Great fiction starts with characters who feel real. Not perfect, not polished—but genuine. When readers connect with your characters, they care what happens next. They root for them, worry about them, and think about them long after the book is closed. If you’re writing a fiction book and want to build characters readers actually believe in, here’s how to start.
1. Start With the Inner Life
Forget eye color and job titles for now. The most believable characters are the ones who have something going on beneath the surface. What does your character want more than anything? What do they fear? What lie do they believe about themselves or the world? These internal questions give you something deeper than backstory—they give you motivation. And motivation drives everything else.
2. Give Them Flaws That Matter
A character without flaws is a character without tension. Readers don't need your protagonist to be perfect; they need them to be real. Maybe your character is overly protective, stubborn, or avoids conflict at all costs. Whatever the flaw, let it show up in their relationships and decisions. Bonus points if that flaw gets in the way of what they want.
3. Let Them Grow
Nobody wants to read about someone who stays the same from page one to The End. The best characters learn, change, and evolve as the story unfolds. Maybe they overcome fear, step into leadership, or let themselves trust again. Growth gives the reader a payoff—and it gives your character emotional weight.
4. Write Dialogue That Sounds Like a Person
This one’s simple but powerful. If your dialogue sounds like a formal speech or a summary of the plot, readers will feel the disconnect. Instead, listen to how people actually talk. Read your dialogue out loud. Cut the parts that sound robotic or like a monologue. Every word should feel like it belongs to that character and no one else.
5. Add Quirks That Don't Feel Forced
Real people are weird. They repeat the same phrases, collect odd things, make unusual choices. Adding quirks makes your characters memorable—but only if they come from who the character already is. Don't give your character a ukulele just to make them interesting. Tie their quirks to their past, their fears, or their hopes.
6. Show Us Their Relationships
How your character treats the people around them says more than any description ever could. Are they fiercely loyal to one person? Do they push people away when things get hard? Show us their patterns. Let relationships reveal the soft spots and the triggers. This is where emotional connection happens for the reader.
7. Let Them Fail Sometimes
We love characters who try, fail, and get back up again. Let your characters make bad decisions. Let them get it wrong. That’s what makes them worth rooting for. Flawed decisions are often where the story actually lives—and where readers get hooked.
8. Be Willing to Go Deep
If your character never wrestles with big questions, your reader won't either. Don't be afraid to let your characters think, reflect, and ask hard things. This doesn't have to slow the pace—but it does help ground the story in something that matters.
Final Thought:
You don't have to write a perfect character. Just write one that feels honest. Your job isn't to make readers like them. It’s to make readers believe them. And that starts with you knowing who they are long before anyone else does.
If you’re working on your first (or next) fiction book and want a publishing partner who understands storytelling, character building, and the power of connection, reach out to the team at Lucid Books. We’d love to help you bring your story to life.
