So, continuing my interview with my main character, Cleo. Yesterday, I posted the basics on her. Now I'm going a little deeper...
G: Well, now I’ll start to get a bit more personal. In what situation is your self esteem most at risk?
C: Oh, I’m not sure… I guess when everyone is dating and I’m the only single girl left. Or the only one with no job, no plans… Not having a plan scares me a little, you know? And when I get stressed I start eating compulsively, and then I get fat, get depressed and eat more…
G: What are you keeping a secret?
C: Well, if it’s a secret I shouldn’t tell you, right? Oh, I see, I have to tell you everything. But the thing is, I don’t even know if I have secrets to keep. I guess the biggest one is that I act all cool and strong and sarcastic, but I’m actually pretty lost and scared right now. Just graduated, no job, no boyfriends, no plans… It’s scary, you know? But I guess that’s it. I don’t have any big secrets, I’m not very good at keeping them.
G: What are you lying to yourself about? To others?
C: Well, I guess it’s what I just said. I know I’m the funny one, the caring one, the one who gives advice. But I might not be as strong as I seem. Not sure if that counts as lying though…
G: Is there anyone in your life that you are attracted to?
C: Not really. Dry-spell, I’m telling you. Although my friends tell me they’re introducing me to some gorgeous guy. He’s supposed to be a younger Denzel Washington. I used to have a crush on Denzel Washington, so…
G: What scares you about this person?
C: Who? The guy they’re introducing me to? Oh, I haven’t met him yet, but he doesn’t scare me. He can’t be worse than the other guys I’ve dated.
G: What do you think he can do for you that no one else can?
C: Well, I’m kind of hoping for knight in shining armor here, but that might be a little too much.
G: What does this person know about you that no one else does?
C: After my friend Julia talks to him about me? Probably everything from my name to the color of my underwear. Let’s just say my friends tend to be very open about things.
G: How do you decide if you can trust someone?
C: I don’t know. Is there a rational way to make that decision?
G: How do you know you love someone?
C: Romantic love? Or general love? If it’s romantic, I tend to fall in love right before they dump me. Amazing love life I have. Now with friends I don’t know, I just love them. They make me feel all warm and important.
G: What parts of loving come easy to you? Hard?
C: I think most of it comes easily to me. I tend to become instant best friends, or fall in love in a few weeks. So the disappointments are the hardest thing on me. Maybe they have been making me a bit cynical. Maybe I don’t trust people as easily anymore. But that’s how it should be, right? You’re not supposed to give your heart on a platter.
G: When you walk into a room what do you notice first? Second?
C: You can ask some hard questions! I guess I notice whatever is different. I like different things. I like seeing things from a different point of view. And people, of course. I always notice people. I’m not great at being alone.
C: How would you change the world? The things around you? The people around you?
G: One things that bothers me in the world is prejudice. Racism. Any kind of attitude against whatever or whoever is different. I think different is cool. I like pointing out differences, learning from them. I wish everyone could do that.
G: How do you learn best?
C: I would love to say I learn from my mistakes, but I’d be lying. I’m pretty stubborn when it comes to life. But academically, I’m a pretty good learner. I can learn either by reading or hearing an explanation. I memorize things very easily.
G: What are your goals in life?
C: Ouch! No easier questions, huh? I don’t know. It’s hard, you know? People expect so much from you. I’ve always been top of my class, the smartest kid, the big promise. I would love to get a great job, travel, to be this amazing journalist with great adventures. But I would also like to settle down, get married, have kids. Is it possible to have both? If it is, I’ll try.
G: What are you most afraid of?
C: Making the wrong choices. I’m afraid of becoming this great professional, completely career-driven, and then figure out, by the time I’m 50, that all I really wanted was a husband and kids. And I’m also afraid of settling down too soon, for too little, and ending up wondering how my great life of adventures could have been. I’m terrified I won’t find out what is the right path for me until it’s too late.
G: If you had one wish, what would it be?
C: You know, my mom says she makes “deals” with God. Whenever I really want something, she prays not for me to get it, but for me to only get it if it is the best for me. That’s my wish. Getting whatever is best for me.
G: What do you like best about yourself?
C: I’m honest. And fun. I really cherish the ones I love.
G: What do you like least about yourself?
C: I’m a bit too honest. More often than not I end up saying something that hurts someone. I hate that. I wish I wouldn’t be misunderstood so often and that I wouldn’t offend people.
G: What do you like best about your best friend?
C: Not one best friend. Three. Laura, Julia and Elisa. And I like that we’re us. We complete each other. It’s a great bunch.
G: What do you think other people think of you? I’ll give you the people, you tell me what you think. Teachers?
C: I’ve always been a good student. Most of my former teachers and professors love me.
G: Best friends?
C: Well, I hope they love me deeply! (laughs) Kidding. I know they love me. They think I’m funny, and strong, and that I’m good at making decisions and giving advice.
G: Parents?
C: They just think I’m their little girl.
G: Siblings?
C: My brother is very protective of me. He thinks I’m his baby. He also thinks I’m a little too all over the place. He’s very practical, I’m more emotional.
G: Other family members?
C: My grandma spoils me deeply. I’m her baby. And the rest of the family… Oh, that’s way too many people. We love each other.
G: What’s your greatest source of frustration?
C: As I said before, it’s frustrating for me to be misunderstood. I hate not being able to convey exactly what’s going on in my mind.
G: What’s your greatest source of joy?
C: My friends.
G: What are you especially proud of in your life? If you could change anything about your life what would it be?
C: Can I answer those in a few years? I’m too young, I haven’t figured all of that out just yet.
Well, that is Cleo. Doesn't she sound great?
This has been a very useful exercise. If you haven't interviewed your characters, do it. Make sure you cover the basic information (physical description, age, family, etc.) and your character's feelings. Once you get to know them, it will be much easier to write about them.
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