Personally, I never take those methods above. They work for a lot of people, but it doesn't work well for me. I find the task of answering questions tedious and sometimes unnecessary. This is because I draw my inspiration differently.
Remember, your characters can be also inspired by real people. If you need to, go people watching. The next time you go shopping or eat a restaurant, look at the people around. Do you see that person who you think is kinda trashy? (I'm not encouraging you to be judgmental, but--honestly--there are some people who give off bad impressions.) What about that person who looks kinda nerdy? Or the super fashionable?
Try giving them a history. But don't tell just WHAT happened, but HOW did it affect them?
Also, remember that there are many possible outcomes/reasons for the same circumstance.
A teenager with drug addict parents could end up a drug addict or an advocate against drugs. Maybe he will become a drug dealer or he'll be a police officer who specializes in drug busts.
A wife who suffers abuse from her husband may not suffer abuse because she WANTS to, but because she HAS to. Why would she have to? It's your reason. Maybe her husband has some sort of blackmail? Maybe because they're hiding some special secret that she's unintentionally revealed many times. Who knows?
A man who falls asleep on the bus? Is it because he's narcoleptic? Is it because he's homeless and he's always ousted from his resting spots? Is it because he works three jobs to pay off his debts?
Their behavior or quirks can also be a surprising backstory creator. For example, do you hear that lady who always speaks in hushed tones? Maybe that's because she's been a librarian for much too long. What about that man who seems to yell? Is it because he's deaf? Maybe he lost his hearing working with loud tools and machinery? And that girl who is too excited over video games? Maybe she's getting teased about it at school and only has this time alone to be able to be fanatical about it? And what about that man who peeks too often at the women's clothing section? Maybe he's a cross-dresser by night? Or he could even be a fashion designer!
If you don't go where people are or you are active at a time when few people are around, watch the news or look up a newsletter website. Find an article that interests you and read about the people involved. How did they get in that circumstance? What do they do?
You can use these tactics to use on your own characters.
If you feel like these methods weren't sufficient, feel free to give me or any of the others a message so we can help.
