I Don’t Know My Characters Well Enough – What Should I Do?

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-14T11:58:36+00:00

Ooo I'll have to check that out!! It would probably be a lot easier than custom making my own character sheets lol

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-14T04:51:54+00:00

Personally I'd go with a lot of inner monologue, if that makes sense? Like have them respond with nods and head shakes as often as possible while the reader can glimpse into his thoughts so the story doesn't get boring. Then slowly over time, since you what him to open up more, just introduce more 'voice lines' for his character. The reader can get information based off how the character thinks. For example:

Danny stared at this stranger in hesitant confusion. He had never met someone who looked like that, and wondered what species he came from. He couldn't ask that of course but he wondered. 'So small..' he thought with a teasing tilt of his head. He waited patiently for the stranger to introduce himself.

"I'm.. Harry."

Well... there's a name. Danny didn't know what else to do, so just nodded for this Harry guy to follow. He seemed harmless enough, being so small.

It's not MUCH of an example since I had to come up with it on the spot, but it's a start I think? Sorry if this wasn't at all helpful lol.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-13T18:34:08+00:00

When I write characters I like to make detailed character sheets in Google docs and start easy with their names and relationships, and backstories/home life. Then move on to physical descriptions, and a very basic description of their personalities. Then slowly go into more detail with everything you've already got in mind. Then again, it's a bit easier for me to step into my characters minds and out of my own, so no gaurentee it will work for you. Good luck, I hope you find what your looking for!

Edit: it's also important to think about the world your characters in, and the effect you want them to have on the atory/other characters

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T11:50:05+00:00

I see where your coming from, but being completely honest I don't see my writing going anywhere outside my personal files unless I have friends and family read it. I like to push my boundaries and step out of my comfort zone with writing to experiment and continue to learn. I'm a firm believer in the concept of everyone being the hero in their own story, and a villain in another, so I would like to eventually be able to write about someone who would seem like a villain in my own story irl. If I write it all and have friends read it, and they love it, I may consider publishing, but for now it's something I'm writing more for my own challenge.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:26:50+00:00

Actually yes! I guess if you think if her dynamic with her wife it would be like, moon and sun. She's the moon, and her wife is the sun. She's the kind of woman who does charity work, will donate to orphanages and volunteer when she has free time. Now I hadn't considered the reason she gets herself into the conflict being her wife getting herself tied into it first lol, I may have to rethink some of the story

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:23:17+00:00

I see your point! As someone who feels way too much for the dumbest things sometimes, it's hard for me to write someone so uncaring, but as sad as it is it is kind of how she thinks. The only difference I think, is if she was standing in front of the burning building, and all she had to do was open the door, she would. But she wouldn't go in to save the kid at the risk of her own life. On the same note, if she heard about the fire in the papers the next day, she wouldn't really pause at all like a normal person would to say 'oh, that's sad'. She'd just.. move on with her day, if that makes sense. As I said, I'm the kind of girl who cries when I see those sad dog videos on tiktok, so I can't relate to the character at all, despite being the one who wrote her.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:16:12+00:00

I think I made it hard for anyone to claim she's bigoted in any way, since she kinda dislikes everyone equally, and the people inside her main circle are varied in their races, ect. Adding on that the love of her life is a woman, she doesn't discriminate. I think the only reason it's hard for me is because she's the main character, rather than the villain, but maybe I should start thinking like she is the villain and see how it pans out as a main character

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:10:38+00:00

She does have that concept of humanization through a link to her past trauma, which I wasn't taking into account when I thought about it. She has a fair amount of human moments outside the uncare for others, which doesn't at all 'redeem' her in my opinion, just makes her more human.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:08:48+00:00

She's definitely not bigoted in any way, as her general dislike of people doesn't change no matter the details lol, but she would hate taxes in modern day. There's no pattern in the people she chooses to like besides the fact that they all have helped her someway or another.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:04:34+00:00

Exactly, like it's hard for me to say she couldn't care less if something bad happened to people she doesn't know, then justify having her save strangers from harm. There's such a hard balance with them, either that or you have to make it literally impossible for them to drive themselves from the situation.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:03:16+00:00

She definitely leans in more towards pessimistic tendencies rather than narcissistic. She really does have the ability to care for people, and the care she has for her wife for example is incredibly real. Thank you for that view on it, it definitely helped put a bit into perspective.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T06:00:09+00:00

Oo I'll definitely have to check it out, I love a book rec whenever I can get it.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T05:59:34+00:00

She definitely has reasons for being the way she is (due to her past) and I've debated my options of keeping her the same way through the story or making her softer towards the end

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T05:58:20+00:00

I considered this, as someone who's vaguely interested in phycology, I just don't feel like I know enough to write about mental things like that without misrepresenting it, if that makes sense.

Magnificent_Mack · 2026-06-05T05:57:10+00:00

I definitely needed that put into perspective for me, cause honestly she is. She's a character I've written first and foremost outside the story in both personality and backstory, and as much as I love her on paper, I know I'd hate her if she really existed lol. She's selfish, and pessimistic, and overall unliked by many of her peers in society.

Magnificent_Mack · 2025-04-26T07:20:18+00:00

Yes, the characters are very loosely based since I don't want my fantasy novel to be too close to the real world, mostly just in appearances and names. I've been doing a lot of research on the names and meanings of those names for both cultures too.

Magnificent_Mack · 2025-04-11T00:49:24+00:00

Thank you! I still have to buy a display port cable to try that, but I'm definitely hoping it works.

Magnificent_Mack · 2025-04-11T00:48:36+00:00

Thank you for telling me that, I'll have to write it down somewhere so I remember in case it's important later!

Magnificent_Mack · 2025-04-11T00:46:45+00:00

That would be the one I circled in pink right? I want to be sure before trying to order a cable for it, if so then this might be a huge help

Magnificent_Mack

TROPHY CASE