Writing a Realistic Character

How do they show affection to others and what degree? What are the exceptions? How do they show affection to family and to friends? How do they feel about strangers? People often show strong feelings of affection towards others important to them - this includes teachers, family members, friends, and pets. How do they show it?

Does your character have sentimental items? What are they? Where did they come from? Where do they keep them? Often times, a character’s sentimental items tell a lot about them. You can show that someone’s dad is important to them by the photos, objects, etc, given to them by their dad that they keep in their room. What sentimental items represent who they are? What about their values? Figuring this out and showing it through setting is vital.

Do they have a stutter? Do they say ‘like’ and ‘um’ a lot? How fast do they talk? In short sentences or long ones? How else does their voice and speech pattern affect their personality and the way their socialize? Often times, if someone has a stutter, they tend to be more withdrawn. How can you further illustrate their personality through their speech?

I’ve learned a general rule that often applies in writing and real life: if someone likes only old music or old movies, refusing to try new stuff, they are not open to change. How can you reflect their personality in what they like? Are they studious and keep books in their car in case of a long drive-thru line? Do they always keep a baseball in their glove compartment in case of a game? Showing inanimate objects’ relationships to the character can show a lot of their personality.

Writing realistic disabilities, both physical and mental, are crucial. If you have a solider returning from war, they likely have PTSD. A car crash survivor might also experience that but in a different way. Trauma is tied to circumstance. And for wheelchair users, they need a ramp to get somewhere. How can you illustrate how they deal with disabilities?

What does the character need to live? Maybe their favorite gum or water bottle? Do they always use the same bag whenever leaving the house? Maybe your character keeps an extra pair of socks in her bag. Maybe she keeps a small thing of tissues. What they consider necessary items often show a lot about the character.