Or: Be Your Own Casting Director

Listen to the podcast episode that inspired this post

Readers don’t fall in love with stories because of clever twists or thrilling events. They connect because of characters—flawed, funny, furious, fragile characters who make us feel something. 

If you want to improve your writing—and your readers’ response to it—mastering character creation is one of the most satisfying ways to do it. 

But I don’t want you to go and read a book about character (David Corbett’s “The Art of Character” is great, but at 380 pages, will not leave you much time to write, this weekend). 

So here are some practical ways to think about and craft characters that leap off the page and grab your reader by the heart. 

And you can get started by building a stash of character building blocks, this weekend.

Why Character Matters

Characters are the heartbeat of your story. They don’t just exist in a setting or respond to a plot. Nope. They drive the plot. 

Every decision a character makes causes ripples. They mess things up, fix them, sabotage themselves, fall in love, hate the wrong person, take the wrong job, say the wrong thing at the worst time—and that’s what creates story.

Thankfully, you don’t have to invent every character from scratch on the day you sit down to write. (That’s a guaranteed way to find yourself staring at a blinking cursor for 45 minutes and then convince yourself that doing laundry counts as productive procrastination. It doesn’t. Nice try.)

Instead, do yourself a favor: build your characters now Then dip into this little treasure chest any time you’re short on inspiration or just need a quick-start push.

Start With What You Know

Your first batch of characters? Make them like you.

Yes, you. The person reading this. You are the perfect inspiration for at least five characters. And no, they don’t have to be “you” in the obvious ways.

Start a list of five characters who share something with you:

• Hair color? Sure.
  
• Your love of spreadsheets? Perfect.
  
• Your ability to cry at pet adoption commercials? Gold.
  

You can use your own internal traits too: your introversion or extroversion, your conflict-avoidance, your snarky sense of humor, your perfectionism, your unshakeable optimism, or the way you freeze up when someone asks where you see yourself in five years. All of it is fair game.

These characters are easy to write because you’ve lived in their skin. So when you’re stuck and short on time, they’re your go-to. Let them loose in your stories.

Bonus points: Write down which of those traits delight and frustrate you. That’s where the conflict lives. That’s where the story is.

Characters NOT Like You

Made your “like me” list? Great. Now, do the opposite.

Write down five characters who are unlike you. These are the ones who baffle or irritate you, or maybe the ones you secretly wish you could be. Pick traits you don’t relate to:

• Someone who’s smooth-talking
• A fearless adrenaline junkie.
• A meticulous rule-follower.
• Someone who thrives in social chaos while you’re ready for a nap after five minutes of small talk.
  

Think about how these traits might cause trouble—or create strength—in a story. How does an overly confident character screw up a sensitive situation? How does a shy person save the day because they notice what everyone else misses?

Again, note the conflict potential. Conflict = story. Always.

Add Color

Characters aren’t just about personality. Let’s dress them up a bit—literally.

Make a list of ten accessories or physical features that a character might have. These details are powerful shorthand in short stories. You don’t always have space to dive deep into every side character’s backstory, but you can make them memorable with:

• A red umbrella with a duck-shaped handle.
• A constantly rumpled trench coat.
• Neon-green glasses.
• A nervous habit of jingling keys.

These are little anchors for your reader’s brain. They give your stories color and texture—so everything doesn’t start to feel like a blank-stage play with floating heads and indistinct voices.

(There are useful for main characters but also a great way to make a secondary character pop.)

Get Quirky

Personality traits can show up whether your character wants them to or not. These are the reflex reactions, the annoying habits, the self-sabotaging instincts that make people people.

Think of five traits that drive you bananas in real life (or delight you—if you’re feeling generous). Use those.

Maybe your character:

• Always expects the worst.
• Can’t say no.
• Over-apologizes.
• Constantly tries to “fix” people.
• Never sees the good right in front of them.
  

Then for extra credit, jot down how each trait might be subverted in the story. Turn the annoying trait into a strength. Make it a liability that forces change. Or let it spark unexpected humor.

Let Them Speak

Finally, give your characters their own voice. Not just dialogue—voice.

List five expressions or phrases people in your life overuse. Think of the office cliché machine, your grandmother’s weird sayings, or the barista who always says “rock on” no matter the situation.

Give each character a verbal tic. Let one say “bless your heart” with venom. Another can end every sentence with “you know what I mean?” even when no one does. These quirks do double duty: they reveal character and make your dialogue sparkle.

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Don’t wait. Make these lists this weekend.

Stop waiting to get “good enough” to write great characters. You already have everything you need: your quirks, your annoyances, your people-watching superpowers. 

Use them. 

Make your lists. 

Keep them handy.

 And when it’s time to write—today, not someday—you’ll be ready.

Make a mess. Have fun.

And, of course, keep writing.

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