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 make 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 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 a sense of 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. Join my newsletter, or explore my world of stories at pujaguha.com.
Warmly,
Puja
A compelling character feels real and emotionally layered. They have strengths, flaws, and desires that drive their choices, making readers care about what happens to them.
Strengths make characters admirable, while scars make them relatable. The balance between these traits creates depth and tension, allowing readers to connect on a human level.
Writers can reveal a character’s inner world through thoughts, subtle gestures, body language, and dialogue that expose fears, hopes, and emotional struggles.
Mistakes make characters human. When characters fail, learn, or change because of those failures, readers empathize with them and feel invested in their journey.
Relationships reveal who a character truly is. How they love, fight, forgive, or fail adds emotional layers and helps readers see their humanity beyond the surface.
A well-written character can surprise readers with unexpected choices, but those choices should still feel true to their core values and personality.
Because emotions last longer than events. Readers may forget the sequence of a story, but they remember how a character made them feel hopeful, inspired, or understood.
Hey there, Be the first to know about pre-orders, new releases, behind-the-scenes info, and exclusive updates!