It’s not the big,
flashy moments that make characters unforgettable—it’s the subtle differences
and distinctions.
One of my favorite writing quotes is: “Readers come for the
plot, but they stay for the characters.” It’s a good reminder that stories are
ultimately about people and their problems, and no matter how interesting that
problem might be, flat, dull characters won’t keep the reader engaged. I’ve
flipped to the end of a few “great plot, bad characters” books because I wanted
to know the ending, but I didn’t want to slog through the story to get there.
What could have saved those books from such a horrible fate
was stronger characters. What could have made those books unforgettable was nuanced characters.
