Your Creative Edge #2: It's Character Building
A Step by Step Guide for Crafting Unforgettable Characters
Forget flat, forgettable characters. With the right approach and AI assistance, you can create protagonists so vivid they practically leap off the page.
Obviously, I can’t speak for you, but I’ve come close to abandoning a book because I simply couldn't connect with the characters. If you’ve found yourselves in similar straights, you're not alone. As readers, we crave characters who feel real, people we can root for, relate to, or even love to hate. As writers, however, creating those characters can be one of our greatest challenges.
In this second issue of Your Creative Edge, I'll walk you through my hands-on process of developing Megan Owen, the protagonist of my current speculative fiction/techno-thriller project, with some help from AI.
Why Character Development Must Come First
Before we dive in, let me share my writing philosophy: “Characters drive everything.” You can construct an intricate plot with mind-bending twists or build a world with breathtaking detail, but without compelling characters, your readers won't care enough to turn the page.
Characters must be more than vehicles for your plot. They must be believable, multidimensional beings with whom readers can sympathize and empathize. They're the emotional anchor that keeps readers invested in your story.
"World-building creates the stage, but characters perform the play."
World-building comes in second, though nonetheless important. Your settings should feel familiar enough for readers to visualize easily without being so exhaustively described that readers can't use their imagination. After all, the collaborative dance between the author’s suggestion and the reader’s imagination makes reading magical.
From Character Sketch to Fully-Realized Protagonist
When I began developing Megan Owen, I started with just the basics: a thirty-something Irish woman from Dublin, born to a mathematics teacher mother and taxi driver father. She followed an academic path through Trinity College Dublin to UC Berkeley and eventually MIT, where a marriage to an English professor ultimately failed, leaving her ready for a fresh start.
There’s not much to go on, right? A character outline like this might work for a minor supporting role, but for a protagonist, we need depth—layers of complexity that make them feel human.
My AI-Assisted Character Development Process
Here's where I turned to AI (specifically Anthropic's Claude) to help me flesh out this skeleton of a character. Let me walk you through my step-by-step process:
Step 1: Create a Project Framework
I created a dedicated Claude project and uploaded my initial draft chapters and a 1,000-word instruction document that included the following:
ROLE: Defining Claude as an experienced and successful speculative fiction author
OVERVIEW: The overarching premise of the book
CHARACTERS: Brief descriptions of the known main characters
CONFLICTS: Different perspectives and motivations driving the characters
WRITING STYLE AND TONE: Guidelines that will evolve as the draft progresses
POV: Point of view choices for the narrative
INSTRUCTIONS: General direction and guidance (like a movie director might give)
Step 2: Expand the Character's Role
My first prompt was straightforward:
"Taking this basic character sheet, can you suggest an expanded role for this character in the story?"
Claude produced a 10-point list of potential directions for Megan's character. These weren't just plot points but suggestions that would influence her development throughout the narrative arc.
Step 3: Deepen Core Character Elements
Next, I asked Claude to expand on Megan's goals, physical description, personality, and occupation and suggest habits and mannerisms that would make her feel more alive on the page.
“Can you expand on her Goals, Physical Description, Personality, and Occupation? Also, suggest some habits and mannerisms.”
Remember: Readers connect with characters through small details—how they fidget during uncomfortable conversations, their unique speech patterns, or their peculiar morning rituals. These details make fictional characters feel real.
Step 4: Create Internal and External Conflicts
No compelling character exists without conflict. My following prompt asked Claude to suggest internal conflicts (Megan's struggles with herself) and external conflicts (her struggles with others and the world).
“Please suggest some internal and external conflicts for Megan.”
The tension between what a character wants and needs creates an emotional journey that readers find irresistible. Internal conflicts reveal character; external conflicts test character.
Step 5: The Crucial Human Touch
Here's where my process might differ from others: I took all three documents Claude generated and merged them into a new character bio—then let it sit for a day.
When I returned, I edited extensively—rewriting, deleting, and adding new ideas. This is critical because the AI suggestions were a springboard for my creativity. Often, I'd end up keeping only 20% of Claude's suggestions, but that 20% sparked ideas I might never have considered.
"AI doesn't replace the writer's creativity—it catalyzes it."
Step 6: Dive Deeper into Background and Psychology
With a more solid foundation, I returned to Claude with a new prompt:
"Can you suggest how to broaden this character sketch with your assistance? I need a deeper background story, character fears, issues, and motivations."
The result was illuminating—nine main categories with multiple subcategories:
Formative Experiences
Personal History
Professional Fears
Personal Fears
Existential Fears
Core Motivations
Internal Contradictions
Psychological Complexities
Relationship Patterns
This psychological profile helped me understand not just who Megan is but also why she makes the choices she does. When readers sense this depth—even if much of it remains subtextual—characters feel authentic.
Step 7: Format and Integration (A Time-Saving Tip)
Here's a practical tip I learned the hard way: After manually reformatting several documents, I finally asked Claude to:
”Convert your output into a format compatible with Scrivener."
The perfectly formatted result saved hours of tedious work. (Sometimes, the most valuable AI assistance comes from the simplest requests!)
Step 8: Final Integration
The last step was asking Claude to merge everything into a cohesive character biography that I could further refine. The result provided a comprehensive foundation that left plenty of room for my creative direction.
What This Process Taught Me
Working with AI to develop characters has taught me several valuable lessons:
AI excels at expanding possibilities when you've hit a creative wall.
The human touch remains essential—AI suggestions need curation and personalization.
Let ideas incubate—time away from a character sketch allows your subconscious to process.
Character development is iterative—each layer adds depth and complexity.
Your character's psychology should inform their actions—knowing their fears and motivations make their choices consistent and believable.
Try It Yourself
Ready to develop your own unforgettable characters? Here's a simple prompt template to get you started with AI assistance:
I have a basic character named [NAME] who is a [BRIEF DESCRIPTION].
Can you help me develop this character by suggesting:
1. Potential background and history
2. Physical characteristics and mannerisms
3. Personality traits and contradictions
4. Internal and external conflicts
5. Core motivations and fears
Remember that the goal isn't to have AI write your characters for you—it's to expand your creative horizons and consider dimensions you might have overlooked.
In our next issue, we'll explore the complementary skill of world-building and how to create settings that enhance rather than overwhelm your character-driven narrative.
Until then, happy character-building!
What character development challenges are you facing in your current project? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below, and let's learn from each other.