Today, I worked with three of my private students — one novelist and 2 screenplay writers — all three were wrestling with getting the characters to seem alive and like people we actually know.
I suggested that they revisit movies and books that they love and try to see why the characters feel so real.
What are your favorite movies and books, and what have the creators done to make the characters seem like “real” people? After watching these films or reading those books, try to write a scene with your current characters and see if there is a kind of magical improvement.
Hints: Look for small behaviors and how the characters speak for clues.
