I love creating a world and filling it with characters I have imagined. There is nothing as exciting as taking these characters under my wing, putting them in awkward or difficult circumstances, and then watching them find a way out of their troubles.
First, I have to give my main character a clear goal – something that means a lot to them, so that they will work hard to achieve it and never give up.
Sometimes, I wish I could be nicer to them, but the best stories thrive on conflict, so throwing a bunch of obstacles in their way lets us root for them as they navigate the challenges they face.
Of course, your characters should be likeable. Occasionally, you may read a book where a bad guy in the main character, but I don't want to root for him to win. I want the good guy to succeed. I would be disappointed if the bad guy won the day.
If I've done my job properly, my characters become real to me, almost like family. I cry when they get hurt and laugh when they've done something funny. I cheer them on. And when I'm writing a scene, sometimes they do something unexpected, not something I had planned for them. When this happens, they truly do seem real.
