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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42597
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I meet my characters. My MCs, I spend about a week or two imagining them in various situations. When they are fleshed out, I start writing them and see what happens and who they run into.

The key to my character is often the name I choose. I changed one character’s name from Claire to Ariel and imagined what her life would have been like and how it might have differed from when she was Claire. Her personality changed considerably.

I place my character in a situation and discover how he or she will respond - it is rarely how I think I would react should I face a similar situation.

I created a Syrian hacker and had no trouble getting inside his head - I have friends from that region.

My hacker, for example, needed the following qualities; intelligence, attention to detail, discretion, protective of friends and family, rather impulsive, pride in his profession, does not like to be wrong, introvert except online.

I often think my MC would like to do this, would think that and be sorely tempted to do such,but would decide to do something else because he has excellent impulse control.

I know my characters are mine, but they are not me. Some have aspects of me, but they differ significantly.

Original score: 7