Here’s a detailed description for each tip to help you develop realistic and engaging characters:
1- Give Them Depth with a Backstory
Flesh out where your character comes from. A rich backstory provides context for who they are and why they act as they do. Small, specific details about their past can add layers to their personality, whether it’s childhood experiences, pivotal moments, or personal losses. Remember, you don’t have to reveal everything at once; let these pieces emerge naturally in your story.
2- Give Them Realistic Goals and Motivations
A character’s actions should be driven by clear, believable goals that make sense based on who they are. Whether it’s a simple desire, like finding a safe home, or a complex ambition, like gaining social respect, grounding their motivations in relatable needs and dreams makes them more compelling. The more readers understand what drives them, the more they’ll care about their journey.
3- Create a Unique, Consistent Voice and Speech Pattern
Every character should have their own way of speaking and thinking, informed by their background, personality, and emotions. Is their dialogue straightforward or evasive, formal or casual? Do they speak with slang, a dialect, or a refined vocabulary? Consistency in voice makes characters feel distinct and helps readers identify with them more deeply.
4- Make Them Struggle
Real people face hardships, and characters should be no different. Conflict and challenge force them to confront their flaws, adapt, and reveal their inner strengths (or weaknesses). By letting your characters struggle—physically, emotionally, or morally—you make their victories feel earned and their failures more poignant, creating moments that resonate with readers.
5- Give Them Relationships with Other Characters
Characters reveal themselves through interactions with others, whether those connections are positive, strained, or complex. Relationships add layers to your story and allow characters to show vulnerability, support, envy, or betrayal. Even a seemingly independent character benefits from relational context—whether it’s family, friends, rivals, or mentors—that enhances their realism and growth.
6- Let Them Evolve
Static characters quickly lose their appeal. Let your characters grow, change, and adapt in response to their experiences. They may overcome flaws, deepen their understanding, or change goals. This evolution, whether subtle or transformative, makes them feel more alive and mirrors the real human experience.
7- Show, Don’t Tell Their Personality
Rather than labeling your character’s traits, let readers discover who they are through actions, dialogue, and inner thoughts. Instead of saying someone is “brave,” show them facing down fear. Instead of “kind,” show them offering a small, selfless act. These moments build a vivid sense of character without forcing an impression, allowing readers to connect on their own terms.
Each of these steps helps shape well-rounded, relatable characters that draw readers in and keep them invested in the journey.