How I Create Memorable Characters—Tips for Aspiring Writers

Character-related issues are among the most common complaints I encounter from readers. The reason readers often struggle to relate to characters is that they perceive them as flat, lacking depth, often referred to as "cardboard characters." As the metaphor suggests, cardboard characters are flat, they lack depth. It's not ideal to have one (or more) in your story.

We don't want boring, one-dimensional characters. What does a fully developed character look like? How do you make your characters come alive on the page?

That's what I'll show you with my next six tips and three extra hacks to make your characters shine.

My 6 tips to make your characters feel real

1. Pull from real life

Real people in our lives can be a great source of inspiration for creative writing. Building your fictional character on people you know, like family or friends, ensures a realistic portrayal.

If there's no one in your life to emulate, draw inspiration from movies, TV shows, or books. It's similar to writing fanfiction in some sense. Choose an existing character as a foundation for your own character and develop a brand new tale.

Look to Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for a grumpy but loyal detective character. Sherlock is fictional, but his quirks and brilliant deductions are actually taken from a real-life doctor named Joseph Bell, a surgeon and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh. During his medical studies at Edinburgh University, Arthur Conan Doyle was fortunate enough to be taught by Joseph Bell, a professor whose deduction skills made a lasting impact on him. Joseph Bell is often referred to as the original Sherlock Holmes.

I wish I had done this when I started my writing career, but it’s never too late to learn something new. So when I wrote the first book in Paranormal Misadventures, I had a specific person in mind. That character is the police captain of a rural precinct, Radu. How do I know I did a good job? He played a minor role in the first book, but he quickly became a fan favorite among readers. I learned a lot from writing Radu.

2. Give them flaws

Flawed characters make for great characters. A main character who is invincible and can do everything is only interesting if they have something else that connects with your audience. Every hero, no matter how great, has weaknesses that, when taken advantage of, bring about conflicts, adding depth to their character. Even Superman had kryptonite, remember?

All characters, no matter how brave, have fears. Hermione Granger, the character from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling is intelligent and resourceful but also struggles with insecurity and a fear of failure.

Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a moral hero who fights for justice. However, he can also be seen as naïve and trusting, which puts him and his family at risk.

3. Add mannerisms

They say the devil’s in the details. Adding subtle details to a character's personality or body language can greatly increase their believability. In writing fiction, adding quirks to your characters can make them memorable. It could be small things that make them charming, endearing, weird, or unique.

Since I already used Sherlock Holmes as an example, let’s revisit it. Sherlock is famous for his violin-playing, his experiments, and his tendency to pace when lost in thought. These details add to his eccentric personality.

4. Make your character always want something

This is actually a tip I learned from TikTok. It's simple but effective because if a character knows what they want on every page, it influences how they act. They are constantly working towards something, which keeps the plot moving. This creates a sense of momentum and keeps the reader engaged in the story’s progression.

But I’m not talking only about the big goals. The protagonist must want something on every page, even if it’s something small, like a glass of water, or a cup of coffee. This connects the reader to your character on an emotional level.

Before you roll your eyes, imagine your protagonist is a surgeon doing a complicated and lengthy surgery. You can tell your readers how long it took and how exhausted the character is, or you can have them tell the nurse how the only hydration they had was a cup of coffee in the morning and how much they crave a glass of water. And at the end, tell the readers how wonderful that water tastes.

Or imagine a single mom working from home while looking after her baby wanting a cup of coffee, but every time she sets to make one the baby cries, the dog barks, a client calls her, and so on. If you’re a mom, you’ll feel this in your bones. You want your readers to relate to your characters. This emotional investment in the character’s small desire elevates the stakes of their larger goal and creates a deeper connection with the reader.

In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Elizabeth Bennet desires not just love but also a marriage based on respect and mutual understanding. This internal conflict shapes her choices and drives the plot.

Meanwhile, Frodo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” starts out wanting a simple life but is thrust into the quest to destroy the One Ring. Even during long journeys, he still craves good meals and moments to rest, which keep him motivated.

Pro tip: This applies to every character, not just the hero or the villain. Don’t just focus on how your supporting characters relate to the main character. Make sure they have their own wants and needs. Sometimes those wants and needs will not align with the wants and needs of the protagonist, which creates conflict. Conflict is good. It keeps the reader turning the pages, and that is exactly what you want.

Read the rest of the tips in the original post on Medium.