One of the biggest compliments a writer can receive is, “Your characters are unforgettable.”
My secret? My goal is to build characters so fully that, once the story starts, they almost write themselves.
For romance writers especially, compelling characters aren’t optional—they are the story. Chemistry, conflict, longing, growth… all of it flows from how deeply we understand our hero, heroine, and major supporting cast.
To make that happen, I use a character formula that keeps personalities cohesive, motivations clear, and emotional arcs powerful—especially when writing a series.
The Character Formula That Drives Everything
For each hero, heroine, and major player (and for series characters across multiple books), I define:
1. Physical Description
Not just eye color and height—think presence. How do they move? How do others perceive them? What small detail makes them memorable?
2. Background
Their history shapes their wounds, their worldview, and their expectations of love. Every past experience leaves fingerprints on present choices.
3. Flaw
This is the internal problem they must confront. Emotional guardedness. Pride. Fear of abandonment. The flaw fuels conflict—and growth.
4. Desire
What do they want more than anything? Love, safety, redemption, control, freedom? Their desire drives decisions and raises stakes.
5. Contradiction
Real people are walking paradoxes. The strong hero afraid of vulnerability. The independent heroine longing to be cherished. Contradictions create depth and tension. How does this impact their action/reaction to specific situations?
6. Roadblocks
What stands in their way—internally and externally? Trauma. Duty. Family expectations. Rivalries. Fate. These obstacles shape plot and pacing.
7. His/Her Magic (for magical realism or heightened romance)
In my current WIP, this includes a supernatural or symbolic gift—but this can also mean emotional magic: empathy, resilience, intuition, or charm. What makes them uniquely powerful?
8. Endearing Trait
The detail that makes readers root for them. Humor. Loyalty. Softness with animals. Quiet generosity. This is what turns interest into love.
Why This Works for Romance Writers
Once these traits are defined, every choice becomes organic.
Dialogue flows because you know how they speak and think
Conflict feels authentic because it arises from their flaw and desire
Chemistry sparks because their contradictions naturally clash
Emotional beats land because their growth is grounded in who they are
Their GMC (Goals, Motivations, and Conflict) emerges from character—not convenience.
Instead of forcing plot decisions, you ask:
"What would THIS person realistically do in this moment?”
And the answer often surprises you—in the best way.
The Bonus Benefit: Series Consistency
If you’re writing a romance series, this framework keeps characters cohesive across multiple books. Heroes and heroines remain emotionally consistent. Side characters feel familiar. The world feels richer. Readers feel at home. It creates the illusion that these characters exist beyond the page—and honestly, that’s the goal.
And Finally,
When you know your characters this well, writing stops feeling like invention and starts feeling like observation.
They react. They argue. They fall in love.
And sometimes… they take the story somewhere you never expected.
That’s when you know you’ve created characters who truly write themselves.
