essay prompts about characterization

47 Character Development Prompts To Flesh Out Your Book Characters

What kind of person is your main character? 

Maybe you’ve started to hear their voice in your head, but they just haven’t been very talkative. 

What can you do to make your character reveal their full self, quirks and all? 

The best way to get to know the people you’ve created is to use character development writing prompts.

We’ve created a list of 47 to put each of your key characters to the test.

Choose your own adventures for them. And see what your characters reveal about themselves. 

Actions speak louder than words. But you’ll need both. 

Key Benefits of Character Development Exercises

Identity or personality prompts, relationship prompts, reaction prompts, ethics and morality prompts, backstory prompts.

The more writing prompts you use in the development of your characters, the more of the following benefits you’ll enjoy:

• Deeper awareness of the process of creating complex and believable characters
• Experience writing from the character’s point of view (voice journal entries)
• Experience writing dialogue (or taking dictation for the voices in your head)
• Greater ease in making each character stand out as unique and three-dimensional.
• Well-drawn, interesting characters , which help in the creation of unique plots. 

The more you know about these people in your story, the more real they become to you. 

Related: 16 Best Self-Publishing Companies For Your Writing Business

Then comes the challenge of helping your reader see them through dialogue and essential details.

The more character development prompts you use, though, the more experience you’ll have doing exactly that. 

47 Character Development Prompts 

Try any of the character scenarios below to see what each of your key characters is made of. Put them in situations that reveal their character and what they believe about themselves — as well as what they think of other characters in your story. 

We’ve divided these into groups to make it easier for you to focus on the areas that are the foggiest right now. Dive in and choose a prompt for today’s freewriting exercise . 

1. If your character has a superpower , what is it and how did they discover it? Is it something they’re proud of or would they like to exchange it for someone else’s?

2. What is your character’s biggest flaw ? Write about how they came to terms with it (if they have) or how they react when someone calls them out for it. 

3. Write a scene exposing your character’s fatal flaw and include another character from your story. Write from either character’s point of view. 

4. Write a scene revealing a mental health challenge for your character. Another character recognizes that challenge and offers help. 

5. Your character is trying to decide what to eat on a Friday night alone at their place. Write a voice journal entry about their thought process, what they eat, and why. 

6. Have three of your characters play “ Truth or Dare .” What do they learn about each other? And what character is more likely to choose “Dare” over “Truth”?

7. If your character has decided romantic or sexual love is not for them, write about what led them to identify as asexual or aromantic . How have others reacted? 

8. Has your character discovered an attraction they’ve been taught they shouldn’t have? Write about how has that affected their beliefs and sense of identity?

9. Does your character identify with the gender assigned to them at birth? If not, write about how they came to identify as a trans person and who supported them. 

10. Write a scene where your character reveals their sexual orientation or gender identity to someone who doesn’t respond well to the news. 

11. Have your character take the 16Personalities test to identify their Myers-Briggs type. Write a voice journal entry about their reaction to the results. 

12. Get your character alone with a parental figure that shaped their response to authority. Is your character generally obedient or more likely to question or rebel?

13. Get your character alone with someone they’re attracted to , whether they’ve acknowledged that attraction or not. Let them find out the attraction isn’t mutual. 

14. Get your character alone with someone who hurt them and who now needs their help. Write a scene or dialogue exchange hinting at the hurt caused by the other.

15. Write a scene where your character cooks a meal for someone else in your story. Show how it turns out and what they talk about while they eat (or drink). 

16. Write a scene where one of your character’s siblings comes to visit them. What do they talk about? What have they been through together? 

17. Get your character talking about their first love , who it was and whether the attraction was mutual. Was it an epic love or just a crush? How did it end?

18. Does your character have a mentor , coach,  or guide? Write a scene where they clash with this mentor or take issue with advice or directions they’ve been given. 

19. Has your character ever lost a friend ? Write a scene leading up to that loss and then show how your character reacts. 

20. Write a scene that shows what kind of friend your character is when someone they care about is going through a bad break-up. 

21. How does your character get along with kids ? Write a scene where someone talks to your character about whether they want kids of their own and why or why not.

22. Write a scene describing an encounter between your character and someone who has an unrequited crush on them — and who writes poetry. 

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23. Write a scene where someone teases your character and then ridicules them for acting “ triggered .” What goes through your character’s head and what do they say?

24. Write a scene showing how your character would respond to a bully — e.g., a belligerent customer harassing an employee or a parent verbally abusing a child. 

25. Write a scene showing how your character would react upon learning that the attraction between them and another character is mutual. 

26. Write a scene showing how your character would respond to the death or serious injury of someone they cared about. What would they reveal about themselves?

27. Write about the moment your character learns what it will cost to get the thing they want most. How do they react? What do they say and do?

28. How would your character react to someone telling them, “ You’re not like other women/men ”? Write a scene or dialogue exchange showing their reaction. 

29. Think of a strong reaction you’ve had that surprised or confused others. Write a scene where one of your characters has a similar reaction to something. 

30. Write a scene where your character reacts to a religious symbol from their past. What does religion mean to them, now, and what do they believe about God?

31. How would your character react if they met their clone — who happens to be both successful and (apparently) evil? Write a scene describing the encounter. 

32. Does your character meet someone who helps them make a better decision about something? Write a scene or dialogue for a pivotal moment involving both. 

33. Does your character meet someone who manipulates them into doing something harmful? What do they do, and how does it affect them and other characters? 

34. What choice would your character make if presented with the trolley problem ? Write a voice journal entry explaining their decision. 

35. Does your character have a redemption arc ? Write a scene where you reveal your character’s turning point or an experience that changes them for the better. 

36. What could push your character over the edge ? Write a scene where this happens? What does your character do or say as a result? What do they lose?

37. Write a scene where your character meets a panhandler asking for money. Do they give the man anything? Use details and dialogue to reveal why or why not. 

38. Your character’s boss has offered them a significant promotion if they can get another employee to quit. Write about your character’s thought process. 

39. Your character has an unpleasant encounter with their rich boss, who leaves their loaded wallet behind. Write a scene showing what your character does and why.

40. Write about a traumatic experience in this character’s life and how it continues to affect them. Whom did it involve, and how have those relationships changed? 

41. Is your character’s world heteronormative ? Write about how your character and others respond to non-hetero romantic relationships. 

42. How has your character dealt with grief in the past? Write a scene where someone confronts them on this or encourages them to talk about it. 

43. Your character isn’t convinced they’re a good person . Write a scene or conversation that explains why. Do they remember ever thinking they were good?

44. Does your character have a secret about their past? Write a scene where this secret comes out. How do they and the other characters react? 

45. Have your character’s beliefs changed significantly since adolescence? Write a voice journal entry about those beliefs and why they changed. 

46. As a child, your character wandered away from their parents, who didn’t notice their absence until a stranger brought them back. Write about what happened. 

47. Write about a mistake your character made that he still hasn’t forgiven himself for. Use a voice journal entry to explain why. 

How will you use these character development prompts?

Now that you have 47 character development writing prompts , which one are you most eager to start with? Which one has already started the movie projector in your head? 

Once you know each character to their core, you can do as Terry Pratchett suggests: “Wind them up, put them down, and simply write down what they do, say, and think.” 

You’ll be doing that for these prompts . But they’ll also help you do it better. 

Meanwhile, you’ll also get better at creating characters your readers will fall in love with and write fanfiction for. 

Get your ship names ready, just in case.

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Essays About Character: Top 5 Examples and 9 Prompts

If you’re writing an essay about character, below are helpful examples of essays about character with prompts to inspire you further.

When we say that a person has character, we usually refer to one’s positive qualities such as moral fiber, spiritual backbone, social attitudes, mental strength, and beliefs. But not to be mistaken with mere personality, character goes beyond the sum of all good traits. Instead, it demonstrates and applies these qualities in interacting with people, acting on responsibilities, and responding to challenges. 

Character, hence, cannot be evaluated by a single action or event. Instead, it manifests in a pattern and through consistency.

Read on to find essays and prompts to help you create an essay with rich insights. 

1. How 5 CEOs Hire For Character by Chris Fields

2. the character of leadership by brian k. cooper et. al, 3. when proof of good moral character helps an immigration application—or doesn’t by ilona bray, j.d., 4. what are the 24 character strengths by sherri gordon, 5. the five character traits the best investors share by richard thalheimer , 9 writing prompts for essays about character, 1. what are your character strengths, 2. the importance of character, 3. how household chores develop a child’s character, 4. how challenges shape your character, 5. character education in schools, 6. character analysis, 7. character vs. personality , 8. why psychologists study character, 9. choosing people for your character reference  .

“You have to be a good person with a good heart. Of course, you have to be qualified, educated and skilled, that goes without saying – or it should – but your next candidate can’t be a bad person because CEOs are looking for character.”

The essay compiles insights from famous billionaire CEOs who underscore the importance of recruiting people with good character. It shows the upward trend among companies seeking qualifications beyond education and professional experience and looking more into the heart of people. You might also be interested in these essays about courage .

“…[L]eadership that achieves results goes beyond how to be, and becomes how to do; this type of leadership is all about character. So in other words, in order to get things done personally and organizationally, one first needs to get in touch with his or her character.”

Character in leadership could translate to benefits beyond the organization, society, or the world. The essay is based on a study of the three underlying dimensions of leadership character: universalism, transformation, and benevolence. 

“Demonstrating good moral character is an extremely important part of many immigration cases, but it is not required in all of them. In fact, providing proof of your accomplishments to the court could hurt your immigration case in some instances.”

Showing good moral character is a common requirement for immigrants seeking to be naturalized citizens in a different country. This article gets into the nitty gritty on how one can best prove good moral character when facing immigration officers.

“Knowing a person’s character strengths provides a lens through which psychologists, educators, and even parents can see not only what makes a person unique, but also understand how to help that person build on those strengths to improve situations or outcomes.”

The concept of character strengths aims to help people focus on their strengths to lead healthy and happy life. Understanding character strengths meant being more equipped to use these strengths to one’s advantage, whether toward academic access or overcoming adversities.

“… [Y]ou have to be able to pick the right stocks. That’s where talent, intellect, knowledge and common sense come in. Of course, if you can’t control your emotions, and you get fearful and sell every time the market drops, all that talent, knowledge, intellect and common sense go out the window.”

Having an eye for the right stocks requires developing five character traits: talent, intellect, knowledge, common sense, and a bias to action. All these could be honed by sharpening one’s knowledge of the current news and financial trends. Developing character as a stock investor also requires a daily routine that allows one to exercise analytical skills.

Check out these great prompts about character:

What are the positive character traits you think you have that many people also see in you? List down these strengths and dive deep into each one. To start, you may look into the 24 strengths highlighted in one of the essay examples. Then, identify which ones best suit you. Finally, elaborate on how you or the people around you have benefitted from each.

In a world where many are motivated by fame and fortune, how can you convince people that being kind, honest, and courageous trump all life’s material, fleeting desires? Turn this essay into an opportunity to call more people to build good character and keep out of bad habits and actions. 

Tasking children doing household chores can offer benefits beyond enjoying a sparkly clean home. In the long-term, it builds children’s character that can help them lead healthy and happy life. For this prompt, lay down the top benefits children will gain from performing their chores and responsibilities in the household.

Our best selves reveal themselves in the darkest times. You can easily say that obstacles are the actual test of our character. So, first, narrate a challenging experience you had in your life. Then, describe how you turned this bad period around to your advantage to strengthen your mind, character, and resilience. 

Schools play a vital role in training children to have a strong-minded character and contribute to the good of society. As such, schools integrate character education into their curriculum and structure. In your essay, narrate how much your school values character building. Elaborate on how it teaches bad actions, such as bullying or cheating, and good virtues, such as respecting others’ culture, traditions, and rights. 

Pick a character you adore, whether from a novel or a book. Then, write an analysis of their traits and how these fit into their assigned role in the story. Of course, as in every character analysis, narrate their character transformation. So you have to identify key turning points and realizations that prompted the changes in their character, role, values, and beliefs. 

Both your character and personality make you a unique individual. But they have different definitions and uses that make them independent of each other. In your essay, identify these differences and answer which has the most significant impact on your life and which one you should focus on. 

Psychologists study characters to know how and why they change over time. This helps them enhance their understanding of human motivation and behavior. In your essay, answer to a greater extent how studying character drive more people to thrive in school, work, or home. Then, compile recent studies on what has been discovered about developing character and its influences on our daily lives.

A good character reference can help you secure a job you’re aiming for. So first, identify the top qualities employers look for among job seekers. Then, help the reader choose the best people for their character reference. For students, for example, you may recommend they choose their former professors who can vouch for their excellent work at school. 

To make sure your readers are hooked from beginning to end, check out our essay writing tips ! If you’re thinking about changing your essay topic, browse through our general resource of essay writing topics .

50 Character Development Writing Prompts

Last updated on January 5th, 2023

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next creative writing project, why not try using some character development writing prompts? By coming up with creative and unique ways to develop your characters, you can ensure that your story will be more interesting and engaging for your readers.

From developing a character’s back story to exploring their motivations, these prompts should help you and your readers get to know your characters better and create characters that are more three-dimensional. By giving your characters prompts that help you understand them on a deeper level, you’ll be able to write them more authentically.

Plus, they can help you to break out of any writing ruts you may find yourself in and find inspiration. So if you’re ready to get started, here are some prompts to help you get inside your character’s heads. And if you are lucky, they might even surprise you!

What are writing prompts?

A writing prompt is a topic or question that is used to generate ideas for writing. As a writing exercise, character prompts specifically are used to generate ideas for writing about characters, and can be used for any type of writing, including fiction, non-fiction, and even poetry.

How do you use writing prompts?

There are many different ways to use character prompts. One way is to choose a prompt that focuses on a specific aspect of a character, such as their appearance, personality, or history. This can help to narrow down the ideas that are generated and can make the writing process easier.

Another way is to choose one that is open-ended and allows for a variety of ideas to be generated. This can be a great way to get the creative juices flowing, and can often lead to some very interesting and unique characters. 

Whatever method you choose to use, they can be a great way to jump-start your writing and can help to create some truly fascinating and original characters.

Also, they may or may not lead to writing an actual scene that will be included in your story but will still give you more history of your character from which to draw.

Types of Character Writing Prompts

Things and objects.

When you are developing a character, you want to make sure that they are well-rounded and believable. One way to do this is to have them interact with their environment. What kind of things are in their environment? How do they react to them? Do they have any kind of connection to them? What does the object’s sentimental value say about the character who holds it dear? What kind of memories and associations does it bring up for them? All of these things can help to develop your character and make them more believable to your readers.

• A character is cleaning out their attic and finds a dusty old box. Inside are things that belonged to a person they used to be close to, but haven’t thought about in years. What objects are in the box, and what do they mean to the character?
• A character is going through a difficult time and finds solace in a particular object. What is the object, and why does it bring them comfort?
• A character inherits a piece of jewelry from a relative they never knew. What does the jewelry look like, and what does it mean to the character?
• A character finds a lost wallet on the street. What is the wallet’s owner like, based on the things inside it?
• A character is going through a tough break-up and decides to get rid of all of the things that remind them of their ex. What are some of the things they get rid of (or keep!), and why?
• A character is moving to a new city and has to downsize their belongings. What are some of the things they keep, and what do they mean to the character?
• A character is going through a difficult time and starts collecting random things as a way to cope and regain a sense of control. What kinds of things do they collect, and why?
• A character is going through their family’s things after a loved one dies and finds an old photograph. Who is in the photograph, and what does it mean to the character?
• A character is cleaning out their closet and finds a box of things they used to love as a child. What are some of the things in the box, and what memories do they bring back for the character?
• How does a character’s relationship to a thing or object change throughout the story? How does that reflect the character’s evolution and growth?

Personality

When developing a character, it can be helpful to explore their personality to get a better sense of who they are and how they might react in different situations. This can be done by considering their values, beliefs, and motivations, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. 

• Your character is faced with a difficult choice and the consequences of that choice. How do they address it, or not? What did they learn?
• What’s your character’s biggest secret? What would happen if it was revealed?
• Your character tries out a new hobby and discovers they have a hidden talent for it. What is it? How does the hobby or that knowledge impact them?
• Your character encounters someone who challenges their beliefs or worldview. What is it, and does either character change?
• Write a scene in which your character tries out a new personality trait and it backfires hilariously.
• Write a scene in which your character’s personality is the perfect match for a situation, and they make the most of it.
• Write a scene in which your character has to restrain their personality for the sake of a professional setting.
• Write a scene in which your character’s personality gets them into trouble but they manage to talk their way out of it.
• Write a scene where your character has to fake a personality different from their own.
•  Your character has a revelation about themselves that leads to a radical change in their personality.

Character Interactions

One way to develop a character in your writing is to explore interactions with other characters or creatures in the story. This can help you to understand how your character thinks and feels, and can also give your reader insight into how other characters may react to your character. Additionally, exploring interactions between characters can help to create conflict and tension in your story, which can make it more interesting to read.

• Have your character find a lost pet. What does this reveal about your character’s compassion for creatures?
• Have your character overhear a conversation between two other characters. What does this reveal about your character’s relationships with others?
• Have your character wake up in a room full of people they don’t know. What does this reveal about your character’s social anxiety or lack thereof?
• What does your character do when they first meet someone new? Are they outgoing or shy? Do they make a good first impression?
•  How does your character act when they’re around someone they’re attracted to? Do they get tongue-tied or do they flirt shamelessly?
• In what ways does your character open up to others, and in what ways do they hold back? What do they reveal about themselves, and what do they keep hidden?
• What would happen if the character had to spend an entire day with someone they absolutely despised?
• Your character is at a party and gets into a heated argument with another person. What caused the argument, and how does your character react?
• Your character is at a museum and strikes up a conversation with the person next to them. What do they talk about?
• Your character is stuck in an elevator with someone they don’t know. How do they pass the time? What do they learn about the other person?

Places and Locations

Developing a character in your writing can be informed by exploring places and locations in the story in several ways. First, they can provide physical details about the character such as how they dress, and what kind of environment they are comfortable in. Second, they can also provide information about the character’s past, such as where they grew up or what kind of experiences they have had. Finally, places and locations can help develop the character’s goals and motivations, as well as create obstacles and challenges for them to overcome. By exploring all of these aspects of a character, you can create a well-rounded and believable character that will resonate with your readers.

• Develop a character who has a deep love for a certain place, whether it be a city, nature, or even an imaginary world. What is it about this place that draws them in?
• Your character is haunted by a specific location. This can be a place from their past that they can’t forget, or a place they’ve never been to but feel a deep connection to.
• Your character discovers a hidden room in their home that they never knew existed. What’s inside?
• Your character gets lost in a place they have never been before. How do they manage the situation and find their way back?
• Your character has to move to a new location and doesn’t want to leave their old home. How do they adjust to the new place?
• How did your character come to live where they do? Why do they stay?
• Your character visits a place that was significant to them in their past. What memories did it bring up? How did they feel?
• Your character stumbles upon a place that is the complete opposite of what they expected. What was it like? How did they react?
• Your character realizes they are homesick. For where? What do they do?
• What was the last place your character visited that left them feeling inspired? How long has that been?

Another way to develop a character is to explore their senses, or the senses of those around them to add another layer of depth to the story. For example, if a character is trying to figure out what another person is feeling, they might pay close attention to that person’s body language and facial expressions. Or, if a character is trying to remember a past event, they might focus on the smells and sounds associated with that event.

• Write a scene where your character is trying a new food for the first time and describe their reaction using all five senses.
• Describe the first time your character ever saw snow. How old were they? Was it in-person, in photos, or on TV?
• Your character’s child is learning an instrument. What does it sound like, and how do they feel?
• What is your character’s sense memory of a parent’s perfume or cologne? What feelings or memories does it trigger in them?
• Your character wakes up to the sound of someone else in the room. What is their first reaction and what does this say about the character’s paranoia or trust issues?
• The character bites their tongue and tastes blood in their mouth. Where in their past does this take them emotionally?
• The character smells something burning. What is their response, and what does it trigger in them?
• What does your character’s handwriting look like?
• How does your character respond to hearing their voice?
• Your character receives an electrical shock. What is the first word or sound they make?

I hope these help your characters take you somewhere unexpected, and you can learn about them along the way. What motivates them? What do they fear? What are their deepest desires? By exploring different aspects of your character’s personality, history and motivations, you can create well-rounded, believable, and compelling characters that your readers will love (or love to hate).

Still need even more inspiration? AI writing assistants have the ability to brainstorm with you, potentially providing endless prompts! Check out our Directory of AI Writing Tools and find one that fits your needs and budget… some even have free plans!

Contributing Writer

Molly Rittenhouse

Molly has a passion for writing and helping others improve their writing skills. She is a strong advocate for clear and concise writing, and she enjoys helping others find their voice and improve their writing. When she’s not busy writing, Molly enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring new places, and reading good books.

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101 Character Writing Prompts

Author: Natalie Harris-Spencer Updated: June 8, 2023

In order to sell a book and get it published , you need to create a product, which, for most of us here at Aspiring Author , is a novel. And in order to write the darn thing (while lamenting your career choices), you need to live and breathe your characters. Character writing prompts can be an excellent way to help you get inside your characters’ heads and achieve that elusive narrative voice through speech, dialogue, or internal narration.

Creating real people

Creating convincing characters isn’t easy. Have you ever had that feeling that your characters are slippery, not quite sounding or doing the right things, or, worse, are fake? Have you noticed them steering their own way, diverging from your carefully outlined plot? Characters are the one device that should drive your plot – not the other way around. Follow them down whichever dark paths they choose in order to access the truth. Keep them honest and as grounded in reality as possible.

When it comes to creating 3D characters, Ernest Hemingway said it best: “When writing a novel, a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” And to write real people, you need to ground your people in reality: real circumstances, real settings, and real thoughts and feelings. These character writing prompts have been designed to help you expose the human condition in all its imperfect glory. Humans are multi-layered (ah, the onion), with numerous internal complications, feelings, and flaws. Remember: characters have to change in order for the reader to care about them. They must go on a journey, through which your novel’s plot is the vessel.

101 character writing prompts

Below are 101 character writing prompts that will help you deepen your understanding of your characters and elevate them from caricatures into real people. As you work your way through these character writing prompts, consider writing how your characters think, feel, but also change . Sameness is never interesting to read.

Physical appearance

• Does your character have any moles, birth marks, or beauty spots? Where? Describe them.
• Hair is not character. However, it can show something unexpected or unusual about your character. Write a scene featuring your character’s hair, without relying on the usual tropes (length, color etc.).
• Write what your character thinks they see when they see their reflection.
• Write a scene about your character in costume. What are they wearing, and why? How do they feel about it?
• What does your character’s coughing, sneezing, and hiccoughing sound like?
• What do they look like when they’re sick?
• What’s in your character’s wallet apart from money?
• Switch the gender of your character. How does that change how they think, feel, and move through the world?
• Write about your character getting their ears pierced or getting a tattoo.
• Describe your characters hands and feet.
• Show your character doing a workout. What are they wearing? How do they look before, during and after?
• Draw a sketch of your character’s passport. Does it help you understand who they are and where they come from?

Inner workings

• What is your character’s biggest flaw?
• What is your character’s biggest fear?
• What or who would your character kill for?
• What does your character want more than anything else in the world?
• What is the one thing that is stopping them from getting it?
• Write a therapy session between your character and their therapist.
• Write a scene without dialogue that shows exactly what your character wants – only through their actions.
• Show your character’s reaction to getting a parking ticket.
• Write a scene about a mental health challenge your character has faced.
• Put your character on a diet. How do they feel? What mood are they in?
• Write about your character being insatiable thirsty.
• Write about a time when your character couldn’t stop laughing.
• Using just dialogue, write a scene between your character and someone they’re attracted to.
• Your character is being lectured by someone in a position of authority. How do they react?
• Show your character making a selfish decision and the ramifications it has on their life.
• What is your character’s favorite book , and why? Has it always been the same book, or have their tastes evolved?
• Write a scene where your character can’t remember what happened the night before, and they’re trying to piece it together.
• Imagine your character is a nervous flyer. Document their thoughts during take-off.
• Write a recollection scene about the most frightening time of your character’s life.
• Show your character’s most embarrassing moment, either through recollection, dialogue, or action.
• Write a scene where your character is struggling to show or purposefully concealing their real feelings and emotions.

Family, relationships, and home

• How does your character spend their Christmas holidays, and who with?
• Write a scene with your character attending a family funeral.
• What are your character’s earliest memories? Do they remember their first home, their parents, or something else?
• Your character has a bunch of keys. What do they have as keyrings?
• Write an argument between your character and their mother and/or father.
• Describe a family portrait: who’s in it? Where are they now?
• Write your character’s bedtime ritual.
• Show your character having an argument with a family member at the dinner table. Do they win?
• What does your character’s closet and/or bedside drawer look like? What’s inside? Are they hiding anything they shouldn’t be?
• Write a drunk argument between your character and a family member.
• Imagine your character has a twin. List their similarities and differences, both physical and otherwise.
• Write about your character on graduation day.
• Write about your character going on a blind date.
• Your character is getting married. They choose an unusual wedding cake topper. What is it, and why is it important?
• Does your character want kids now or in the future? Why or why not?
• Write a scene where your character moves to a new town. Are they welcome? Why or why not?
• Write about a home invasion. Show your character’s possessions strewn and/or missing. What’s the first thing they check?
• Your character opens a letter not addressed to them, only to discover a secret about the previous resident. How do they react?
• Write a sex scene without mentioning anatomy (you can do it!).
• Put your character in a country where they don’t speak the language. How do they get by?
• Show your character meeting their first love again for the first time in ten years.

Epistolary character writing prompts

• Write a letter in your character’s handwriting.
• Write a Craigslist ad from the voice of your character.
• Write an Airbnb listing for your character.
• Write your character’s LinkedIn profile.
• Create an online dating profile for your character.
• Write a letter to your character’s younger self.
• Create a tarot card reading for your character.
• Come up with your character’s regular take-out order.
• Write out your character’s family tree, including dates of birth, marriage, and death.
• Write a postcard home from a far-flung destination.
• Write a journal entry from a pivotal day in your character’s life.
• Write a Valentine’s Day card from your character.
• Write your character’s weekly shopping list. Include one item that doesn’t go with the rest.
• Write a text conversation between your character and another person who they are trying to seduce or win over.
• Write two lies and a truth for your character. The lies should be as convincing as the truth.
• Write a scene with your character on the top of a Ferris wheel. What can they see? How do they feel?
• Write a scene with your character in a haunted house.
• Write a scene with your character falling asleep on the deck of a boat.
• Write a scene with your character in a station waiting room. Where are they going and why?
• Write a scene with your character in a hospital bed.
• Your character has just been discovered stealing a midnight snack. How do they respond?
• Write a scene with your character at a baseball game.
• Write a scene with your character at a fireworks display.
• Write a scene where your character is in a cemetery in the snow.
• Your character is going on a camping trip. What do they pack?
• Write a scene showing your character going into a church or place of worship.
• Write a scene at the top of revolving skyscraper restaurant.
• Your character makes a surprising discovery in a hotel room. What is it?
• Your character enters an antiques store. What trinket do they come away with?
• Write a scene where your character gets lost in a vineyard.
• Write a scene with your character on a boardwalk or pier.
• Imagine your character living in another decade. Now write about them – their clothes, their job, their desires.

Nature and animals

• What is your character’s favorite season and why?
• Write about your character ice skating on a frozen pond.
• What does your character see when they look up at the night sky?
• Is your character a cat or a dog person?
• Or do they have an unusual pet? Write about it!
• Write about your character accidentally hitting an animal with their car.
• Write about your character’s experience of dissecting a frog in a science lesson.
• What’s the first animal your character goes to see at the zoo?
• Your character gets stung by a bee. How do they react?
• Write a scene with your character sunbathing on a tropical beach.
• Write a scene with your character skinny dipping in a lake.
• Write a scene with your character watching the sun rise from a mountain top.
• Take your character for a walk in the woods when the light is fading.
• Describe the images, shapes, and patterns your character sees in passing clouds.
• Write a scene where your character is caught in a thunderstorm.

Of course, there are countless more character writing prompts that you can work on. We hope these 101 character writing prompts from Aspiring Author give you just enough to spark your writerly imagination and take your characters to multi-layered, unexpected, and very real places. And trust yourself that your characters can be strange, because the truth is almost always stranger than fiction.

Recommended reading

Here at Aspiring Author , we love recommending bestsellers and fawning over hot new releases. On this real time recommended reading list, you will find a list of top rated books on the publishing industry, craft, and other books to help you elevate your writing career.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

Far Out Man: Tales of Life in the Counterculture

Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK ON AMAZON

Self-Publisher's Legal Handbook: Updated Guide to Protecting Your Rights and Wallet

About the author.

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100 Character-Driven Writing Prompts

March 19, 2024 by Richard 1 Comment

100 Character-Driven Writing Prompts: Character-driven stories are the heart and soul of great literature, captivating readers by delving deep into the minds, emotions, and motivations of the protagonists. These stories focus on the inner lives of characters, exploring their struggles, growth, and relationships as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of their journeys. By placing characters at the forefront, writers can create narratives that resonate with readers on a profound level, fostering empathy, understanding, and self-reflection.

Crafting compelling character-driven stories requires a keen understanding of human nature and the ability to create multi-dimensional, relatable characters. Writing prompts that focus on character development can be invaluable tools for writers seeking to hone their skills and explore new creative avenues. These prompts encourage writers to delve into the psyches of their characters, unearthing their fears, desires, and secrets, and bringing them to life on the page.

The following list of 100 character-driven writing prompts is designed to inspire writers of all levels, from novice to experienced. These prompts span a wide range of genres, from science fiction and fantasy to contemporary fiction and mystery, ensuring that there is something to spark the imagination of every writer. Each prompt presents a unique scenario or character archetype, inviting writers to explore the depths of human experience and craft stories that will resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.

By embracing the power of character-driven storytelling, writers can create works that not only entertain but also enlighten, challenge, and transform readers. These 100 writing prompts serve as a springboard for creativity, encouraging writers to push the boundaries of their imagination and craft stories that celebrate the complexities and beauty of the human experience. So, whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding writer, dive into these prompts and let your characters guide you on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery and storytelling magic.

• A retired spy is pulled back into the world of espionage for one last mission.
• A time traveler falls in love with someone from the past.
• A child discovers they have magical powers and must keep them hidden.
• A therapist begins to suspect their patient is a dangerous criminal.
• A robot learns to feel human emotions and questions its purpose.
• A ghost watches over their living family members, unable to communicate with them.
• A world-renowned surgeon loses the ability to operate and must find a new purpose.
• A politician leads a double life as a vigilante by night.
• A woman wakes up with no memory of her past and must piece together her identity.
• A chef inherits a mysterious cookbook with recipes that have strange effects on people.
• A homeless man discovers he has the ability to see the future.
• A successful businesswoman is forced to confront her humble beginnings.
• A soldier returns home from war and struggles to readjust to civilian life.
• An alien disguised as a human falls in love with an earthling.
• A parent’s worst fear comes true when their child goes missing.
• A writer’s characters come to life and demand a different ending to their story.
• A hitman falls in love with his target and must choose between love and duty.
• A scientist accidentally clones themselves and must deal with the consequences.
• A time traveler tries to change a historical event but makes things worse.
• A doctor discovers a cure for a deadly disease but realizes it has terrible side effects.
• A politician’s scandalous past catches up with them as they run for office.
• A famous actor is haunted by a ghost who claims to be their biggest fan.
• A detective falls in love with the main suspect in a murder investigation.
• A therapist becomes too emotionally invested in a patient’s problems.
• A con artist falls for their mark and must choose between love and money.
• A journalist uncovers a government conspiracy and becomes a target.
• A child befriends an AI and must keep it a secret from their parents.
• A time traveler meets their future self and learns a shocking truth.
• A spy falls in love with a fellow agent from a rival country.
• A doctor discovers they have a terminal illness and must come to terms with their mortality.
• A famous musician loses their hearing and must find a new way to create music.
• A chef opens a restaurant that only serves food from their childhood.
• A ghost helps a living person solve their own murder.
• A therapist is stalked by a former patient seeking revenge.
• A politician is blackmailed by a hacker who threatens to expose their secrets.
• A scientist creates a device that allows them to communicate with animals.
• A soldier is captured by the enemy and must rely on their training to survive.
• An alien falls in love with a human and must choose between their home planet and Earth.
• A parent’s child is switched at birth, and they must decide whether to keep the child they raised.
• A writer’s fictional world becomes real, and they must navigate it to find their way back.
• A hitman is hired to assassinate a public figure but begins to question the morality of their profession.
• A detective is framed for a crime they didn’t commit and must clear their name.
• A therapist is haunted by a patient who died by suicide.
• A con artist falls for a mark who is also a con artist, and they must outsmart each other.
• A journalist is embedded with a group of rebels fighting against a corrupt government.
• A child discovers a portal to another world in their backyard.
• A time traveler accidentally changes the course of history and must fix their mistake.
• A spy is betrayed by their own agency and must go on the run to survive.
• A doctor discovers a way to bring people back from the dead, but at a terrible cost.
• A famous actor is forced to confront their own mortality when diagnosed with a terminal illness.
• A musician’s songs start coming true, and they must find a way to stop it.
• A chef is kidnapped and forced to cook for a dangerous criminal organization.
• A ghost falls in love with a living person and must find a way to communicate with them.
• A therapist discovers their patient is a serial killer and must decide whether to turn them in.
• A politician is elected president and discovers a secret that could destroy the world.
• A scientist creates a machine that can read people’s thoughts and struggles with the ethical implications.
• A soldier is sent on a secret mission behind enemy lines and must rely on their wits to survive.
• An alien comes to Earth to study humans and falls in love with one of their subjects.
• A parent discovers their child has superpowers and must keep them safe from those who would exploit them.
• A writer’s characters come to life and take over their life, forcing them to live out their own story.
• A hitman is hired to kill a child and struggles with the moral implications of their job.
• A detective investigating a murder begins to suspect that the victim is still alive.
• A therapist becomes obsessed with a patient and begins to lose grip on reality.
• A con artist is conned by their own mentor and must find a way to get revenge.
• A journalist uncovers a secret society that controls the world from the shadows.
• A child befriends a monster living in their closet and must keep it a secret from their family.
• A time traveler falls in love with someone from the future and must choose between staying or going back.
• A spy must go undercover as their own twin to infiltrate a criminal organization.
• A doctor discovers a way to make people immortal but realizes the consequences too late.
• A famous actor is stalked by an obsessive fan who will stop at nothing to get close to them.
• A musician is cursed by a witch and must find a way to break the spell before it’s too late.
• A chef opens a restaurant that serves magical dishes, but the magic comes with a price.
• A ghost is tasked with helping a living person fulfill their destiny before they can move on to the afterlife.
• A therapist begins to suspect that their patient is possessed by a demon.
• A politician makes a deal with a powerful entity to win the election, but the entity has its own agenda.
• A scientist accidentally creates a black hole and must find a way to stop it from destroying the world.
• A soldier is sent to a war-torn country to rescue a group of civilians, but things don’t go as planned.
• An alien crash-lands on Earth and must blend in with humans to survive.
• A parent’s deepest fear comes true when their child is kidnapped by a supernatural entity.
• A writer’s fictional world begins to bleed into reality, and they must find a way to stop it.
• A hitman is hired to kill a wealthy businessman but discovers that the businessman is their long-lost father.
• A detective is brought in to investigate a series of bizarre murders that seem to defy explanation.
• A therapist’s patient claims to be from the future and warns of an impending apocalypse.
• A con artist falls for their mark and must choose between their love and their freedom.
• A journalist stumbles upon a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top of the government.
• A child discovers a magical amulet that grants wishes, but the wishes come with unintended consequences.
• A time traveler is tasked with preventing a major historical event from happening.
• A spy must go undercover as a member of the royal family to prevent an assassination attempt.
• A doctor discovers a way to communicate with the dead, but the dead have their own agenda.
• A famous actor is forced to confront their own ego when they are cast in a role that requires them to play a less attractive version of themselves.
• A musician is given a powerful instrument that can control people’s emotions, but it comes with a terrible price.
• A chef is tasked with creating a dish that can bring peace to warring nations, but the ingredients are nearly impossible to find.
• A ghost is given a second chance at life but must live in someone else’s body.
• A therapist begins to suspect that their patient is a werewolf and must find a way to help them control their transformations.
• A politician discovers that they are the chosen one destined to save the world from a great evil.
• A scientist creates a machine that can bring fictional characters to life, but the characters have minds of their own.
• A soldier is sent on a mission to infiltrate a group of rebels, but begins to sympathize with their cause.
• An alien falls in love with a human and must choose between their loyalty to their own species or their love for the human.
• A parent discovers that their child has been replaced by a changeling and must find a way to get their real child back.
• A writer is transported into the world of their own book and must find a way to change the ending to save the characters they love.

In conclusion, character-driven stories have the power to illuminate the human condition, fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. By placing characters at the heart of the narrative, writers can create stories that resonate on a profound level, touching readers’ lives and leaving a lasting impact. These 100 writing prompts serve as a catalyst for creativity, encouraging writers to explore the limitless possibilities of character-driven storytelling.

Crafting compelling characters is both an art and a skill, requiring writers to delve into the complexities of human nature and bring their creations to life on the page. Through the use of vivid description, authentic dialogue, and psychological depth, writers can create characters that feel as real as the people we encounter in our daily lives. By investing time and effort into character development, writers can elevate their stories from mere entertainment to works of art that inspire, challenge, and transform.

As you embark on your writing journey, remember that character-driven stories have the power to bridge the gap between writer and reader, creating a shared experience that transcends the boundaries of the page. By crafting characters that readers can relate to, empathize with, and root for, you have the opportunity to create stories that will be cherished for generations to come.

So, whether you’re a seasoned author or a novice writer, embrace the power of character-driven storytelling and let these writing prompts be your guide. Dive deep into the hearts and minds of your characters, and let their stories unfold with authenticity, vulnerability, and truth. Through your words, you have the ability to shape the world, one character at a time.

In the end, remember that writing is a journey of self-discovery and growth. As you explore the depths of your characters, you may just find yourself reflected in their struggles, triumphs, and transformations. Embrace the power of character-driven storytelling, and let your creativity flow freely. The world is waiting for the stories only you can tell.

If you enjoyed these writing prompts, we have many more on our site .

About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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BEST CHARACTER WRITING PROMPTS

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Locked away, a character finds a clue or object linking them to a stranger., center your story around a character who is obsessed with an object., write about someone who’s traveling away from their hometown for the first time., end your story with someone saying “i do.”, write a story from the pov of a plus-one..

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Write about two mortal enemies who must work together.

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The best character writing prompts

Characters are the heart and soul of every story, no matter how short. They're who your readers will fall in love with — and they're the ones who will move the plot of the book itself forward depending on their goals, desires, flaws, and fears. 

When you’re struggling to find out the truth about one of your characters, try out some character writing prompts for size. These creative writing prompts focus on character writing — forcing you to think closely about your character in different situations that will hopefully help you with the character development for your novel. Whether you’re working on perfecting a character’s voice, backstory, or personality, these prompts will swoop in to save the day. 

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here’s a list of top ten favorite character writing prompts:

• In the form of diary/ journal entries, write a story that glimpses into a person's life at different ages.
• Write a story about a character who always repeats themselves.
• Write a story about a character who starts out as a pessimist and ends as an optimist. (Or vice versa.)
• Write a story about someone who’s famous for something they never actually did.
• Write a story about two friends who have a knack for understanding each other better than anyone else.
• Write a story from the point of view of three different characters.
• Write about a character doing something they’ve done hundreds of times — only this time, it’s taken on a new meaning.
• Write about a character learning to trust their intuition.
• Write about a character who goes by many different names throughout their life.
• Write about a character with a ‘hot and cold’ personality — or is affected by someone like this.

If you'd like to learn more about how to improve your character development, check out our free resources on the topic:

• Character Development 101 (blog post )  — Your characters are the emotional heartbeat of your story, especially if you're writing fiction. They'll make or break your success, which is why getting your character development right is important. Learn everything that you need to know about the process in this blog post, which will show you how to take your protagonist from zero to hero. 
• Character Profile Template (free resource )  — As an author, you are also the psychologist of your characters. This free character profile template will help you diagnose everything about your cast of characters, from their backstory to their motivations and the goals that drive them. 

Ready to start writing? Check out  Reedsy’s weekly short story contest  for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests  or our directory of  literary magazines  for more opportunities to submit your story.

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Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

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Character-Driven Fiction Writing Prompts

by Melissa Donovan | Apr 23, 2024 | Fiction Writing Prompts | 13 comments

Creative writing prompts for creating characters.

Most authors agree that fiction is primarily driven by characters. Authors will often talk about characters who take over the story, who have their own separate and independent consciousnesses. Outlines and plans for plot go out the window as characters insist on moving the story in a direction of their own design.

Because characters are central to most stories and because their primary function is to explore the human condition, it’s essential for characters to be believable. In other words, characters may not be real, but they most certainly should feel real.

It’s not easy to write believable and realistic characters. People (and therefore characters) are highly complex and layered, full of contradictions and flaws. Because writing imposes space-time limitations, we can never craft a character that is as complicated as a real person, but we can certainly try.

Today’s creative writing prompts encourage you to explore the characters in your writing. By working outside of your project on a series of exercises that force you to explore and engage with your characters, you will get to know them better. You’ll also get to use techniques for creating characters that have depth and dimension.

Character Writing Prompts

These character writing prompts are grouped into categories. You can mix and match the prompts according to which ones are most appealing to you, or choose the ones you think will help resolve character problems that you’re struggling with.

Feel free to let these character writing prompts inspire new prompts — in other words, you don’t have to write exactly what the prompt says. One set of prompts deals with character fears and flaws. These might inspire you to write about your character’s strengths and virtues.

Be creative, have fun, and keep writing!

Background and Family

• Unearth your character’s roots. What is the character’s ancestry or cultural background? How does ancestry shape your character? Is the character at odds with family or cultural traditions?
• Write a series of short paragraphical biographies of each of the character’s closest family members: spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, close friends, etc.
• Write a monologue in which your character summarizes his or her life story; be sure to write it in the character’s voice.

Motivations and Goals

• What motivates your character? Money? Love? Truth? Power? Justice?
• What does your character want more than anything else in the world? What are they searching for?
• What other characters or events are interfering with your character’s goals? What obstacles are in the way?

Flaws and Fears

• What is your character’s single greatest fear? Why is your character afraid of this? How did your character acquire their fears?
• What are your character’s flaws and weaknesses?
• How does the character’s fears and flaws prevent them from reaching their goals?
• What does your character look like? Make a list and include the following: hair, eyes, height, weight, build, etc.
• Now choose one aspect of the character’s appearance, a detail (bitten nails, frizzy hair, a scar) and elaborate on it.
• Write a short scene in which your character is looking in the mirror or write a short scene in which another character first sees your character.

Personality

• How does your character feel on the inside? What kind of person is your character and what does the character’s internal landscape look like?
• We don’t always present ourselves to others in a way that accurately reflects how we feel inside. We might be shy or insecure but come across as stuck-up and aloof. How do others perceive your character?
• Write a scene with dialogue that reveals your character’s external and internal personalities. Good settings for this dialogue would be an interview, an appointment with a therapist, or a conversation with a romantic interest or close friend. Write the scene in third-person omniscient so you can get inside your character’s head as well as the other character’s head; this will allow you explore how your character feels and how he or she is perceived.

If you tackle these creative writing prompts, come back and tell us how they worked for you. What did you write? Did you learn anything new about your character or how to write about your character? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

13 Comments

Great ideas! Answering all these questions I really think can make the difference between a round, motivated character and a flat one. Thanks for your ideas 🙂

Thanks, Sarah. Good luck to you!

Yes, I agree with Sarah. I will make use of these suggestions while writing new books as well as in the film scripts I am presently writing.

(Meant to comment yesterday when I stumbled on this!) Great exercises. Helped me to elaborate more on another character I’m beginning to explore for another novel. I’m in the middle of my first novel now! Thanks for this mini-workshop!

Thanks, Tonya! My goal is to come up with exercises and prompts that help writers learn new concepts and techniques, gain experience through practice, solve problems within their own writing projects, and inspire new ideas. I’m thrilled that these prompts helped you solve a particular problem. Your comment totally made my day!

Great suggestions! Dissection or hotseating your character in many different ways is an excellent way of finding out who this person is who’s appeared in your story. I find myself talking through possible conversations as I walk, helping me round out who they are – even if all that information doesn’t end up in the story.

I always imagine character conversations when I’m trying to fall asleep. Sometimes they keep me up all night!

Excellent tips about creating believable characters. I think you did a great job here. The more authors can delve into their character’s background, the better writer they will be and it all gets down to how much the reader likes the book.

In most cases, I think it’s the characters that make stories so compelling. That’s why it’s so important to know your characters well.

This is amazing! Thanks for putting it together! I need writing prompts like this for class. A marketing class at a Polytechnic in Canada, these will be perfect.

Keep up the great work!

You’re welcome! I’m glad you found these helpful.

Thank you Mellissa for this. It is extremely helpful. I am going to relook at the characters I’ve created based on this.

You’re welcome.

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Writing a Character Analysis Essay | Step-by-Step Guide

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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I’m also going to give you a ton of examples.

This post is split into four parts for easy navigation:

• What is a Character Analysis Essay?
• What is the best Format to Use?
• 11 Character Analysis Example Ideas
• Template, Checklist and Outline for Your own Piece

In this post, I’m going to explain to you clearly and in a step-by-step way how to conduct a character analysis.

1. What is a Character Analysis Essay?

Let’s get you started with some really simple details about what a character analysis is:

• A Quick Definition: A character analysis essay zooms-in on a character in a book, movie or even real life. It provides what we sometimes call a ‘sketch’ of a character.
• The Purpose of a Character Analysis: The purpose of a character analysis is to reveal interesting details about the character that might contain a broader moral message about the human condition. For example, Atticus Finch is not just a lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird. Rather, he provides us with a moral message about the importance of doing what you believe is right even though you know you will likely fail.

2. What is the best Character Analysis Essay Format?

Character analysis essays do not have just one format.

However, let me offer some advice that might act as a character analysis essay outline or ‘checklist’ of possible things you could discuss:

1. Start with the Simple Details.

You can start a character analysis by providing a simple, clear description of who your character is. Look at some basic identity traits such as:

• Race (if relevant)
• Social class (if relevant)
• Protagonist or Antagonist? A protagonist is the character who is our central character in the plot; the antagonist is often the protagonist’s opponent or challenger.
• Major or minor character?

2. What are the character’s distinctive personality features?

Your character might have some really clearly identifiable character traits. It’s best to highlight in your character analysis the exact traits that this character possesses. Some common character traits include:

I recommend you take a moment to write down what you think the top 3 to 5 words are that you’d use to explain your character’s personality traits. These will be important to discuss throughout your character analysis.

Sometimes a character may start out with some personality traits, but change over the course of the text. This is quite common; and one clear example of this is Lady Macbeth she deteriorates from a cutthroat power player to a guilt ridden shell of a person roaming the halls of the castle. This dramatic character change is something that makes her very interesting, and is worthy of discussion!

3. What are the character’s key relationships?

Does your character have a close relationship with a certain person in the storyline?

You might want to discuss the character’s relationships as a part of your character analysis. These relationships may reveal some key personality traits of your character.

For example, in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Horatio is the loyal offsider to Hamlet. Through his actions in staying by Hamlet through thick and thin, we learn that he is a deeply loyal character.

Examining the character’s relationships with their friends and foes therefore is very useful for digging deeper into who this character actually is, and what personality traits they have when they are put to the test within the narrative.

4. What are the character’s motivations?

Another thing you might want to examine are the character’s motivations . What do they desire most in the world? Some common motivations for characters in stories are:

• A simple life
• To serve others

This list really could be endless, but I hope the above examples give you a bit of an idea of the sorts of traits to look out for. By mentioning and examining the motivations of the character, we will come closer and closer to learning exactly what moral message this character might be able to tell us.

5. What are the character’s key conflicts?

Stories tend to have a beginning, a complication, and a resolution.

The complication involves conflicts and challenges that need to be overcome. For Edmund in Narnia, it’s cowardice. For Romeo and Juliet, it’s the conflict between love and family loyalty. Here’s some other common conflicts for characters:

• Whether to stay loyal to a friend;
• To overcome obstacles to love;
• To seek a way out of a challenging situation;
• To escape war or poverty;
• To persevere through imprisonment;
• To overcome personal fear

Again, this list is endless.

Knowing the character’s core conflict gets us even closer to knowing the moral that the character is trying to teach us.

For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the challenge of Romeo and Juliet being together despite their families’ objections teaches us something. Personally, I believe it teaches us the importance of letting go of old grudges in order to let love bloom.

This moral lesson was taught to us through conflict: namely, the conflict that Romeo and Juliet were right in the center of.

6. What are the character’s epiphanies?

Sometimes a character has an epiphany. This often happens towards the end of the story and helps the character overcome the challenge or conflict that we discussed in the point above.

Here’s an example of an epiphany:

• In the Lion King, Simba runs away from his tribe to live in exile. After a chance encounter with his childhood friend Nala, he has an epiphany that he has a duty to his tribe. This leads him back home to fight Scar and return freedom to Pride Rock.

Not all characters have an epiphany. But, if they do, I strongly encourage you to write about it in your character analysis.

7. Examine the moral message the character teaches us.

Finally, conclude by examining the moral message behind the character. Nearly every character has something to teach the reader. Authors put a lot of thought into creating complex characters with whom we can relate. We relate to the character and say “wow, they taught me a lesson about something!”

The lesson might be something like:

• Money doesn’t buy happiness;
• Loyalty to family comes above all else;
• Love gives life meaning;
• Honesty is always the best policy

This is the core of your character analysis essay. If you can pick out exactly what moral message the character teaches you, you’ll be well on your way to writing a strong character analysis.

Below I’m going to give you some examples to help you out. I know it can be hard to really get your head around a character, so sometimes the best thing is to look at some samples!

3. Here’s 13 Example Character Analysis Essay Ideas.

Most times when we create a character analysis, we’re exploring the deeper moral stories / aspects of humanity. Here’s some example ideas. I’ve tried to outline in less than a paragraph exactly what your key point will be about each character:

• Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: A character who teaches us a lesson about standing up for what’s right, even if you know you’re likely to lose.
• Huckleberry Finn from Huckleberry Finn: A character who reveals our inner desire for freedom from the elements of society that constrain us.
• Dudley from Harry Potter: A character whose personality tells us a cautionary tale of the perils of middle-class narcissism, parents’ desire to wrap their children in cotton wool, and the lack of discipline we perceive in contemporary childhoods.
• Jack from Lord of the Flies: A character who represents the innate desire for power that seems to lurk not too far from the surface of the human condition. When social structures are stripped away, he quickly reverts to violence and superstition to assert control over his peers.
• Lady Macbeth from Macbeth: Lady Macbeth teaches us a valuable lesson about the perils of contravening our own morality. She starts out a cutthroat killer but is increasingly consumed by the guilt of her own actions. While we may be able to escape full punishment from outside forces, it is the inner guilt that might eat us away to our last.
• The Boy who Cried Wolf: The boy who cried wolf is a character whose fatal flaw is his desire for attention and adulation. His repeated attempts at gaining the attention of others leads the townspeople to no longer take him seriously, which causes him harm when he actually needs the villagers to take him seriously to save his life. He teaches us the virtue of honest and humility.
• Nick Carraway from the Great Gatsby: Nick shows us all the inner conflict between the trappings of wealth, glamor and spectacle; and the desire for simplicity, honesty and community. He is drawn by the dazzling world of East Egg, New York, but by the end of the novel sees live in East Egg as shallow and lacking the moral depth of his former life in small town Minnesota.
• Alice from Alice in Wonderland: In many ways, Alice represents the child within all of us. She is a character of goodwill to all and who looks upon the world (or, rather, Wonderland) with awe. Travelling with a cadre of flawed characters, she learns with them the importance of seeking strength from within.
• The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet: Like many Shakespearian characters, the nurse’s role is both as loyal confidante to a central character and comic relief. Shakespeare uses minor characters to regale his crowd and sustain viewer interest between scenes.
• Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Lucy represents a surprising character whose youthfulness and small stature make her an underrated character by all around her. Nonetheless, she possesses within the bravery and loyalty necessary to carry out the quest for Aslan. Lucy represents the goodness in children and, by extension, all of mankind.
• Anne in Anne of Green Gables: Anne occupies the typical literary role of young girls in many classical novels: she represents innocence and wonder, and her contraventions of rules are seen through a prism of childhood innocence. This frames Anne not as a deviant but as a precious soul.
• Simba from The Lion King: Simba’s story follows his struggle with growing up, embracing his destiny and duty to his family, or fleeing towards freedom and a ‘no worries’ lifestyle. Simba flees Pride Rock and goes through an existential crisis with his existentialist friends Timon and Pumba. When he runs into an old childhood friend, he realizes how shallow his new carefree life has become and reflects upon his obligation to his community back home.
• Woody from Toy Story: Woody starts out Andy’s favorite toy, but when Andy gets a new flashier toy, Woody’s status amongst the toys falls apart. Woody’s key character challenge is to learn to be humble and inclusive living within the group. By the end of the movie, Woody realizes his duty to love and serve Andy is more important than his own status within the group.

4. Here’s an Example Template for your own Character Analysis Essay

Feel free to use this brainstorming template to get you started with your character analysis essay. I recommend filling out as many of these key points as you can, but remember sometimes you might have to skip some of these points if they’re not relevant to your character.

Once you’ve brainstormed the ideas in Table 1, follow the character analysis essay outline in Table 2 to stay on track for your character analysis essay. Do remember though that each assignment will be different and you should adjust it based on your teacher’s requirements.

Here’s Table 1, which is a brainstorming template for your character analysis essay:

And here’s Table 2, which is an example character analysis essay outline. This is for a 1500 word character analysis essay. Change the word count according to how long your essay should be:

Read Also: 39 Better Ways to Write ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay

Character analyses can be really tough. You need to know your character really well. You might even need to re-read (or watch) your book or movie a few times over to get to know the character really well.

I recommend when you re-read or re-watch the text before you write your character analysis, have the checklist I provided above handy and take notes. Then, use the essay outline I provided above to put all of those notes together into a clear and thorough final character analysis essay.

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