Think about a character that still haunts you. A character that was written or portrayed so well, that they’ve stuck in your brain for years. What made them different? What made them unique?

One thing I wish new authors would understand is that your MC (main character) shouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. When you try to write a character “everyone” will relate to and love, you end up writing a character that no one can relate to. They fall flat and have no emotional depth. That being said, it takes more than slapping a unique quirk on your MC to make them memorable. The best way to do this is to take a serious look at their background and personality.

While you may or may not bring up your character’s back story, you need to know their history before you can truly know them. To know how they’d react in certain situations. A MC sold out and betrayed by a former lover may cause him/her/them to be cold and distant to love in the future (even familial or platonic love). But perhaps once their new love interest proves their loyalty or endurance through shared hardship, they may fall in love easily.

A real way to write characters is to make their actions, their choices plausible. A character who watched their best friend die in battle is going to need time to process. They’re not going to skip home and dance or be happy, (unless it’s a unique reaction based on cultural or ethnic tradition beliefs). Your characters should still have a choice in their reactions, but they should also have good reasons behind each decision they make.

A character’s personality is one of my favorite things to play with. I’ve had the munitions expert with a dark sense of humor, who always laughs hysterically when blowing something up. Ironically, that honking laughter is why he has the nickname Goose. His personality blends well with the analytical, emotionally closed off team member who needs to lighten up. Remember to consider your story’s plot and the personalities of your side characters when crafting your MCs.