Let’s talk characters…

…not just the ones you write, but the ones you’re drawn to, again and again.

So who are your characters? Or maybe the better question is: Who are they really?

Mine?

They almost always start out as some version of me.

Or my mother.

Or my daughters, my son, friends, and past selves.

They aren’t exact replicas, but they’re there through their desires, traits, and flaws. And I wish I had some of their strengths.

Every character I write seems to carry some piece of me and my life:

• The woman who fights for truth in a world full of lies? That’s me.
• The girl who questions everything she’s ever been taught? Me again.
• The character who loves deeply but is always on guard? Still me.

And sometimes, my characters are people I love…

Their facial expressions, quirks, and habits… their speech patterns, their inner aches and pains, and their wins.

I borrow my twin daughters’ attitudes, which I love, and sometimes not so much. Or when they roll their eyes, or are so excited to tell me something about their day. Or the rage my son feels when something feels unfair. I steal my mom’s stubbornness, too, which is sometimes me anyway.

My characters’ Strengths?

They’re usually brave, even when they’re afraid.

They think more deeply, which often gets them into trouble.

They question the rules.

They love without filters, even when it comes at a cost.

Their Flaws?

They doubt themselves.

They overthink.

They hold onto pain too long.

They want to save everyone, sometimes to their own detriment.

Come to think of it… Those flaws are my themes.

Self-doubt. Legacy. Identity. Destiny. What it means to heal.

What it means to choose your own story.

What About You? Who do you write?

Are your characters versions of you or people you wish you could be?

Do they evolve from someone real and take on a life of their own?

I’d love to hear how you build characters. What works for you? What surprises you? What helps you break out of writing the same character over and over?

Drop your thoughts into the comments. Share a favorite character you’ve written, or one you’re struggling to develop.

Because at the end of the day, our characters are more than figments of our imagination…They’re the mirrors we hold up to ourselves. They’re the questions we keep asking. And they’re the truths we’re still trying to write our way into.