How to Develop Believable Character Arcs (Character Development Tips)

Here are the starting thoughts that created Ember Dragon Daughter: A girl with a trait or symbol she wants to hide that turns into a mystery and a strength. A world where love of all kinds can't be contested, yet the absence has consequences.

I start with an idea and then I ask "why" over and over again. Then, I ask "what could go wrong" until I'm upset for the characters. After that, I sew each answer together until there is no way to untie them. Every why, consequence, and action is tied to a past experience or fear from that character. Everything has a reason.

Each character has a purpose, some with big impacts in book one and others that won't re-appear or share their reasons for their actions until generations after their death.

If you thought the twists, character arcs, and mysteries were intense in book one... you have no idea what is coming in the sequel.

The hallmark of all of my favorite books are those plot twists and betrayals, so it's only natural that I strove to create worlds with those two themes.

Whether you are looking for a plot twist for your WIP or are simply aiming to create believable in-depth characters, this is for you.

How To Write a Villain That Makes Sense

Writing Tip: Every villain needs to be their own hero. Just as your protagonist has a reason for their actions, so does the villain. Look at their goal from their POV, not your heroes. For example: Thanos's motivation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He sees himself as the hero, saving the universe from overpopulation, because that is how his family suffered.

How To Write a Supporting Character that Doesn't Fall Flat

Writing Tip: Every supporting character is their own "main character."

If your supporting characters don't have their own concerns, troubles, interests, and impact on the story then they aren't supporting characters. They might as well disappear. Imagine their own adventure and how that can impact the MC, even if it isn't all explained in that book. For example: Hasley's interactions in Ashkadance helps Ember's main storyline in EDD, but Ember has no clue. The novella Hasley Fateless explains how pivotal she was to the plot of book one.

While Hasley's role was bigger than Ember realized, but it doesn't always have to be a huge event with each side character. Instead, you can imagine that the side character is ranting in her head about what the MC is doing, they finally hit a breaking point about them make the same mistake over and over again, until they snap and yell at the MC what they haven't been paying attention to the whole book.

Supporting Character Breaking Point Ideas:

• Leave breadcrumbs about what the supporting character is working through on the side, like one-off comments or being late to meet the MC more often than usual, until they yell at the MC: "Am I still your best friend? Don't you want to know why I've been sad lately or are we going to talk about you again for the next three hours?"

• A second side character texts the main character, telling them to text the other supporting character because they need help but are too self-sacrificing to ask while the MC is dealing with the plot.
  

How To Write a Believable Main Character Readers Root For

To know what will hurt your character in a plot twist, you have to first understand them.

Questions to know about your characters:

• What do they like and dislike?

• What do they want to succeed?

• What are their goals?

• What are their pet peeve? (Bonus tip: Can the love interest have this habit?)

• What is their worst-case scenario?

• What childhood memories created the biggest impact on their lives?

For example: How would you answer these questions for yourself? How do these answers influence your day-to-day interactions?

All of Your Characters Need a Therapist

(Don't we all??)

• If your character was being evaluated, where would they fall in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

• How would they answer this question from Tony Robbins?

• How have their past experiences traumatize them? How will these new experiences aid or add-to the trauma?

If you want to hone more into these areas to deepen your characters, you may benefit from my free download for authors, the Character Mindset Planner (CMP). These are the character development sheets I used to create the main and supporting characters in the Fated Tales Series, covering the tips above and over a dozen more pages.

What Authors Say About the Character Mindset Planner, Free Character Development Worksheets

"The Character Mindset Planner helped me delve into the mind of my new MC in a way nothing else has ever done. I could see her coming to life on the page in front of me—a real 3D character with emotions, dreams, and fears. The CMP is exactly what I needed as I start a new WIP!" E.C. Woodham, author of The Lights Out Club

The CMP free character template helps writers like you to...

• Uncover character motivations and their stakes in the story - what does the MC truly have to lose?

• Explore their history, why do they have their habits and flaws?

• Follow a set of writing prompts to understand your character's mindset during the different stages of the novel

• Explore what your character feels confident and self-confidence about and how this can play into your plot

• AND MORE through pages of charts, prompts, and reference guides for diverse, relatable, in-depth character mapping

Updated in 2026 to be fillable, rather than only printable to fill out by hand. Do what works best for your planning needs. Download for free or add a tip in the pay-what-you-want field.

Free Character Development Worksheets

Are your characters unstoppable? Rebecca K. Sampson