Writing good characters

Every story lives or dies by the strength of its characters. Plot gives a novel its skeleton, but characters are its beating heart - the part that makes readers feel, hope, and remember. When I wrote The Circle of Twelve, I wanted each member of the Circle to be more than a name on a page. I wanted them to feel real: flawed, uncertain, hopeful, and human, even in a world of empires and starships. The Circle of Twelve is very much a character-driven coming-of-age story - and it's one I am proud of because the characters are rich and deep.

Take Rúvé Poros (pictured), the young technician aboard the Súperia. He begins as a cog in a vast, hierarchical system; another number in a ship ruled by obedience and conformity. He is a low-ranking clone, bred for one purpose - to serve as a life support technician on the starship until he is disposed of. But Rúvé is a real person wrestling with self-doubt and the quiet ache of wanting to belong. His courage doesn’t come from grand heroism, but from small, defiant choices: from daring to think for himself to pursuing a love interest - even when expressly forbidden from doing so. His story reminds us that rebellions begin with small acts and brave choices.

Then there’s Elíaz Zemer (pictured) from historic Óshéanús — bright, loyal, and restless, always seeking to prove himself worthy in a world divided by privilege. His backstory of family expectation and sibling rivalry gives his choices emotional weight. Elíaz isn’t perfect; he’s too reserved, sometimes naïve - but he cares deeply for his brother and for doing what's right, and that’s what makes readers root for him.

When I build characters like these, I start with motivation - what drives them when nobody’s watching? Then I give them a backstory rich enough to explain both their strength and their flaws. Believable dialogue flows from knowing how each character thinks: Rúvé speaks with the puppy-like enthusiasm of a child discovering the world for the first time - because he was a clone generated in the form of a 15-year-old just months ago; while Elíaz speaks carefully and with the weary maturity of a boy who spends his life cleaning up after his reckless brother.

Most importantly, I try to make them relatable. Even in faraway worlds, we all share the same longings - for belonging, for purpose, for love. If a reader can see themselves, even faintly, in a character standing on the deck of a starship or facing an empire’s downfall, then that character has done their job.

Because in the end, it’s not the battles or the prophecies that linger - it’s the people we meet along the way, the friends we make, and the memories we share with them.

If you haven't yet discovered the thrilling worlds of The Circle of Twelve, get your copy here in paperback or ebook.