Write Real People

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  • Creative Writers Don’t All Think The Same Way

    Creative Writers Don’t All Think The Same Way

    When I write fiction, I usually “see” the scenes like movies. However, that’s not the only way to write good fiction. 

    The visual writers:

    • Watch characters move through detailed landscapes
    • See stories unfold like films in their minds

    The non-visual writers:

    • Excel at internal monologues and emotional rhythms
    • Capture philosophical concepts without “seeing” them
    • Master the sound and rhythm of language

    Here’s what this means for writers:

    If you’re naturally visual → Lean into rich sensory descriptions and cinematic scenes

    If you’re more verbal → Focus on dialogue, internal thoughts, and the music of language

    If you think in concepts → Focus on themes, philosophy, and abstract connections

    The diversity of thinking styles creates the rich variety that makes books so powerful and personal to readers.

    I use the visual writing style in my novels.

  • Single Hero vs. Dual Protagonists

    Single Hero vs. Dual Protagonists

    When I started writing The Source, I initially planned to follow the classic single-hero journey; one young man going on a journey and transforming through trials.

    Then I realized I could create richer development by tracking two protagonists simultaneously. Their contrasting responses to the same challenges created more opportunities for growth, conflict, and compelling character dynamics.

    Single Hero Strategy

    Why it works:

    • Clear focus on one character’s transformation arc
    • Easier to track character development and maintain consistency
    • Follows the proven heroic journey framework readers expect
    • Allows deep dive into a single perspective and internal journey

    This works for writers who want to explore one character’s growth in intimate detail and maintain tight narrative focus.

    Follow the classic pattern of ordinary person meeting extraordinary challenge. Track their evolution from inexperienced to heroic through trials, failures, and ultimate transformation.

    Dual Protagonist Strategy

    Two heroes developing together beat one hero developing alone.

    When you track interweaving storylines of contrasting protagonists, you create opportunities for different responses to identical challenges, highlighting growth through comparison and conflict.

    Why it works:

    • Provides contrasting perspectives that illuminate character traits
    • Creates natural tension through different approaches to problems
    • Allows characters to support and challenge each other’s development
    • Generates more complex relationship dynamics and plot possibilities

    Write protagonists with complementary strengths and weaknesses: one strategic and intellectual, another intuitive and heart-driven. Let their relationship evolve as they face adversity together, each character’s journey highlighting the other’s growth.

    Hybrid Approach

    Most successful fantasy writers start with a primary hero, then develop strong secondary characters who become co-protagonists over time.

    Begin with clear main character focus, then gradually elevate supporting characters to protagonist status as their development becomes equally important to the story.

    Follow your story’s scope:

    • Intimate character study? → Single hero for deep psychological exploration
    • Epic adventure with complex conflicts? → Dual protagonists for multiple perspectives
    • Long series? → Start single, develop dual protagonists across multiple books

    Both single heroes and dual protagonists can create powerful transformation stories. 

    Follow me on Amazon.

  • Write Real People Your Readers Will Love

    Write Real People Your Readers Will Love

    When I started writing, I created elaborate character questionnaires with every detail mapped out before writing a single scene. I knew everything about them, but my characters felt flat on the page.

    Then I tried the opposite, starting with just goal, motivation, and conflict. Suddenly my characters came alive, making choices that surprised even me, and sending the story lines in new directions.

    Simple Strategy

    Why it works:

    • Gets you writing immediately instead of endless planning
    • Characters develop naturally through action
    • Prevents over-thinking that leads to flat personalities
    • Focuses on what actually drives your story forward

    Perfect for: Writers who get stuck in planning mode and need to start putting words on the page.

    Start with the “Big Three”, what your character wants (goal), why they want it (motivation), and what’s stopping them (conflict). Add one distinctive habit and one key backstory moment.

    Deep Development Strategy

    Characters you fully understand beat characters you’re figuring out as you go.

    When you know your character’s psychology, fears, and contradictions upfront, you can craft more complex, layered stories.

    Why it works:

    • Creates consistent character behavior across long projects
    • Prevents plot holes caused by character inconsistencies
    • Builds richer internal conflicts from the start
    • Helps with series planning and character arcs

    Develop detailed profiles including fears, flaws, backstory, and internal contradictions. This will help you know how your characters will react in any situation before they face it.

    Hybrid

    Most successful writers use core elements first, then depth as needed.

    Start simple to get writing, then develop deeper understanding as your character makes choices in scenes. Let the story reveal who they are.

    Follow Your Writing Style

    • Get stuck planning? → Start simple and discover through writing
    • Need consistency across complex plots? → Develop detailed profiles upfront
    • Want flexibility? → Use the Big Three, then build depth as you write

    Your characters will become real people regardless of which method you choose.

  • Monetize Your Characters

    Monetize Your Characters

    There are a number of ways you could make money from your love of creating characters.

    Quick Cash Strategy

    Why it works:

    • Immediate income within weeks
    • No audience building required
    • Proven demand on existing platforms
    • Low barrier to entry

    Perfect for: Writers who need money next month and want to test their skills with paying clients.

    Start with character development services on Fiverr or Upwork. Indie authors will pay for detailed character profiles, and D&D players always need fresh NPCs.

    Long-Term Business Strategy

    When you build your own character-based properties, you’re creating assets that can generate income for years.

    Why it works:

    • Multiple revenue streams from the same characters
    • You own the intellectual property
    • Builds lasting audience relationships
    • Scales without trading time for money

    Start a character-driven newsletter on Substack. Create social media accounts for your characters. Write interactive fiction featuring your cast.

    Hybrid Approach

    Most successful character creators do both: client work pays the bills while they build their own properties.

    Use client projects to fund your passion projects. That D&D commission helps finance your character newsletter.

    If it gets you writing and earning, it’s the right approach.

    Your characters are already good enough for someone to pay for them. The question isn’t which path is better, just when you’ll start.

    Learn more about my characters on Amazon.

  • Plot vs Characters: Where Should You Start Your Story?

    Plot vs Characters: Where Should You Start Your Story?

    Every new writer asks this question, and there’s no right answer.

    As a new writer, I wasn’t sure at first if I should map out my plot first, or start with characters.

    At first, I rigidly stuck to plot outlines and never finished my early stories when characters started pulling me in different directions.

    Plot-First

    Why it works:

    • You know where you’re going
    • Less likely to waste chapters on boring details
    • Essential for complex genres (thrillers, mysteries, epic fantasy)
    • Prevents major rewrites halfway through

    Perfect for: Stories with intricate moving parts that need a clear roadmap.

    Character-First

    Readers fall in love with people, not plot twists.

    When you start with characters, you’re building from the emotional core outward. This will help you create more authentic, compelling stories.

    Why it works:

    • Stories grow naturally from who your people are
    • Characters’ choices drive the narrative organically
    • No forcing characters to serve your plot

    Hybrid Approach

    Most successful writers move between both, letting character and plot inform each other.

    Start with whatever excites you most, then see how the other element responds.

    The Bottom Line

    Pay attention to your initial spark:

    • Obsessing over your character’s tragic backstory? → Start there
    • Can’t stop thinking about that epic chase scene? → Begin with plot

    Try different approaches on different projects. You might be character-first for contemporary fiction but plot-first for fantasy adventures.

    There’s No Wrong Way

    If it helps you finish your story, it’s the right approach.

    Great stories need both compelling characters and engaging plots.

  • Stop Writing Weak Characters: Why Your Heroes Need Real Resilience

    Stop Writing Weak Characters: Why Your Heroes Need Real Resilience

    Your readers can tell when you’re faking it.

    They might not know exactly what’s wrong, but they feel it. Your hero faces the destruction of their entire world, yet somehow bounces back like nothing happened. Or they break down and never recover, leaving your readers unsatisfied. 

    As a writer, you need to understand how real people survive catastrophe. We think resilience means being unbreakable or “tough,” but it’s not that simple. 

    When you understand how resilience actually works, you’ll be able to create more authentic heroes. 

    Why Characters Feel Fake

    Think about the last disappointing novel you read. Chances are the characters felt hollow when the crisis hit. Maybe they became invincible superheroes or simply helpless victims. Neither reflects how actual resilience works. 

    Real resilience is about knowing how to rebuild when something does break. When you give your characters the right tools, readers start believing in them. 

    The Three Tools Every Resilient Character Needs

    Psychologists have identified exactly what separates people who thrive under pressure from those who don’t. Master these three tools, and you’ll never write another hollow hero.

    Tool #1: Mental Flexibility (The Reframe)

    Resilient characters don’t get stuck in disaster thinking. When everything goes wrong, they shift from “this is terrible and unfixable” to “this is bad, but what can I do about it?”

    Look at Samwise Gamgee facing  a desperate situation in the wasteland of Mordor. He doesn’t despair, but reframes: “I can’t carry the Ring for you, but I can carry you.”

    Sam acknowledges reality but chooses to focus on what he can control rather than what he can’t. 

    Tool #2: Connection with Others (The Lifeline)

    Resilient people maintain relationships and build new ones, especially when it’s hardest.

    Sam demonstrates this perfectly throughout The Lord of the Rings. Even when Frodo becomes distant and suspicious due to the Ring’s influence, Sam stays present. He understands that their bond is their real strength.

    Characters who maintain connections feel more human, and their victories feel earned rather than handed to them via the plot. 

    Tool #3: Meaning-Making (The Why)

    Resilient characters find ways to make their suffering meaningful. They’re enduring for something that matters more than their own comfort.

    Harry Potter could have been crushed by losing his parents, but instead he transforms that loss into purpose: stopping Voldemort so other children don’t become orphans. His pain becomes his fuel. That transformation from personal pain to universal purpose is what made this series so popular in the public imagination. 

    The Mistake That Ruins Character Development

    Resilience doesn’t just appear overnight. Your character won’t be a fully-formed hero after just one traumatic event. 

    Real resilience builds gradually, and so should your character’s. Harry Potter builds resilience through facing challenging encounters: school bullies, then magical obstacles, then life-threatening adventures, then true evil. He learns new skills with every experience. 

    Don’t cheat your readers out of this journey. Let your character fail sometimes. Let them learn. Let them grow stronger through experience.

    Practical Next Steps to Making Your Characters Unforgettable

    Start building your characters’ resilience from page 1:

    • Before your story begins: What smaller challenges has your character already overcome? 
    • Throughout your story: Give your character people to genuinely care about. Even loners need someone: a person, a place, a principle worth protecting. 
    • During every crisis: Let your character find personal meaning in their struggle. What makes their suffering worthwhile? 
    • In every scene: Show resilience through their actions, and not internal dialogue. 

    Put It Into Practice Today

    Your readers connect with characters who face real problems.

    Try the following steps on your current projects:

    • Open your manuscript to a crisis scene and ask yourself if your character is reframing the problem, connecting with others, or finding meaning? If the answer is no to all three, rewrite that scene. 
    • Write three sentences about a challenge your character overcame before your story started. This will inform how they handle current obstacles.
    • List every relationship your character has. If the list is short, add someone. 

  • Working With a Fiction Ghostwriter? Here’s What They Need to Know About Your Characters

    Working With a Fiction Ghostwriter? Here’s What They Need to Know About Your Characters

    Having ghostwritten a number of books, this is my insider’s guide to set your writer up for success. 

    Character Info Matters More Than Plot

    A weak character kills even the best storyline.

    Your ghostwriter needs to be able to step inside your imagination and make your characters feel as real to them as they do to you.

    Build Characters Beyond the Surface

    Go deeper than looks:

    • Physical description is just the starting point
    • Focus on formative experiences, especially childhood
    • Include cultural background that shapes worldview

    Example: A character from rural South Africa vs. NYC will have completely different assumptions about personal space and community obligations.

    Get Their Voice Right

    For dialogue:

    • Formal or casual speech?
    • Verbose or economical with words?
    • Regional expressions or verbal tics?

    For internal monologue:

    • Analytical thinker or emotional reactor?
    • Self-critical or optimistic?

    Define What Drives Them

    • What do they want most?
    • What are they afraid of?
    • How do they change throughout the story?
    • What beliefs get challenged?

    The best characters fight internal battles while dealing with external challenges.

    Map Their Relationships

    Character dynamics to explain:

    • How they act with different personality types
    • History with key supporting characters
    • What’s the subtext in their conversations?

    Remember: Characters don’t exist in isolation.

    Show Them in Action

    Your ghostwriter needs to know:

    • How they handle crisis (panic or laser focus?)
    • Natural leader or follower?
    • Skills and limitations
    • Specific fears or strengths

    Communication is Important

    Schedule regular check-ins:

    • Discuss how characters are emerging on the page
    • Be specific about feedback and the changes you expect
    • Stay open to feedback from the writer that could improve the book

    Good feedback: “She’s too aggressive in this scene. The real Alice would withdraw when confronted.”

    Bad feedback: “This doesn’t feel right.”

    The Payoff

    When you do preparation work:

    • Your ghostwriter writes with confidence
    • Character voice stays consistent from draft one
    • You spend less time on revisions
    • Your story comes to life authentically

    Want more writing and ghostwriting tips? Visit http://www.writerealpeople.com

    About The Author

    Erika Taylor

    Read my interview on Writerful books: https://writerfulbooks.com/erika-taylor-fantasy-author-ghostwriter/

  • Welcome to “Write Real People”

    Why do we remember some characters long after we close a book, while we forget about others even before we get to the final page? It’s not only about what the characters do, but also about how their minds work. Your heroes might save kingdoms, but if they don’t have any psychological depth, they’re just plot devices. Readers need insight into the inner landscapes of characters to genuinely care about them. 

    Why Character Connection Matters

    Characters are the heart of your story. You can create the most intricate plot, build exciting worlds, and orchestrate spectacular action sequences, but if your characters aren’t relatable, you’ll lose readers. Your audience will remain if they care deeply about the characters experiencing the events in the plot. 

    A well-crafted character becomes a mirror, reflecting parts of ourselves we recognize, admire, or want to understand better. They become the lens through which we process the story’s themes and conflicts.

    Cultural Icons

    Why do certain characters become cultural icons while others are almost instantly forgotten? 

    Harry Potter endures not because he’s the most powerful wizard, but because readers connect with his loneliness, his desire to belong, and his struggle with responsibility. He has become psychologically real to the reader. 

    Without compelling characters, even the most exciting plot becomes a series of empty events. Your story falls flat if the characters feel like cardboard cutouts rather than breathing, flawed people who are capable of love and growth. 

    Characters Sell Your Book

    Today people have more entertainment options competing for their attention than ever before. 

    What will make them choose your book, and recommend it to others, is the emotional connection they make with your characters. This connection can even create loyal fans who will follow your work for years to come.

    Write Real People

    I’ll explore challenges when it comes to character creation, and how to overcome them. It’s a matter of knowing what works well, and what doesn’t.  

    As a new writer, I spent years creating inauthentic characters that felt flat and predictable. 

    Then I studied psychology and started applying those insights to my character development. I suddenly understood why some of my characters felt emotionally shallow and why some parts of my stories felt unconvincing. 

    I also realized that as a fantasy writer, depending on what I create, my characters could face unique psychological challenges. How would a telepathic species develop differently? What personality traits would emerge in a society where death is reversible? How does immortality change the way someone processes grief?

    What You’ll Find Here

    The aim is that the posts will give you practical information that you can use in your writing. 

    Think of your characters like icebergs. What readers see on the surface is just a small fraction of who they really are. The bulk of their personality lies beneath: their fears, past experiences, unconscious motivations, and psychological patterns.

    Do this exercise with your own characters. List three surface behaviors your character displays regularly. Now, for each behavior, ask “What psychological need or wound might drive this?” A character who constantly jokes might be deflecting vulnerability. Someone who hoards resources might have deep-seated fears about security. A character who avoids leadership might struggle with imposter syndrome or fear of responsibility.

    If you have questions or you experience challenges while completing the challenges, leave a comment. Your challenges can help shape future posts, as other writers likely face the same ones. 

    Let me know if you have ideas for topics, and please subscribe to stay updated. I’m going to look for guest posters soon, and I hope this is just the beginning of a rich exploration of characterization. 

    Together, we’ll create characters who live and breathe on the page.

    About The Author

    Erika Taylor

    The War in The West Fantasy Series

    Read my interview on Writerful books: https://writerfulbooks.com/erika-taylor-fantasy-author-ghostwriter/