Creating Characters Who Feel Real: A Writers Guide
Creating characters is one of the most intimate parts of storytelling. For me, it’s not about inventing people from scratch—it’s about discovering them. Listening for the flicker of a voice, the shadow of a thought, the unexpected choice they might make when no one’s watching.
In this post, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I approach character development—from their messy beginnings to the conversations they have in their heads, to the arcs that shape their growth across an entire series. Whether you're a writer, a reader, or just someone who’s ever felt changed by a fictional character… this one’s for you.
The Art of Character Development
What is your approach to creating well-rounded, believable characters?
I think of character-building like painting in layers. Some of the first strokes come from real life—people I’ve known, moments I’ve lived, or emotions that lingered longer than expected. Other times, it’s a gesture from a stranger, a line from a favorite film, or a thread from a story that moved me.
But it’s never about copying. It’s more like collecting little fragments—bits of heart and memory—and letting them simmer in my imagination until someone entirely new begins to take shape.
Sometimes, I even talk to them.
I love The Man Who Invented Christmas for that reason—it shows Charles Dickens having full-on conversations with his characters as if they were ghosts or muses. That’s what it feels like to me, too. Once I’ve invited a character into my world, they often start showing up in unexpected ways. They surprise me. They evolve. They teach me things I didn’t expect to learn.
My characters are mosaics. Alchemy. A little lived experience, a little stardust, and a whole lot of heart.
And in the end, I don’t need to know everything about them from the start—I just need to listen when they speak.
Actress Jayde Martinez cast as Morgan Asarligt, and Actress & Country Music Artist Brooklyn Summer, cast as Brigid Baelfyre confronting The Stygian Myst in The Christmas Witch Movie.
Making Characters Relatable and Complex
How do you create characters that readers can relate to, even if they have vastly different lives?
I try to write from the inside out. Even if my characters live in a magickal world or face impossible odds, their emotional truths are deeply human. Grief, longing, friendship, hope, fear, the ache of not belonging—those are things we all recognize, no matter our backgrounds.
When I tap into the heart of what a character is feeling, and not just what they’re doing, readers can find a piece of themselves in the story. Sometimes it’s not the character’s life that feels familiar—it’s their emotions. That’s where the connection lives.
How do you balance flaws, strengths, and vulnerabilities in your characters?
I think we’re all a little bit messy, a little bit magical, and a whole lot in-progress—and I want my characters to reflect that.
I don’t try to “balance” them in a perfect way, but I do try to let them be honest. Some days they’re brave. Other days they spiral. Sometimes they mess up even when their heart is in the right place.
To me, that’s where the beauty is: letting them be raw and real. I don’t want perfect characters—I want layered ones. The kind you can root for, cry with, and maybe even learn from along the way.
The Role of Dialogue in Character Development
How does dialogue help reveal a characters personality and motivations?
To me, dialogue is where characters show who they really are. It’s not just about what they say—it’s how they say it. Are they guarded or open? Do they ramble when they’re nervous? Dodge questions? Speak in metaphors or one-word answers? All of those choices hint at who they are beneath the surface.
I also love weaving in inner monologue and conversations of the mind—those quiet moments where a character is processing, spiraling, or trying to talk themselves through something. That kind of inner dialogue makes a character feel more real to me, maybe because it’s how my own brain works. It reveals hesitation, desire, fear, hope—all the things we sometimes can’t say out loud.
In both spoken and internal dialogue, the truth of a character slips through. What they say, what they don’t, and what they wish they could say—those are all breadcrumbs to who they are and what they want.
Do you have any tips for writing natural, engaging dialogue that enhances character depth?
Absolutely! Dialogue is one of my favorite tools for discovery. Often I’ll write an unstructured back-and-forth between characters—no setting, no directions—just them talking. That’s usually where their personalities unfold most naturally.
A few things I’ve learned:
Read it out loud. If it sounds forced or overly tidy, it probably is.
Each character should sound different. Rhythm, slang, pacing—it all adds flavor.
Don’t be afraid of inner monologue. Sometimes the truest line is the one they don’t say aloud.
Use silence. Pauses, avoidance, a character looking away—those speak volumes.
Let the conversation do more than one thing. The best dialogue moves the plot, reveals emotion, and shows character—all at once.
And sometimes… your characters will hijack the scene. Let them. That’s where the magic lives.
Isabella Blake Thomas as Jessi and Mama Char as Grandma in Hashtag Blessed, the moment she “finds her light” again.
Building Character Arcs
How do you build character arcs that are satisfying and impactful for your readers?
Honestly? I’ve tried it all. When I wrote The Christmas Witch, I was full-on pantsing—letting the characters lead 99% of the time. I had a few key moments in mind, but mostly I followed their voices and watched the story unfold around them. It was magical… and also a little chaotic. (Let’s just say, revisions taught me a lot.)
By the time I wrote Lost in Time, I embraced the plan-tser life. I mapped out major beats and arcs while still leaving space for spontaneity. And now, with The Secrets of Starlight Lake, I’m planning more than ever—especially to make sure subplots, timelines, and emotional growth threads all come together.
If you're writing a series, I highly recommend planning ahead. Characters grow over time, and keeping track of those arcs across multiple books helps make their transformation feel earned and satisfying.
That said, I always leave a little room for surprise. Some of my favorite moments have come from letting a character make an unexpected choice I didn’t see coming.
How does a characters growth or change reflect the themes of your story?
For me, character growth is the story. I don’t just want readers to watch a journey unfold—I want them to feel it in their bones.
My stories often explore themes like healing, identity, belonging, and choosing light in the midst of darkness. So naturally, my characters start from a place of uncertainty or fear and slowly, sometimes painfully, find their way back to themselves.
Their growth mirrors the heart of the story.
When Brigid steps into her power… it’s not just a plot point—it’s the embodiment of the book’s deeper message.
When Morgan questions her path, or Cerri finds the courage to open her heart… it’s all tied to what the story is reallyabout.
Character change isn’t something I tack on at the end—it’s the pulse beneath every scene.
At the end of the day, I think we connect with characters because they remind us of something true—something we’ve felt, longed for, or maybe even forgotten. Writing them is both an excavation and a love letter. It’s where I place the questions I’m still unraveling, and the truths I’m learning to hold.
If you’re building your own storyworld or breathing life into characters on the page, I hope this gives you permission to trust the process. To follow the spark, to plan when you need to, and to leave space for the unexpected.
Because sometimes, the character you thought you were writing turns around and whispers,
"Actually… I have a different story to tell."
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