Creating characters that resonate with readers

Creating characters is, without a doubt, one of the most essential parts of writing a compelling story. As a writer of psychological thrillers, I believe that characters are the heart of the narrative. In my experience, the plot can take a backseat to fully fleshed-out, relatable characters. But creating those characters isn’t always easy. It takes time, effort, and a little guidance from some well-loved books.

I also like to try and find pictures to help me visualise my characters, and I will admit, I use AI to help me create those images. After all, they are not for use ‘in’ the book, just to help me. Usually what I do is write the character descriptions in the character biography and then using those descriptions ask AI to come up with what it thinks they would look like. If the AI version is well off kilter with what's in my head, I use that as a trigger to see if my descriptions really do reflect what I’m aiming for, and if they don’t, make the necessary adjustments. 

AI generated visualisation of characters from The Watcher's Prey

All of the books below refer to creating a character biography so I’m not going to go into that here. The three go-to books that I rely on when building my characters are:

• Creating Characters by the Editors of Writer’s Digest

• Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card

• Creating Characters by Marisa D’Vari

If you could see the state of these books, you’d understand just how much they’ve been used. The pages are dog-eared, there are flags all over them for my favorite sections, and in some cases, I’ve even highlighted passages. I know, I know. Criminal! But for me, these books are like old friends that I return to time and time again for guidance, especially when I’m feeling stuck.

As I write psychological thrillers, I feel the pressure for my characters to really carry the weight of the story. A great plot is important, of course, but without compelling characters, the story falls flat. I believe characters should evoke a strong emotional response from the reader. They don’t need to be likable, and in some cases, they’re downright awful, doing despicable things. But if they’re well-developed and relatable, the reader will care, even if they don’t like them.

One of the worst things I can imagine as a writer is creating flat, boring, or stereotypical characters. Sure, stereotypes can be useful to quickly give readers a sense of a character, but that’s all they should be, a tool to suggest traits and not define a character entirely. In my writing, I try to leave enough room for the reader to imagine the character for themselves. There needs to be enough mystery for them to fill in the gaps and form a mental picture.

A huge part of character creation is dialogue. What a character says, and just as importantly, what they don’t say, can tell you everything you need to know about them. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a solid collection of books on writing, and when it comes to dialogue, I lean heavily on two particular books:

• Dialogue by Lewis Turco

• Write Great Dialogue by Irving Weinman

If my copy of Write Great Dialogue is any indication, I’ve used it a lot. I’ve counted the flags sticking out of the book, 16 at last count! I especially love the exercises in this book, which I use to help me develop a character’s voice. These exercises force me to think deeply about how a character would speak in various situations. By the time I finish them, I have a solid understanding of how my character sounds, which helps me make them more authentic.

If you're struggling with your own character development or dialogue, don’t despair. There’s no “one right way” to create a compelling character but having the right tools and resources can certainly make the process easier and more enjoyable.

The process of character creation is an ongoing journey. It’s one of the most rewarding aspects of writing, as you get to breathe life into someone who only existed in your mind. Whether you're writing psychological thrillers or any other genre, make sure your characters are as dynamic and engaging as your plot. What resources or techniques have you found helpful in creating memorable characters? Let me know!