Character-driven prompts can be really helpful for writers who want to create strong emotional links in their stories. These prompts help writers think deeply about their characters, including what makes them tick, what drives them, and what challenges they face. Here are some interesting prompts that can help you build relatable characters and make readers care about them:

1. Looking Back:

   • Write a scene where your character remembers an important moment from their childhood. How does this memory affect how they act now?
   • Think about the feelings this memory brings up. How does it change the way they see their current problems?

2. A Flawed Hero:

   • Create a character who has a big flaw that makes it hard for them to get along with others. Write a scene where this flaw leads to an unexpected result, forcing the character to face their own issues. How do they react?
   • What do they feel when they realize this, and how might it change them throughout the story?

3. Unexpected Friends:

   • Imagine your character meets someone very different from themselves. Write a scene showing their conversation and the conflicts that come up.
   • Focus on what they say and how it reveals their fears and dreams. How does this meeting challenge what your character thought they knew?

4. Dealing with Loss:

   • Explore a moment when your character suffers a big loss, like losing a loved one or a dream. Write a scene that shows how they deal with their sadness.
   • What places reflect how they feel inside? How do they manage this grief, or struggle to do so? Consider using comparisons that show their inner battle.

5. Being Vulnerable:

   • Write a quiet moment where your character opens up to someone else. Highlight the tension between their desire to connect and their fear of being hurt.
   • How does this moment strengthen their relationship? What walls come down, and what truths are revealed?

6. Acts of Kindness:

   • Create a scene where your character meets a stranger who does a small, kind thing for them. Write about what your character thinks and feels about this gesture.
   • How does this act change their view of people and maybe even restore some of their hope?

7. Seeking Forgiveness:

   • Write a scene where your character asks someone for forgiveness after hurting them. Explore their feelings of regret and the weight of what they did wrong.
   • Show their mix of emotions as they face the other person’s reaction—whether it's acceptance, anger, or indifference.

8. Isolated but Seeking Connection:

   • Describe a day in the life of a character who feels very alone. Write about how they interact with the world around them—or don't.
   • How do they handle their loneliness? Think about a small moment of connection with a passerby that offers them a bit of hope.

9. Cultural Differences:

   • Put your character in a new place that’s different from what they’re used to. How do they feel in this situation?
   • Show their struggle as they try to fit in with new customs and connect with people who don’t share their background.

10. Finding Oneself:

    • Have your character go on a journey that makes them think about who they really are. Write a key scene where they face what they truly care about versus what others expect from them.
    • How does this journey help them grow? What feelings come up, and how do these feelings change their relationships?

11. Confronting Fears:

    • Create a moment where your character finally faces a fear they've had for a long time. Write about the build-up to this moment and the feelings that come up as they deal with it.
    • What pushes them to tackle this fear now, and how does it affect how they see themselves and their relationships?

12. Building New Bonds:

    • Develop a scene where your character begins to trust someone they were cautious about. Explore their doubts and the little things that help them connect.
    • How do these interactions show different sides of their personality?

Remember, when you use these prompts, think about your character’s depth. It’s important to look at not just what they do, but why they do it, what they want, and what they fear. This will help you create characters that readers can really connect with.

The magic of these character-driven prompts is that they pull readers into the lives of characters who are just as messy and complex as real people. As writers, we should try to show the complicated feelings we all have: the struggles, the happiness, and everything in between.

The true strength of a character lies in these emotional journeys—finding real moments of honesty and vulnerability can make your stories powerful. As you write, dive into the emotional truths of your characters. Use the prompts above to craft deeper stories that create strong bonds with your readers.

Explore the details. Accept the chaos of life. When you let your characters face their biggest challenges and happiest moments, you bring readers along for the ride, creating a memorable emotional experience.