Interview with Your Character

One of the ways to create a realistic character is to ask him/her questions so you could know him/her more. Now, there are a number of questions that you can ask, this is just a sample set that stumbled upon in the Internet. (Credits to the owner) 10 questions lang ito and random topics lang, pero puwede mong dagdagan ng mga medyo deeper questions kung gusto mo. 

I "interviewed" my characters in this manuscript I'm writing. And I think this method is effective in a way that I can clearly see the differences in my characters' personalities.

My heroine's answers. (Note: Medyo may attitude problem siya.) 

1.      What did you eat for breakfast? Just coffee. I don’t eat breakfast. Did you make it yourself? *Shrugs* the coffeemaker did, technically.  What time do you eat breakfast? I don’t eat breakfast nga. How many times do I have to say that? Do you wash the pan after you cook the eggs or do you leave it for the maid to clean? I don’t have any maid. Do you have a maid? Please stop asking questions with obvious answers, it’s irritating.

2.      Do you have a cat? No. How many cats do you have? None. Do you wish you were a cat? What! How many litter boxes do you have? Please. Nauubos ang pasensya ko sayo. Do you clean the litter boxes every day? Or does your maid clean the litter boxes? Shut up.

3.      Do you go out for lunch or bring a pack lunch? Do you take an extra long lunch break and charge the company? Of course not. I don’t think it’s any of your business how I’d like to eat my lunch.

4.      Are you an only child? How many siblings do you have? Are you close or are you estranged? I have two sisters. Medyo close. No, not really. I’m too different to them. They’re kind people, I’m not.

5.      If you are adopted, do you know your birth parents? Do you want to find them? N/A

6.      Do you call your mother every day, or only on her birthday, Mother’s Day, and Christmas? Are your parents alive? They are alive. I call once in a while. Or they call me. I don’t have much time for chit chats you know. I’m a busy person. And BTW, this whole interview is growing more and more irritating with every set of questions.

7.      Do you like to cook? Do you use recipes or make up your own recipes? Do you eat out every night? I don’t cook. I order, I eat out, I boil… things. That is all.

8.      Do you put both socks on first, or one sock, one shoe? And this question is relevant because…?

9.  Do you have a dog? Is the dog a rescue dog or bought from a breeder? I don’t like and I don't need additional responsibilities, so no.

10. Would you like me to get you a glass of water? Or would you rather have soda? Wine? Whiskey? Kape na lang.

These are my hero's responses:

1.      What did you eat for breakfast? Still eating it actually. *laughs* Basta heavy lagi ang breakfast ko. Today, I had sinangag, itlog and adobong chicken. Did you make it yourself? Yes. Sadly, I don’t have neither a wife nor a house help to do this for me. What time do you eat breakfast? Around 7? I wake up at 6 tapos luto, kain. Do you wash the pan after you cook the eggs or do you leave it for the maid to clean? Pag sinipag ako. Pag hindi, sa gabi na siya mahuhugasan ehhehe Do you have a maid? Wala nga eh. Wala akong ipapasuweldo. :)

2.      Do you have a cat?  How many cats do you have? Wala eh. I wish I have, kahit isa lang. Para naman may sasalubong man lang sa akin pag-uwi ko sa bahay sa gabi. I have a dog at home though. Si Mommy ang nag-aalaga sa kay Bruce Ferrera. Ba’t may surname siya? Wala lang. Do you wish you were a cat? Hmm. Come to think of it, parang masaya ngang maging pusa. You have all the right to be lazy and demanding, tapos all the girls love you pa rin. How many litter boxes do you have? Do you clean the litter boxes every day? Or does your maid clean the litter boxes? Wala eh.

3.      Do you go our for lunch or bring a sack lunch? I pack lunch. Sayang ang matitipid. Do you take an extra long lunch break and charge the company? Grabe naman! Mabait ako. Hindi ko ginagawa yang ganyan.

4.      Are you an only child? Buti na lang hindi. How many siblings do you have? 16. Kasali lahat ng friends ko na inampon na rin ng parents ko. Are you close or are you estranged? Too close for comfort, sometimes, hehehe

5.      If you are adopted, do you know your birth parents? Do you want to find them? I am not adopted but if I were adopted, I’ll thank my parents kasi they gave me the best family that anyone could ask for. And then yes, I’ll look for my birth parents. Gusto ko silang makilala.  

6.      Do you call your mother every day, or only on her birthday, Mother’s Day, and Christmas? Are your parents alive? Twice, thrice a day? Natataranta kasi si Mommy pag di niya naririnig ang voice ko every three minutes, hehehe

7.      Do you like to cook? what about, I dont have a choice? Do you use recipes or make up your own recipes? I enjoy making up my own recipes, not so much when I’m vomiting and having a diarrhea because of it. Do you eat out every night? Kung may manlilibre sa akin. Libre mo ko?

8.      Do you put both socks on first, or one sock, one shoe? Both socks muna. Bakit? May Psychology ba behind that?

9.      Do you have a dog? Yes, at home. Is the dog a rescue dog or bought from a breeder? It was given by my godfather. He’s 8 y.o. na now, a Golden Retriever. Pero gusto ko nga din ng rescue dog. Or a bulldog. Ayaw pa akong payagan ni Mommy, kasi siya din naman daw ang mag-aalaga dun.

10.  Would you like me to get you a glass of water? Or would you rather have soda? Wine? Whiskey? Wine. Yung at least 18 years old para di na minor. *winks*

Try mo din. :)