The following is a list of optional guiding questions that you can use to explore your character and their journey, based on the framework Idina uses for her own character work. You can use these questions as a jumping off point for your own brainstorm, or, if you'd like more structure, write a short answer for each one!

The Story and World

What is the story?

• In 1-2 sentences, what is this story about?
• In what location and time period does this story take place?
• What is the society in which this character lives like? What are the shared beliefs and traditions?
• What is the central theme or message of this story?
• How does this story relate to the wider historical or cultural context? You can think about when the story takes place and/or when it was written.

The Character

Who is this character?

• What do you know about this character’s backstory? It might be helpful to use your imagination to flesh out more of their backstory than what’s in the story, in order to humanize their actions or provide motivation for their choices. This might be particularly helpful in the case of characters who are perceived as being evil.
• Who is this character in the context of their world? How do they relate to their immediate circumstances, and to the larger context of their society?
• What about this character’s life, personality, or outlook can you relate to your own personal experiences? What’s different?
• What is motivating this character throughout the story? What does this character want most?
• What makes this character tick? What are the coping mechanisms they use to manage what they’re going through?
• Where are the “cracks” or points of vulnerability for this character, and how do they start to show?

Why is this character singing this song?

• When in the story, or in this character’s life, is this song happening?