WRITING

30 Questions to Ask Before Writing Your Fiction Book

A template for book and character development

What follows below are not your typical questions. There are no questions about audience, or marketing, or even word count. No, the 30 questions below (31 if you include the bonus question) are designed to connect with your story and characters on a deeper level.

If you write through thought and logic, you probably already have a system that works and this may not be for you, but if you are on more of the neurodiverse spectrum (like me) and/or you talk to your characters (like me), then this may just be helpful.

These 30 questions for character and book development were adapted from the 31-Day Prebtober Writing Prompt Challenge from Kristy Westaway (my evil partner in writing crime).

5 questions about your book

1. What is the title or working title of your book? What is the meaning behind your title?
2. What are the themes or tropes that are central to your book?
3. What is the scope of your story (timeframe, world confinement, etc)?
4. What are 3 challenges that you think you will face writing this?
5. Which popular meme best describes/relates to your book?

5 questions about your writing style

1. Are you a plotter or a pantser? What planning will you do?
2. Do you prefer to write in the morning or afternoon? What will be your writing routine?
3. Do you have a writing buddy? Human or pet? How will they support you?
4. What treats will you reward yourself with for milestones (and what are those milestones)?
5. Describe your favorite location to write from.

5 questions about your protagonist

1. Introduce your protagonist.
2. Describe the most important day of your protagonist’s life.
3. What is your protagonist’s worst habit?
4. What is your protagonist’s favorite plant, and why?
5. Describe the last time someone said ‘Don’t worry about me’ to your protagonist.

5 questions about your antagonist

1. Introduce your antagonist.
2. What is your antagonist’s biggest secret?
3. What was your antagonist's favorite game as a child, and why?
4. Has your antagonist ever been in love before?
5. Write a journal entry from the point of view of your antagonist.

5 questions about your character cast

1. Introduce your supporting character cast. What are their roles (sidekick, love interest, etc.)?
2. What 3 words would each of your characters use to describe themselves?
3. Which actors would you cast for your characters?
4. Do any of your characters have pets or animal sidekicks?
5. What is your favorite music to write to? What songs represent your characters?

5 things to do

1. Describe one of the locations in your book using the 5 senses.
2. Describe your story from the point of view of a character who never appears in your book.
3. Write a letter to future you to read once you’ve finished your first draft.
4. Write 5 possible first sentences for your book.
5. Use your answers to write a basic draft blurb.

BONUS QUESTION: What is the weirdest thing that you’ll probably need to Google?

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