After you answer the above questions, ask yourself how much better you know your character than you did before answering those questions.
Now answer this one:
What is your character's biggest fear?
Which questions gave you more insight? The first four, or the last one? For me, it would be the last one. You, as the writer and creator, need to know your characters on a deep, intimate level, and figuring out their favorite color just doesn't give you the information you need to write them well.
Nearly everyone suggests that you interview your character so you can make sure you really know them inside and out and it's a good idea. But some of the questions they say you should ask really aren't that helpful. I've seen so many articles about interviewing characters that suggest finding out your character's favorite color and school subject. Find out their favorites. I keep seeing that. But, honestly, that's never helped me. Knowing whether or not my character likes to play sports doesn't really help me understand my character.
So, my advice? Ignore all the questions asking what soda your character likes to drink. Nobody needs to know that. Not even you. At least not right now. In fact, if I'm not coming up with my own questions and I'm using a list created by someone else, I generally ignore every question that uses the word "favorite". Only ask questions that will help you discover who your character truly is.
The way I see it, you can't really get to know your character if you're not asking the right questions. So, what are the right questions? Well, the good news is, you're not limited to any specific questions that are the "right" ones. Whatever will help you understand your character are the questions you need to be asking them.
If you're unsure about what questions you should be asking, here's some questions I use to give you an idea. Or, if you feel so inclined, you are welcome to use these exact questions when you sit down with you character and give them the interview.
1. Are you an optimist, a pessimist or a realist?
2. What is your biggest fear?
3. What do you think happens to us when we die?
4. Do you believe in God? Why or why not?
5. What is your view on spirituality?
6. If you had to shoot your best friend to save your own life, would you? What if you had to shoot a stranger?
7. What is your goal in life?
8. How do you decide what is right and what is wrong?
9. What are your insecurities?
10. What is your political position?
11. Do you have any problems with self-esteem?
12. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
14. Are you afraid of change?
15. If a stranger walked up to you and said if you left everything you knew and loved behind and followed him, you would get the best life has to offer, would you do it?
16. Are you a leader, or a follower?
17. Someone hands you a knife to defend yourself against an animal. What do you do?
18. A rich man offers you a million dollars if you steal something for him. Do you accept?
19. Who or what are your enemies and why are they your enemies?
20. How much do you value honesty?
21. What is your biggest regret?
22. Do you have any secrets? What are they?
23. What motivates you?
24. Do you think education is important?
These are just a few questions you might want to consider asking your characters. You don't have to use all of them, or any of them. I don't even use all of them every time. It depends on my character, usually. But you need to understand that the questions don't give you an understanding of your character all by themselves. They do have the half the work, but the other bit comes from your character's answers. So I highly recommend you avoid using just yes or no to answer these questions whenever possible. Be as detailed as you possibly can to give yourself as much knowledge about your character as you can. You need to know your characters better than your readers ever will. If you don't know them inside out, you can't write them realistically. That's why I always try to include questions that can't be answered with a simple yes or no. That doesn't give you much insight.
These sorts of questions are better than the simple 'what's your favorite movie' type of questions because they make your character look inside themselves and get into the deeper parts of their personalities to find the answers. It helps you to understand who they truly are. Once you have these questions figured out, then you ask them about their favorite color.
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