2. GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCE JOURNALING
The goal is to deepen understanding of the character's world.Exercise A: Character DiaryAnswer as the character:
  • What do I want most?
  • What am I afraid of?
  • What happened yesterday?
  • What do people misunderstand about me?
  • What secret am I hiding?
One page minimum.

Exercise B: Twenty Questions(Not all answers appear in the script. That's okay.)
Answer in character: 
Identity
  1. How old are you?
  2. How would you describe yourself in three words?
  3. What is one thing you are proud of?
  4. What is one thing you wish you could change about yourself?
Relationships
  1. Who is the most important person in your life?
  2. Who do you trust the most?
  3. Who do you trust the least?
  4. Who do you most want approval from?
Wants and Needs
  1. What do you want more than anything right now?
  2. What do you think will make you happy?
  3. What are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want?
  4. What are you unwilling to sacrifice?
Fears and Obstacles
  1. What is your greatest fear?
  2. What keeps you awake at night?
  3. What is the worst thing that could happen to you?
  4. What lie do you tell yourself?
History
  1. What is your happiest memory?
  2. What is your most painful memory?
Secrets
  1. What is something you have never told anyone?
  2. What do you desperately hope nobody finds out?




Advanced Acting VersionFor more experienced students:
  • What do you believe about love?
  • What do you believe about success?
  • What do you believe about family?
  • What do you believe about yourself?
  • What do you think other people misunderstand about you?
  • What wound are you still carrying?
  • What are you trying to prove?
  • What would make your life feel complete?
These tend to produce richer discoveries because they reveal the character's worldview rather than just their history.

Fast Version (The Five Most Important)If you're short on time, these five often reveal almost everything:
  1. What do you want?
  2. What are you afraid of?
  3. What are you hiding?
  4. Who do you need?
  5. What would happen if you failed?
If a you can answer those five honestly as the character, you'll usually have enough material to make strong choices in rehearsal.


Exercise C: Character's Day
Write:
  • "Describe a normal day in this character's life."
Even if the play only shows extraordinary circumstances.