Characters
are my absolute favorite thing about writing. Naming them, coming up with what
they look like, their personalities, and writing their backstories is all
great. I love it, but my favorite part is when they spring to life on the page
and disregard everything I have written in my outline.
Even
when I love coming up with characters, I get stuck on getting to know them on a
deep level. I’ve tried character interviews before, but they have to stay in character and most of mine wouldn’t
answer blunt questions. A great way, I learned, to get to know characters
better is to take quizzes from their perspective. Specifically Hogwarts House
quizzes from J.K. Rowling’s fantastic Harry Potter series.
How Hogwarts Houses Help You Know Your Characters
Better
Your Results
At
the end of the quiz, your character will be sorted into one of the four houses:
Gryffindor (values bravery and chivalry), Ravenclaw (values intellect and wit),
Hufflepuff (values hard work and loyalty), or Slytherin (values ambition and
cunning, which does not necessarily mean
evil). Being sorted into a Hogwarts House shows what your character’s core
values are. One of my main characters in my fantasy WIP is a Hufflepuff because
loyalty is important to her.
The Questions
Okay,
this really depends on what quiz you take. I personally try to find one like
the official Pottermore sorting hat quiz that has vague questions so you don’t
really know which answer goes with which house. Questions like “You enter an
enchanted garden. What would you be most curious to examine first?” can bring
insight into what piques your character’s interest.
It Opens a Whole New Door of
Wizarding World Related Questions
After
knowing my character’s Hogwarts House, I usually wonder what they would be like
if they lived in the Wizarding World. What class would they like best? Would
they play Quidditch? What would their boggart be? Their patronus? What would
they see in the Mirror of Erised? Asking yourself even more questions about
your characters helps you know more about their interests, fears, and desires.
Links to Hogwarts Quizzes
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