One of the most common compliments I receive from readers isn’t about the twists in my spy thrillers, but about Petra Shirazi. They tell me she feels real. That they root for her. That even when she makes mistakes—or because she does—they care what happens to her.
That’s the secret to unforgettable fiction: not perfect plots, but creating compelling characters who breathe. Readers don’t fall in love with storylines. They fall in love with people. So how do you write characters that linger in a reader’s heart long after they’ve closed the book? Here are the lessons I’ve learned across the five Ahriman novels and countless rewrites.
Character development in fiction begins with balance. What makes a character memorable is the tension between what they do best and what threatens to undo them.
It’s this duality—strength and vulnerability—that makes readers care. Petra Shirazi is a highly trained operative, but also a person navigating identity and belonging.
Every memorable character wants something. Not just a goal in the plot, but a yearning that shapes their choices. They have an inner and an outer desire. Maybe it’s freedom, redemption, love, or simply safety. Those desires become the heartbeat of your story. And when the inner and outer desires are in conflict, resolving this difference can make for a really fulfilling character arc.
Ask yourself: If the world were quiet and safe, what would my character still long for?
We don’t connect with flawless heroes. We connect with characters who stumble, make questionable choices, and pay the price. Mistakes reveal humanity.
In writing compelling characters, remember: errors aren’t weaknesses—they’re opportunities for growth, conflict, and empathy.
Readers bond with characters when they can peek inside their thoughts, fears, and hopes. Through interiority, dialogue, actions, or subtle gestures, show us the person beneath the surface.
A glance at a watch can signal impatience. Avoiding a phone call can reveal dread. These details help transform a name into a living, breathing person.
Characters don’t exist in isolation. How they love, fight, forgive, or fail shows who they truly are. A hardened agent who softens in a romance. A villain who shows remorse. These human connections spark emotional investment.
Writing memorable characters means letting them surprise readers without breaking their essence. When built on strong values, scars, and desires, even shocking twists feel authentic.
At the end of the day, readers remember characters—not plot diagrams. They remember how a character made them feel: hopeful, devastated, inspired, seen.
So write people, not puppets. Give them flaws and dreams, relationships and regrets. Let them stumble, change, and surprise you. And if you care deeply about your character, your readers will too.
Warmly,
Puja
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