the lack of head-wear, in an era when women were expected to cover their heads when outside the home tells us she doesn't worry about flaunting convention.

The direct eye contact is, again, a show of boldness and perhaps a dare to make someone say she should be more ladylike. However, she hasn't crossed the line into a masculine handshake when we meet, either.

She seems very confident in herself, in some ways, and completely lacking confidence in others. At ease with the boarding house role, but less so with the drawing she likes to do on the side. As if she's afraid any sign of proper "female" talents might lose her place at the boarding house. That could easily be explained with the difficult role she's playing in an era when women didn't do for themselves much.

Note that I haven't followed the character outline. You can certainly use it to interview your characters, but feel free to deviate from it as much as possible. Then just let your mind go where it wills and you'll find your characters talking back to you the way Kate just did with me.

Anyway, now you see how an interview can give you more depth of character. You need to use questions that you have about your particular character and the story about that character. Tailor them to your needs. Let the character outline be your base, and branch out from there.

Don't forget to interview your antagonists, too. You'll be surprised what you might learn about them by doing so.

I hope this helps your writing improve. As always, that's my goal. See you next issue!

You can read more tips on creating characters on these pages on my website:

Characters
Character
Characterization
Fiction Writing Character Outline
Dialogue
Point of View
POV
Protagonist
Antagonist
Fictional Character

And here's why you want to know your characters well before you finish polishing your novel:

Action, reaction, motivation, emotion, all have to come from the characters. ~ Nora Roberts