How I Write Characters

(And How You Can Too!)

Over time, I’ve had a few people comment on my character articles—particularly those from The Last Home—asking about my writing style and how I make characters feel alive. Since I enjoy writing them in a way that feels more like storytelling than a wiki entry, I thought I’d put together this guide to help others in their own endeavours.

My approach is heavily influenced by Terry Pratchett’s narrative style—witty, immersive, and always carrying a sense that a storyteller is spinning a tale rather than a historian listing facts. Characters in The Last Home aren’t just names with stats; they’re legends, disasters, and walking contradictions that people talk about in taverns long after they’ve left (or been thrown out).

This is not a strict formula—every character is unique—but these are the key principles I follow to ensure they start strong, unfold naturally, and stay engaging throughout. If you’ve read Carmella Ravenshroud or Rika Thunderale and thought, I want to write like that, this guide is for you.

If this helps someone, then it was worth writing. If not, oh well—it’s a good reference for myself!

The Core Principles

To write a character that feels alive, every article should:

• Start with impact. No slow build-up—hit the reader immediately with something memorable.
• Feel like a storyteller is spinning a tale, not a historian listing facts.
• Keep paragraphs short and punchy. No walls of text—every section should feel fluid and conversational.
• Show, don’t tell. Describe a character through actions, contradictions, and reactions, not plain exposition.
• Use humour, understatement, and contrast to make the writing engaging.
• End sections with a memorable “last thought” sentence. This should tease, amuse, or intrigue the reader.

If a section feels too dry or informational, imagine a slightly drunk bard trying to tell the story in a way that keeps his audience entertained. If it wouldn’t hold the attention of a tavern crowd, rewrite it.

Character Article Structure

Opening Hook (First Impression & Tone)

• Start with a statement, not an introduction.
• A bold line that defines them. (A quote, a rumour, an ironic truth.)
• Instantly set up how the world sees them vs. who they actually are.

Example:
"Carmella Ravenshroud is exactly the kind of woman your mother warned you about—if your mother had any imagination."

Formula:
Character Name + Defining Statement + Subtle Intrigue or Humour.

This isn’t just an introduction; it’s an invitation to a story.

Appearance & Presence (Not Just Looks, But How They Feel in a Room)

• How do people react when they see them?
• What is the first thing someone notices? (A detail, a movement, an aura?)
• How do they carry themselves? (Confidence, recklessness, mystery?)
• Signature clothing, weapons, or physical traits that add to their mythos.

Example:
"She walks with the slow, deliberate grace of a queen—specifically, a queen who has recently deposed her husband and doesn’t expect to be questioned about it."

Formula:
Describe their presence, not just their appearance.

If a character’s description could be written in a police report, it’s too dry.

Reputation & Reality (What People Say vs. The Truth)

• What are the rumours? (Some wildly exaggerated, some oddly true.)
• What is their actual truth?
• Play with contradictions—someone feared but secretly kind, someone admired but utterly reckless.
• Give a hint of an unreliable narrator—the reader should question what’s fact and what’s myth.

Example:
"People say Carmella is a vampire, a succubus, or the tragic heroine of a doomed romance. She’s not sure which amuses her more."

Formula:
What do people believe? What’s real? What’s in between?

Terry Pratchett rule: The more ridiculous a rumour, the more likely it has a grain of truth in it.

The Legend They’ve Built (Or Had Forced Upon Them)

• Don’t write a full history—write what matters.
• Highlight key moments that define their mythos.
• If their past is shrouded in mystery or absurdity, lean into it.
• Stories, exaggerated legends, and half-truths make a character feel larger than life.

Example:
"Nobody is quite sure where Rika Thunderale learned to fight. She claims it was divine inspiration. Others suggest it involved a lot of broken chairs and a refusal to stay down."

Formula:
What’s the defining story people tell about them?

Pratchett-style storytelling hints at stories behind the story.

What Drives Them? (Personality & Motivations)

• What do they want? (Power? Adventure? To make the world suffer? A really good meal?)
• What’s their fatal flaw? (Stubbornness, recklessness, ego?)
• How do they deal with others? (Charming, blunt, completely indifferent?)
• Do they have a personal code, or are they unpredictable?
• Describe not just what they think, but how they act.

Example:
"Rika’s approach to problem-solving is simple: Punch it. If that doesn’t work, punch harder. If that still doesn’t work, throw it through a wall."

The Fine Art of Violence (Or Their Lack Thereof)

• How do they fight? (Brutal, strategic, completely absurd?)
• Are they skilled, or just dangerously enthusiastic?
• Do they have a signature move or fighting style?
• If they don’t fight, how do they survive?

Example:
"Carmella prefers elegance in combat. Precision, grace, and a touch of theatrical cruelty. Rika, on the other hand, fights like a natural disaster."

Allies, Enemies & the Unfortunate In-Between

• Who tolerates them?
• Who wants them dead?
• Do they have a found family, or do they burn every bridge they cross?
• What’s their most interesting relationship dynamic?

Example:
"Freya has a professional respect for Carmella. Carmella has an unprofessional appreciation for Freya’s legs. This has led to... complications."

A Final Thought (A Last Hook or Teaser)

• The last sentence must leave an impression.
• A rumour, a whispered secret, or a final insight.
• This should stick in the reader’s mind, making them want more.

Example:
"Rika Thunderale once suplexed a minotaur into a bar counter. The minotaur bought her a drink after. Nobody knows what that means, but it feels important."

If You Follow These Rules, You’ll Capture the Style Every Time.

If a character doesn’t feel alive while you’re writing them, they won’t feel alive to the reader. Treat them like they belong in a tavern tale, and they’ll stick in people’s heads long after they’ve left the page.

PS. This was written halfway through coming up with the Maids, so some of the examples do not directly reflect the characters as they are now.