My pal J.E.S. Hays has published her workbook: The Only Character Chart You’ll Ever Need! It’s got over 500 questions you need to ask your characters in order to create a great backstory for them.

Here’s the blurb:

Have you ever hit a “block” where you literally have no idea what your character is going to do next? Wonder no more, for here you’ll find the key to understanding your characters completely. Whether you’re a writer or a gamer, you can use this book to learn how your characters tick, what they’re likely to do in a given situation, and how they think.

The Only Character Chart You’ll Ever Need contains over 500 questions for your character-creating needs.  From the basics like “What is your character’s license number?” to the esoteric “How does your character hope to die?” this book covers everything (almost literally) from the cradle to the grave.

This workbook will help you to create well-rounded, believable characters that your readers (or fellow gamers) will care about and follow. No more puzzling over that character’s next action; no more blank pages where there should be lively dialogue. This collection was decades in the making and is currently the most complete character chart you’ll ever see.