Writing Relatable Characters: 10 Steps to Engage Readers

Writing characters that feel real can honestly feel pretty tricky sometimes. You’ve probably noticed how easy it is to end up with flat, unrealistic characters that readers just can’t connect with.

The good news? By the end of this guide, you’ll have practical, easy steps to make your characters believable, relatable, and even likable—just like real people you might know.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Create Characters That Feel Real

Writing relatable characters boils down to making them feel like real people readers might know or recognize. The goal is to make your audience see themselves—or someone they’re close to—in your characters. Start by giving your character a distinct voice and personality that sounds natural in dialogue and actions.

Think about people you’ve observed in real life, quirks and all—maybe your friend who always forgets their keys or your co-worker who’s obsessed with organizing their desk. Borrow these small, relatable details and weave them into your character’s traits. It’s these realistic bits that readers latch onto and remember.

Another effective trick is using writing prompts aimed at realistic fiction. These can help spark new ideas and fresh perspectives for your characters.

For instance, you can explore these realistic fiction writing prompts to generate authentic scenarios and believable personalities.

Step 2: Give Your Characters Clear Goals and Motivations

Ever notice how the characters you root for most are usually chasing after something meaningful? Your readers want characters who actively pursue desires that resonate with real-world experiences and emotions.

Clearly define what your character wants and why they want it. For example, your main character might desperately want a new job. But dig deeper—maybe they want respect from their peers, independence from family pressure, or financial stability to care for a loved one. Motivations like these strike a chord because readers have similar hopes and fears.

A simple way to discover a character’s motivation is to repeatedly ask “why,” peeling back layers until you uncover real emotional depth. When readers understand motivations clearly, they become invested and curious about what happens next.

Step 3: Show Their Strengths and Weaknesses

Creating relatable characters means revealing strengths and weaknesses, just like real humans. Flaws make your characters human, approachable, and ultimately more engaging to your audience.

Avoid characters who are perfect—it’s boring and unrealistic. Maybe your protagonist is exceptionally kind but struggles with setting boundaries, allowing others to treat her poorly. Or maybe your character is fiercely determined but incredibly stubborn, causing unintended conflicts. Pair strengths with believable weaknesses to make balanced, multi-dimensional figures.

A helpful tactic is to map out strengths and weaknesses clearly early in your writing process. This can guide your character’s decisions and shape the story naturally, making readers more likely to connect emotionally because they recognize that nobody is perfect—including the characters they’re rooting for.

Step 4: Let Characters Make Decisions That Shape the Story

People love stories where characters’ choices actually make a difference, just like in real life.

Give your protagonist clear crossroads moments—those key decisions that affect how events unfold.

For instance, maybe your character has to pick between staying in their small hometown or moving to a big city for a job they really want, tugging between loyalty and ambition.

Let readers see the stakes clearly and feel the tension of that decision-making moment.

Don’t just tell readers what choice happens—show them the internal struggle, pros and cons, or emotional complexity behind each move.

Step 5: Include Everyday Situations for Characters to Face

Real life isn’t just grand adventures; it’s full of mundane moments like spilled coffee or dealing with relatives during holidays.

If you sprinkle these genuine everyday experiences into the story, your readers will instantly connect more deeply because they’ll think, “Hey, that happened to me last week!”

Maybe your character fumbles with technology at the worst time or can’t remember whether they’ve locked the front door after leaving for vacation.

Small details perfectly capture the human condition, drawing readers closer and making your characters more empathetic.

For extra inspiration, you could try fun resources like these funny writing prompts for kids that help create engaging, relatable scenes from ordinary moments.

Step 6: Use Challenges to Help Your Characters Grow

Just like real people, your characters shouldn’t stay the same from start to finish.

Give them challenges and moments of struggle to help readers witness real, believable growth.

Maybe your protagonist has trouble speaking up for themselves—place them in situations that gradually push them to advocate more assertively.

This idea aligns with what’s happening in education: schools around the world increasingly focus on social and character growth, designing Social and Character Development (SACD) programs proven to nurture resilience and emotional maturity in students.

When you clearly show this character evolution on-page, readers invest emotionally in their journey.

Step 7: Develop Relationships and Connections Between Characters

The friendships, family ties, and romantic connections you build between characters greatly influence their relatability.

Focus on realistic relationship dynamics—mixing joy, conflict, and misunderstandings that come with any real bond.

Maybe the protagonist’s best friend offers hilarious comic relief but also a valuable emotional anchor when things get tough.

At authentic places like Samford University, character education emphasizes relational cultures and personal growth through community interaction, proving relationships strongly shape human experiences.

The readers will naturally gravitate toward characters who feel socially believable with well-crafted connections that mirror real-world experiences.

Step 8: Keep Emotions Realistic and Understandable

Emotions are the heartbeat of every relatable character; make your characters’ emotions clear, believable, and understandable.

Avoid melodramatics or overly excessive reactions—instead match emotion to situation realistically.

If a character loses an essential item, don’t jump directly into despair; maybe they’re initially frustrated, then anxiety gradually rises as reality sets in.

A useful trick: picture how feel you’d react personally in their situation or observe people around you facing similar situations.

The real value here is providing an emotional roadmap readers recognize instantly, encouraging a deeper connection.

Step 9: Show Your Characters Making Mistakes and Learning

Nobody likes Mr. or Ms. Perfect—mistakes are your secret sauce for relatability.

Characters who make poor judgments then learn from those errors resonate deeply with readers.

Maybe a protagonist naïvely trusts the wrong person, facing consequences before gradually getting wiser.

It’s not just about big mistakes either: small slip-ups like tardiness, misreading intentions, or missing subtle social cues make characters utterly relatable.

Have your characters realistically reflect and grow from these errors, just like people do in actual life.

Step 10: Allow Room for Change and Development Over Time

Think of your protagonist as a work in progress: just like real people evolve or shift beliefs over the years, so too should your characters.

Show clear progression through events of your narrative, making your character adapt by integrating experiences and lessons learned throughout the story.

Real life is all about dealing with change—relationships change, careers shift gears, and losses sometimes flip our entire worldview.

Incorporate similar gradual personal changes into your story through choices your characters make as events unfold.

For instance, your formerly career-driven protagonist could discover family roots matter deeply after reconnecting with relatives during holiday celebrations. Little by little, allow their perspective, actions, and decisions to shift—subtlety goes a long way.

Doing this shows readers a believable, lifelike portrayal of change that keeps them emotionally invested until the very end.

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