A weak character kills even the best storyline.
Your ghostwriter needs to be able to step inside your imagination and make your characters feel as real to them as they do to you.
The following checklist will help you get your ghostwriter on the right track.
Build Characters Beyond the Surface
Go deeper than looks:
- Physical description is just the starting point
- Focus on formative experiences, especially childhood
- Include cultural background that shapes worldview
- Identify character flaws and internal contradictions that make them human
Example: A character from rural South Africa vs. NYC will have completely different assumptions about personal space and community obligations.
Define Their Flaws and Contradictions
Perfect characters are boring characters:
- What are their blind spots or biases?
- What bad habits or recurring mistakes do they make?
- How do their greatest strengths become weaknesses?
- What internal contradictions create tension?
Example: A character who values honesty above all else but lies to protect people they love.
Get Their Voice Right
For dialogue:
- Formal or casual speech?
- Verbose or economical with words?
- Regional expressions or verbal tics?
- How does their speech change with different people?
For internal monologue:
- Analytical thinker or emotional reactor?
- Self-critical or optimistic?
- Stream of consciousness or structured thoughts?
Define What Drives Them
- What do they want most?
- What are they afraid of?
- How do they change throughout the story?
- What beliefs get challenged?
The best characters fight internal battles while dealing with external challenges.
Map Their Relationships
Character dynamics to explain:
- How they act with different personality types
- History with key supporting characters
- What’s the subtext in their conversations?
- Which secondary characters need full development vs. basic sketches
Remember: Characters don’t exist in isolation, and supporting characters should contrast with or complement your protagonist.
Show Them in Action
Your ghostwriter needs to know:
- How they handle crisis (panic or laser focus?)
- Natural leader or follower?
- Skills and limitations
- Specific fears or strengths
- How extraordinary circumstances reveal their true nature
Manage Backstory Wisely
Be strategic about character history:
- Which backstory details actually drive the plot forward?
- What stays in your reference notes vs. what gets revealed?
- How much to share upfront vs. discover through writing
- Focus on experiences that shaped their current motivations and fears
Consider Your Genre
Character development shifts depending on your story type:
- Romance: Emotional vulnerability patterns, past relationship baggage
- Thriller: Decision-making under pressure, trust issues, survival instincts
- Fantasy/Sci-fi: How extraordinary circumstances reveal core character traits
- Literary fiction: Internal complexity, philosophical struggles
Create Reference Tools
Set up systems for consistency:
- Character reference sheets with key traits and voice notes
- Timeline of major character development moments
- Voice samples or dialogue examples for each major character
- Relationship maps showing character connections
Communication is Critical
Schedule regular check-ins:
- Discuss how characters are emerging on the page
- Be specific about feedback and the changes you expect
- Stay open to feedback from the writer that could improve the book
- Address voice consistency issues early
Good feedback: “She’s too aggressive in this scene. The real Alice would withdraw when confronted, then plan her response carefully.”
Bad feedback: “This doesn’t feel right.”
The Payoff
When you do this preparation work:
- Your ghostwriter writes with confidence
- Character voice stays consistent from draft one
- You spend less time on major revisions
- Supporting characters feel distinct from each other
- Your story comes to life authentically
- Readers connect emotionally with your characters
Remember: Investing time in character development upfront saves months of revision work later.
