Before I start writing a story, I interview my characters. Leigh Michaels’s book Writing Romance How to Craft a Novel that Sells includes a list of questions an author can ask their characters. When I ask a question, my characters answer in the first person. When I get stuck with a plot, dialogue or character development, my characters will fill in the blanks. Sometimes the answers are surprising!

 Some of my favorite questions to ask are:

1. How would your best friend describe you?
2. What would your past love, or dates say about you?
3. How do you feel about the opposite sex?
4. What are you looking for in a relationship?
5. What is your family like?  Are you close to them?
6. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
7. What do you do for a living?
8. Where do you live?
9. What would your friends say are your best qualities?
10. What would your friends say are your worse traits?
11. What is his or her darkest secret?

In her book, Ms. Michaels includes additional questions. I encourage you to use these questions or come up with your own. This technique can be applied to any genre.

Another book I found to be valuable is Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Each major character requires an internal and external goal, motivation and conflict. Ms. Dixon demonstrates how to map goals, motivations and conflicts.

Other valuable resources are critique partners and writing workshops. I encourage you to explore both of these options.

Currently, William Haywood Henderson is my consultant from Lighthouse Writers Workshop and he has helped raise my level of writing.