By Jenna Scott
One of the most exciting—and challenging—parts of writing fiction is creating characters that feel like real people. Characters are the heart of any story; without them, the plot is just a collection of events, and the emotions fall flat. In my writing, I strive to craft characters who are not only compelling but also authentic and layered—characters readers can relate to, root for, and even argue with.
But how do you create characters that leap off the page? How do you ensure they feel as complex and multifaceted as the people we encounter in real life? For me, it comes down to three key elements: backstory, emotional conflict, and internal motivation.
- The Power of Backstory
Every character has a past, and understanding that past is crucial to shaping who they are in the present. Backstory doesn’t just give your characters history—it provides context for their choices, their fears, and their reactions. Think of it as the skeleton that holds the character’s personality and actions together.
Backstories don’t have to be lengthy or fully explained to the reader, but as a writer, it’s important to know where your character comes from. For example, in White Sheep Black Wool, I took the time to map out the early lives of my characters, even if much of that history doesn’t make it into the pages. Knowing why they react to certain situations the way they do gives me insight into their motivations, adding nuance to their actions.
- Emotional Conflict: The Heart of Character Development
True depth in characters comes from their internal struggles. External conflicts are important, but it’s the emotional conflict that really makes them feel human. What are they afraid of? What do they crave? What is the thing they can’t face, even though it keeps showing up in every decision they make?
In my stories, I love exploring the tension between what characters want and what they need. It’s not always the same thing. A character may want to be accepted by their peers, but what they really need is to learn to accept themselves. These internal battles make characters relatable and give them a dynamic arc—one that pulls readers along.
For instance, one of the characters in White Sheep Black Wool is deeply afraid of rejection, and this fear leads them to make choices that hurt both themselves and the people they love. The push and pull between their longing for connection and their fear of vulnerability creates emotional depth, making their journey a compelling one.
- Internal Motivation: What Drives Them?
Every character has a reason for doing what they do, and that reason should come from within them. Whether it’s a deep-seated belief, a personal goal, or an emotional need, internal motivation is the engine behind their actions.
For me, understanding my character’s internal drive is key to making them feel authentic. In White Sheep Black Wool, some of my characters are driven by the desire for freedom, while others are motivated by the need for belonging. These motivations influence every decision they make, from the way they interact with others to how they deal with adversity.
When creating your characters, ask yourself: What is their biggest fear? What are they willing to fight for? What are they willing to sacrifice to achieve their goals? These are the driving forces that will shape how they behave in the story.
Bringing it All Together: Authenticity and Relatability
When you weave together a rich backstory, emotional conflict, and internal motivation, your characters start to take on a life of their own. They’re no longer just fictional people—they’re dynamic, layered, and real. They might surprise you as a writer, making decisions that feel true to who they are, even if they weren’t what you originally intended.
In the end, it’s this complexity that makes characters unforgettable. Readers don’t remember the perfect hero or the flawless villain; they remember the characters who were messy, conflicted, and authentic. The ones who felt like real people.