Emotionally Real Characters Matter
Fair warning: I’m going to vent just a bit today. This subject has been on my mind for at least a few years. No need to worry, though. I promise to end on an up note because, as those of you who have been around for a while know, I love a good HEA!
So, I’ve noticed this disturbing tendency in books, TV shows, and movies lately for characters to appear in their stories perfectly formed. They have no growth or no learning from challenging experiences. I leave unsatisfied, wondering what the point was, or worse, just plain bored. It’s that ever-more-common trend of leaving readers/viewers waiting for something to happen, but it never does.
One of the questions I’m asked most often is why my characters feel so real, flawed, and sometimes messy in ways that mirror real life. The truth is, I don’t want to write perfect people. I write emotionally real characters because real life is messy, complicated, and rarely wrapped up in perfect bows.
The people who stay with us the longest, on the page and in our real lives, are the ones who struggle, doubt themselves, make mistakes, and still keep going. When I sit down to write, I’m not trying to create flawless heroes. I’m trying to create people who feel like someone you might recognize: a friend, a family member, or even a quieter version of yourself.
Flawed characters matter because they give us permission to be human. When a character stumbles and gets back up, we see our own resilience reflected back at us. When they carry old wounds, unresolved grief, or complicated relationships, readers don’t just observe the story; they enter it. That emotional connection is what turns a book from something you read into something you feel. It’s also why I’m drawn to stories about healing, second chances, and the courage it takes to keep loving when it would be easier to close yourself off.
My hope is always that when you finish one of my stories, you walk away feeling inspired, understood, or a little less alone. If even one scene makes you pause, reflect, or whisper “I’ve felt that too,” then the story has done its job. That’s the magical purpose of storytelling.
I’d love to hear which characters have felt the most real to you or stayed with you, and why?
Here’s to happy, fulfilling reading!
Find me here:
I totally agree with you
I love Sgt. Barbara Havers, the partner of DCI Lyndley in all the Elizabeth George novels. Paired with Lyndley, who is a member of the aristocracy, Barbara Havers is Eastender born, a little over weight, has no dress sense and continually upsets the upper ranks in New Scotland Yard. But … she has many redeeming qualities too. She has a gift for figuring out crimes, she loves her little neighbor, a Pakistani girl living with her father, and she makes efforts to improve and fit in. She doesn’t approve of Lyndley’s status, but respects him as a man. All of these qualities make her an interesting and well rounded character.