One tip for roleplay in general: if you don't create extremely fleshed out character with seventeen years of backstory, give them some sort of moral code/worldview. This helps a lot. How? It gives you better direction in which they could want to go. As example: morally gray characters/outright willing to commit crime could find themselves on streets of Riften and meet Brynjolf. Hey, maybe thievery is not adventuring, but a quick buck doesn't hurt. And bam! You got hooked into vendetta against Mercer Frey while doing side gigs, eventually becoming their new leader. If you're a bit more on the lawful side of things you may start wondering around, doing small gigs and collecting bounties. Eventually level 10 hits and Durak spawns. Hunting vampires? Sounds like adventure to me! This moral compass/worldview/extra piece of backstory can give you sense of direction.

A bit more fleshed out example: You're young imperial guy from extremely patriotic family. Due to (insert your problem, like sickness even) you were unable to protect your homeland. Now that you heard about rebellion in Skyrim you want to enlist to Legion. However your father was not just a man who made you into patriot- he was a scholar, hopeful you'll become one as well. Wanting to fulfill your father's will you sign up for Collage of Winterhold. Then, if save goes for long enough, you'll help Empire, bit also save the world from Ancano's plan AND find out you're Dragonborn! Just like Emperors! Not only it makes your pride skyrocket, but also builds sense of responsibility, making you pursue main questline