When you’re writing a book, there is arguably nothing more important than the characters you create. A solid plot that moves the action forward may not even matter if you don’t have three-dimensional characters readers can connect with on a personal level. In fact, there have been plenty of beloved novels in which there is very little plot to speak of and the characters are essentially a story unto themselves (see Virginia Woolf’s The Waves or Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, for example).

Creating such a character, however, takes plenty of time and dedication. Here are a few tips that can help you create a vibrant world populated by characters who feel as though they are living and breathing all on their own.

Start with a character sheet
First things first: It often helps to begin by filling out a character sheet with all the characteristics you can think of for your particular protagonist. This doesn’t just include physical attributes (although you should certainly include those as well)—instead, dig deeper and really think about your character as a fully fleshed-out person. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What are their hopes and fears?

It may help to brainstorm this while you go about your ordinary day. Imagine your character doing and seeing all the things that you yourself are doing and seeing. When you go to the grocery store, for example, what kind of food would your character gravitate toward? If you’re commuting to work, would your character take the same type of transportation you do? If not, what would be their preferred method and why? What kind of job would they want? Do they actually have it, or do they typically struggle to meet their goals?

Writing out a character sheet doesn’t have to be an arduous task spent in front of a computer—it can be one of the most enjoyable parts of novel writing when you incorporate it into your real life.

Now develop a backstory
Everyone has a past, and so does your character. Figure out what kind of childhood they had, what happy or traumatic memories they carry with them, their relationships with their parents and siblings. Just realize that you are very likely not going to use everything you’ve written down in your actual book.

We’ve all read novels where the author spends way too much time and effort laying out the protagonist’s (or sometimes antagonist’s) backstory as a way to explain their present-day actions. Remember that a little backstory goes a long way. Unless it’s a main part of your novel’s plot, a character’s past should be used to fill in the gaps of their motivation—not as an excuse for twenty pages of filler.

Figure out their motivation
While the plot typically drives the story, it is your character’s motivation (what is the why behind all of it?) that will really keep the momentum going. The answer (or answers) to this question will not only help you move the narrative along, but it will also naturally fuel their character arc—which is the kind of personal growth that helps readers feel satisfied with a novel’s conclusion.

Use people you know as inspiration
If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of a character’s direction, draw upon the individual mannerisms, eccentricities, and habits of those around you. Whether that turns out to be strangers you noticed in a store or your favorite great-aunt, these little tics and traits will help make your character feel like a real person and not just someone in a story.

One caveat, however: Use extreme caution (or avoid altogether) incorporating personally identifying idiosyncrasies into your story. The last thing you want to do is hurt the feelings of family members or friends who see themselves unflatteringly portrayed on the page.

Use a character’s introduction as part of their development
Once you have a solid outlook on who your character really is, it’s important not to waste any time in beginning their development. That means you want readers’ very first introduction to them to be not only memorable but also informative.

To give solid clues about your character’s personality, think about that first impression. What are they wearing and how does that reflect their general attitude? How do they present themselves? Think about things like posture, general hygiene, and the amount of eye contact they give others. Is there anything unique about their features that a reader would notice right away?

Remember that dialogue is an important characterization tool
When developing characters, many authors tend to focus only on physical appearance. While that is certainly important, you can convey so much more information by also diving into how a character sounds. Based on what you already know about your character, what kind of accent do they have? Do they mumble or speak clearly? Are they a loud talker or do people need to strain to hear them?

The answers to all these questions (and more!) should reflect everything about the character that you have already established and hope to convey to the reader. When you break it all down, you’ll likely be surprised at just how much of your character’s temperament and personality you can convey through their direct conversation with someone. It’s an ideal way to show and not tell.

Andrea Moran lives outside of Nashville with her husband and two kids. She’s a professional copywriter and editor who loves all things books. Find her on LinkedIn.