How to Create Characters Readers Will Love - Cheryl Reifsnyder - Wattpad

Story cover for How to Create Characters Readers Will Love by CherylReifsnyder

How to Create Characters Readers Will Love

CherylReifsnyder

Reads 5,005
Votes 200
Parts 4
Time 17m

Reads 5,005
Votes 200
Parts 4
Time 17m

CherylReifsnyder

author characters fiction-writing guide process writer writing

How do some writers manage to create characters that are so real, you feel like you've met them? Characters that you wish you could hang out with long after you finish the last page, because they're so fascinating, or because they seem to see the world just like you do, or just because they're out there seizing life in a way you wish you could?

It's all too easy to create characters that feel flat, stereotyped, and predictable. This book will show you how to create characters that are the opposite: characters that are vibrant, unique, and surprising. It takes you step-by-step through the process of coming up with a character and fleshing it out with details that  will bring that character to life. It will help you make sure that your character is believable, that you have clear motivations for his or her decisions and actions--and it will show you how you communicate those motivations to your readers.

Most of all, though, this book will help you to have fun taking your character to the next level. I'll update every Friday and will answer any questions you leave in the comments. Please let me know if there's anything in particular you want me to cover!

If you find this helpful, I also blog over at www.cherylreif.com to help writers become more productive, more creative, and more skilled at their craft. 

:) CherylAll Rights Reserved

author characters fiction-writing guide process writer writing

Table of contents

4 parts

Sign up to add How to Create Characters Readers Will Love to your library and receive updates

or

Content Guidelines

You may also like

Nod my Head - A Writing Guide for Wattpad Writers by Mindchalk

Do you find yourself writing he nodded, she shook her head, he shrugged, over and over again? It gets tedious, and doesn't help at all when it comes to pin pointing your character's actual emotions. So I've made a book using notes I've been collecting over a few years to help you chose an alternative way to show that your character is angry, or sad, etc, plus many other writing tips and resources. Doesn't, he blinked at his watch, read better than, he looked at his watch ? Doesn't, he slugged across the wet cement, read better than, he walked down the street slowly. Avoid the white room in your story and replace telling with showing to give your readers a much better experience. **** When Alice storms across the room instead of walks, we know she's angry. We're expecting suspense. We're waiting for the next action. Maybe she'l punch a wall? Shout at her friend? Much better than, Alice walked across the room angrily, which gives your reader nothing to imagine.

Billionaire Next Door✔ by hannahosell

I shrunk back into my seat as his head snapped towards me. He looked like his head was going to fall off. His eyes were blazing with rage. His face was set into an icy glare. His fists that rested on the table were clenched so hard his knuckles were white. As he stood from his chair so did I. I felt like the prey to the biggest predator in the jungle. I took two steps back for every stride he took towards me. I gulped again before shaking me head. "She's just joking Ace." my voice quivered as I took another two steps back. "How do I know that?" he sneered down at me, his body towering over me. As I went to take another step backwards, my back made contact with the wall behind me. Well great. Now I'm cornered. This is just typical. ............................................................. One girl moves to the big apple after her family disintegrates around her. All she has left is her one brother. Well, that's what she thought. She attends college like a normal girl and even gains a job on the side with someone who just so happens to be her neighbor. One man has lived in a house most of his adult life. He owns multiple clubs and watched as his family disintegrated around him. All he has left is his sister. A small fragile girl moves next door and he finds himself infatuated. He lands her a job... As his assistant. He is dangerous. She is sly. He is rude. She is sweet. He can not lie and not get away with it. She can make any lie seem like the sweetest truth. She is a bad girl that hasn't been caught. He is a great catcher. Read to find out their twisted story.

Back To You | BOOK #1 OF ITS YOU TRILOGY by urhxeartts

UNEDITED! "I can't act like I'm not in love with you!" he says at last. Every single drop of confidence fades away from my body. "What did you say?" I ask, the words sounding like a whisper. He looks down on me with a warm look in his eyes. He puts a hand on my cheek and whispers, "I'm in love with you, Sierra." ** Kaydon Murphy and Sierra Laurken were ultimate best friends and each other's crushes when they were seven. Until Kaydon and his best friends move away for ten years, far away from their original home in Tampa. The two ended on bad terms and now, he's back. The guys are back. Taller, arrogant, star football player meets stubborn, fierce, star libero once again. Can the two get their friendship back? It's only a matter of time. Let the volleyball season begin. ------ BOOK #1 ------ ITS YOU TRILOGY High school seniors, Sierra Laurken, Cameron Davis, and Parker Sanchez play volleyball on their school's team in Tampa, Florida within their home town. The girls were like a family together. The three girls' last high school year comes with their last season together. Three months to play and scream with their hearts. High school seniors, Kaydon Murphy, Blake Davis, and Ty Shruder play football on their school's team in Tampa, Florida. The three guys moved away from their home neighborhood to live somewhere else far away from the small neighborhoods and ended up living with Blake's dad. The guys and girls split being on bad terms. It was no visiting, no texts, no calls, nothing. It was a rule to not even mention their names anymore. Until the girls' first game of the season is at the boys' high school. It was all going great but a little surprise afterwards was a shocker for them all and the boys moving back giving everyone a wave of emotions. Will the group ever become close like how they used to be? Will relationships begin? It all comes down to this year. Let the games begin. ** Copyright

Finding The Right Way by Incrediblefangirl1

Sequel of "A New Beginning" Athena gets one in a lifetime opportunity. One that she can't possibly ignore. She gets the chance to be the writer she always wanted to be. To lead an adventurous life that she strongly desired! But, is she ready? Ready to leave her family, her friends in order to pursue a career as a simple writer? Writer, if she succeeds of course, not as a tiny blog owner. New university, new courses, new professors...it feels like a dream. A diversity of topics to talk about, surrounded by literature and philosophy. It is perfect! An escape from everything. An escape from her feelings...from James. A new beginning, again? Will James realise what he has missed once Athena is gone? That Athena was the one behind his now blossoming relationship with Bree? Everything is connected, everything makes sense because of Athena. It's not over, he still has time to get her back, right? Vote and comment if this story deserves it! Follow me to be notified of the upcoming chapters! Thanks for reading!

Step Brothers by artsykid04

Jace Summers is someone who is always true to himself no matter what anyone else thinks of him, and he's proud of who he is. He has pastel pink hair, stunning deep brown eyes, and a sweet and silky voice that makes all of the girls swoon. Too bad he's gay though. He has been out since seventh grade and is thankful he has never gotten hate for it, not that it would have bothered him anyway. Alec Walker is someone who everyone knows and likes, though he doesn't consider himself to be one of the popular kids. He has brown hair, hazel eyes with the perfect mix of brown and green, and his side profile could make angels swoon. Neither of those two boys seem very different from each other, both are kind, well-liked, and very handsome. Even if they aren't friends, you wouldn't expect them to dislike each other. Well, sadly that is incorrect. Ever since they can remember, they have each hated each other with a burning passion. Jace thinks Alec is a jackass know-it-all, and Alec thinks Jace is annoying and throws his personality in everyone's faces. Those seem like very small or petty things that they could easily overcome by having a conversation, but both are too stubborn for that. It is a mutual hate that neither will give up. But when one day they get news that seems like the end of the world... it turns out to be the best thing that has happened to both of them. Not at first, but with time. *Has been edited for grammar and general cringe! (And is miraculously one chapter longer than it was originally!)

Medium Latte for Ell-yot Hayul by gemmalanebooks

[Slow Brew Series 1 of 2] [Completed] Look, I didn't mean to embarrass myself the first time I walked into Brewing Grounds. Or the second. Or...every other time since. But something about the place-and the barista with the messy ponytail and the glasses that she pushes up her nose-makes me forget how to form actual sentences. Bea. Her name's Bea. She spelled mine wrong on my cup the first day (Ell-yot Hayul), and now I'm kind of obsessed. Not with her. With medium lattes. With her handwriting. With the little hearts she scribbles on my cups. Okay... maybe a little bit with her. The point is: I'm a walking disaster around her, and I'm pretty sure she knows it. And okay, maybe I started showing up every morning at exactly 7:30 just to see her. And maybe I've been reading up on how to flirt because I thought that might help (it hasn't). But honestly, what's the worst that could happen? I embarrass myself again? (Already done that.) Spill coffee on my tie? (Happened last week.) Accidentally fall in love with the barista who writes flirty notes on my coffee cups? Oh, wait... [1 of 2: Slow Brew Series] Dual POV | Romantic Comedy | Coffee Shop Romance | Slice of Life 18+ for suggestive dialogue, some steam (nothing too explicit) 🏆 1st Place - Pimp My Romance Awards 2025 🏆 1st Place - Pink Watty's pINKspire Awards 2025 "Best Dialogue"

Trapped in my Worst Novel by Soraya_336

Protagonists, the most important characters in stories. They're the ones that are supposed to save the world and be a symbol of hope for humanity, the ones that can defeat anything in their way if they want to, the ones whom the reader wants to win and succeed... ...Well atleast thats how a good heroic protagonist should be. I wrote three novels after dropping out of college at 20 years old. My first novel was a disaster, boring characters, recycled plot, and a protagonist so rude even I wanted to punch them. The next two? Absolutely amazing and really well-liked. I was ready to quit writing for good when i suddenly got hit by a car and woke up in someone else's body, someone i don't recognize at all, who goes to the exact same school from my first novel. Yeah. That happened, i'm screwed. Great. Now I'm stuck in a world full of arrogant, clueless students. Why couldn't i have entered one of my better stories?! And if that's not enough, the soul of this body won't stop yelling at me to "give their body back", as if i could do that, while a tiny version of them sits on my left shoulder and a tiny version of my 19 year old self from my past life rides the right shoulder. What even is happening anymore? Sigh...

A New Start (Jughead Fanfiction) by Ahoy_Ladies

"It is hard for me to be anyone else, because I don't know how to be anyone else." I say with a tired sigh. I take a bite of my burger and a drink from my shake. "Well that is me too. Archie was my only friend for a long time, then the others started to hang out with Archie and me as well. We became friends, but I am not as close to them. Then you came along, walking behind the group, shy as anyone could be. But you were there, your cheeks were pink, you had bright silver eyes underneath your glasses that framed them perfectly. And a little smile that I couldn't stop thinking about." Jughead explained. "You are an amazing person, amazing listener, you have a good taste in books and movies and interior design. And I know someone who would love to ask you on a date," I scoff. "Who? Another football player? I think I am through with them." This is my first fanfiction that I am publishing and Just so you all know, I don't have a specific schedule for when I update this, one day I might add 10 chapters, some days I might only have half of one written. It all depends on how my day to day schedule is. I hope you all enjoy it. Just so you all know, I don't have a specific schedule for when I update this, one day I might add 10 chapters, some days I might only have half of one written. It all depends on how my day to day schedule is.

Bound To Be by thee_arielle

Trigger warning for the following: -mature content -some strong language -fighting -mentions of abuse Everything was cool. It was fine and normal until, a new family moves I'm next door. The beautiful family seemed normal enough, but something was off. Their son didn't fit into the rest of them. He was mysterious and seemed a little bit standoffish. He seemed rude and like he didn't belong. Meeting him went well, and she catches his eye. Going to school together and their families spending some time together causes them to grow closer. So close that things happen. What happens? Do sparks fly?

How To WRITE Awesomely by Absolutely_Positive

[Completed ↓] U N D E R E D I T I N G → Day in, day out I find myself struggling to write. Until I stumbled across some guides to help me, I had no idea how much better I could make myself! So I decided to contribute to the writing society as well, and made a book of do's, don'ts, and tips on how to write much better than ever imagined. This book can help you achieve your dreams of awesome writing. Good luck! (i.e) • How to MAKE THE PERFECT CHARACTER • How to WRITE A KISS SCENE, • How to GRAMMAR • How to WRITE IN MALE POV

You may also like

Slide 1 of 10

Nod my Head - A Writing Guide for Wattpad Writers cover

Billionaire Next Door✔ cover

Back To You | BOOK #1 OF ITS YOU TRILOGY cover

Finding The Right Way cover

Step Brothers cover

Medium Latte for Ell-yot Hayul cover

Trapped in my Worst Novel cover

A New Start (Jughead Fanfiction) cover

Bound To Be cover

How To WRITE Awesomely cover

Nod my Head - A Writing Guide for Wattpad Writers

Do you find yourself writing he nodded, she shook her head, he shrugged, over and over again? It gets tedious, and doesn't help at all when it comes to pin pointing your character's actual emotions. So I've made a book using notes I've been collecting over a few years to help you chose an alternative way to show that your character is angry, or sad, etc, plus many other writing tips and resources. Doesn't, he blinked at his watch, read better than, he looked at his watch ? Doesn't, he slugged across the wet cement, read better than, he walked down the street slowly. Avoid the white room in your story and replace telling with showing to give your readers a much better experience. **** When Alice storms across the room instead of walks, we know she's angry. We're expecting suspense. We're waiting for the next action. Maybe she'l punch a wall? Shout at her friend? Much better than, Alice walked across the room angrily, which gives your reader nothing to imagine.