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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43347
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43347
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

# ...? Why?

To me one of the most important points of the this style is the follow-up question: "Why?". Sure it's great to know that one specific detail about a character but if you can't answer the why then they are just disconnected facts and not a cohesive character.

Similar to [DPT](https://writing.stackexchange.com/a/43254/33442) I don't use this method for my main characters. Those characters typically live in my subconscious for so long I would be better at doing an interview as them than as myself. I do use this method for minor characters and more commonly my player and non-player characters for roleplaying games.

### What to ask

The questions you ask should be targeted, personal and force your characters to think. The [36 questions to make you fall in love with someone](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html) provided by [Spectrosaurus's great answer](https://writing.stackexchange.com/a/43270/33442) are some good examples. In addition to that type of question, I like to focus on putting my characters into difficult situations and asking what their response would be. Some examples:

> You are traveling on a dark road as night, off the road to the right you see as group of people, several large forms surrounding a smaller one. As you pass them you hear a cry for help. What would you do next? **Why?**
> 
> A family member comes to you asking for money. You know they have a history of debt and gambling and are likely to lose it. What would you do next? **Why?**
> 
> Your superior gives you an instruction to do something illegal. You know it is wrong but the risk of getting caught is low. What would you do next? **Why?**

I tried to keep these somewhat generic, you should tailor them to your setting and themes. Typically I try to include opportunities for world-building information as well as character development.

### How to answer

Get inside your characters head. Imagine them in the situation, fill the world with the details and play out the scene. What would they do? What is their priority? Do they saves themselves or jump to the aid of a stranger? How do they do it? What are the instincts of your character and where did they come from?

Again, detail is key. In your answers you want to fill out how they character feels about the situation, what they are thinking and which details are important to them.

### Why ask why

As I said before I believe the why in these questions is the most important part. Take the following two answers to my first question above as examples:

> _What would you do next?_ I avert my eyes and increase my pace, hoping their don't follow. **_Why?_** I'm not strong enough to help them anyway. I'd just get myself killed and help no one.
> 
> _What would you do next?_ I avert my eyes and increase my pace, hoping their don't follow. **_Why?_** The actions of others are none of my concern. No point risking my neck for some stranger.

You can see the two answers have the same action and mostly the same reasoning. It is too dangerous to intervene and they hurry off. There is a major difference in the motivations of the characters however.

The first example is a selfless character lacking in confidence, they want to help but don't think they can. Contrast that with the second example. This character is self-centred and confident, they could help but chose not to. This is just one, fairly simple example of what you can get from these sort of questions. With some practice this is a quick way to get detailed character development details.

### Other thoughts

Something I like to do sometimes is following this up with yet another question: "What would need to change for you do change your mind?" Asking that helps you determine what the boundaries for the character are. "If a had some help maybe..." and "If there was something in it for me" inform as much about the character as asking a whole new question would.

Re-read your other answers. Maybe in your answer to a later question you learned something you didn't know about the character. Go back to your early questions and check if this new fact would change how they responded to that question. This is a discovery process, not a test, you can always change your answers.

Original score: 1