Coming up with 'Real' characters - Comments

A few really noticeable physical things, and the way somebody thinks ;)

I have the same problem. After writing something, I usually notice how my charas have a lack of personality. So when I re-write I try to give her opinionated thoughts, and views. Every little thing makes up a character, just like in a real person. The way they talk, or eat. So I guess it all winds down to detail. Everything winds down to detail with me. Ha. But yeah, that's how I see it. Get specific.

I've always wondered that. ._.

I work off of what I observe of other people. It helps to keep my characters grounded when they have a real life persona. And sometimes I do see myself faltering towards a Mary sue and I just have to think what would I do in a situation like this? Adding real life elements is an easy way to make them more realistic and relatable.

i'm a rper so i usally use my charries from that.
Usally i write and outline and what not. like name, age, personality, quirks, habits, dreams, goals, and what not.
Then i get into how the character will grow through at the story and how she/he will act around my other charatcers in the story.
And someone gave me advice about this before, "How would your character act if yall where hanging out?" Would he or she be hyper and crazy or anti-social and gloomy.

Realistically, everything is a cliche today. Nothing is original anymore.

What I do, is that I think of a really interesting characteristic, and I base my character off of that, and I build around that. Like if I had someone with a drug problem, I would take that and I would then build up her personality around that, whether or not as a child she had the same qualities, how she changed as she grew up, how she will change throughout the plot line.

Going through those steps not only helps me build characters and character relationships, but also helps me to progress the plot line.

Really, the only way you can go wrong, is if you shove so much stuff into a character's life, that it becomes unbelievable. Make your character realistic and believeable, and you've got a character.

I have felt the same frustration so many times. Overall, I believe I have made a total of four characters that I am fully satisfied with (close to fully, at least =P). My characters come to me. Suddenly I can see the shape of an idea in my head and then I write it down... developing this person fully takes a lot of time and they often change as I get to know them better. "Stealing" traits from people around me and people I know is something that I believe makes this character a lot easier to relate to.

I take different pieces of myself and others, and not just good ones, and put it into one person. Sometimes I develop characters before I develop a plot.

I just pretend like they're a real person, someone I could really talk to.

I would consider what kind of environment the characters live in. What kind of history a character has to shape his/her personality.

I take other people's quirks and such, and add them into my characters.
If I find something interesting, I'll write it down or remember it and then add it in.
And they're actualy traits and imperfections and likes/dislikes, so that's what I do.

And there are those character forms you can find anywhere to add depth to characters.