I Hate Driving. Here Are The Laws! If You Break Them There Will Be Consequences! Except Youre Also Expected

So my problem with most ‘get to know your character’ questioneers is that they’re full of questions that just aren’t that important (what color eyes do they have) too hard to answer right away (what is their greatest fear) or are just impossible to answer (what is their favorite movie.)  Like no one has one single favorite movie. And even if they do the answer changes.

If I’m doing this exercise, I want 7-10 questions to get the character feeling real in my head. So I thought I’d share the ones that get me (and my students) good results: 

What is the character’s go-to drink order? (this one gets into how do they like to be publicly perceived, because there is always some level of theatricality to ordering drinks at a bar/resturant)

What is their grooming routine? (how do they treat themselves in private)

What was their most expensive purchase/where does their disposable income go? (Gets you thinking about socio-economic class, values, and how they spend their leisure time)

Do they have any scars or tattoos? (good way to get into literal backstory) 

What was the last time they cried, and under what circumstances? (Good way to get some *emotional* backstory in.) 

Are they an oldest, middle, youngest or only child? (This one might be a me thing, because I LOVE writing/reading about family dynamics, but knowing what kinds of things were ‘normal’ for them growing up is important.)

Describe the shoes they’re wearing. (This is a big catch all, gets into money, taste, practicality, level of wear, level of repair, literally what kind of shoes they require to live their life.)

Describe the place where they sleep. (ie what does their safe space look like. How much (or how little) care / decoration / personal touch goes into it.)

What is their favorite holiday? (How do they relate to their culture/outside world. Also fun is least favorite holiday.) 

What objects do they always carry around with them? (What do they need for their normal, day-to-day routine? What does ‘normal’ even look like for them.) 

ive catogorized gamers into three distinct subspecies based off of my own observations

the gamer: just plays video games, normal human

the gaymer: plays videogames but is awesome and queer

the g*mer: average call of duty player screeching slurs in vc

may we all wake up tomorrow with less heavy hearts

Imagine an Elder Yautja finding a plushie for the first time LMAO

“Ooman, why does this soft creature not move? Does it not need to breathe?”

“It- its it alive, hun.”

“???”

YES

Imagine if it’s one of those invertible octopus ones. He’ll be inspecting it and turn around to see if it moves only to turn around and it’s got it’s little angry face on.

He’ll think it’s alive and try to fight it.

i automatically assumed this was what you call people based off where they stab you

you don't deserve that blorbo if you have to skinnify them in fanart i'm sorry

love when stories inflict unspeakable horrors onto a person for no real reason. its not karma. its not payback. its not a lesson. its not your fault. no ones even out to get you in particular. youre not the chosen one or special or anything. it just sorta happened and you were there. sorry man

The vibe is that Miquella is so innovative because he’s so wise because he is actually older than he appears. When in reality Miquella’s mind is child-like still, and he is innovative because he has a child’s imagination, energy, optimism, kindness, and general good will. Everyone else in the land’s between is rigid in their ways and beliefs, discriminating against other races. They are tired and pessimistic, depressed and without the energy to do anything. Their minds are dull and uncreative and think of nothing but “order” and what peoples to kill in order to get the world they want. Miquella literally creates an Erdtree knock-off, welcomes all the oppressed and sick, helps his sister, and even makes plans to travel to the shadow lands. He has child-like wonder and it’s this curiosity that lets him do so much shit.

“Humans are inherently selfish--" Then why do so many cultures value hospitality, to the point of dictating it in their religions? Why is it so common for hosts to offer their visitors their best food, and as much of it as they can? At some point, multiple cultures decided that they knew what it felt like to be alone and vulnerable, and promised each other to never let those who stay with them feel that way. That doesn't sound very "inherently selfish" to me.