In many stories — particularly character-driven fiction — your characters are the most important element of your story. In character-driven fiction the plot is based on what your character wants and what they do to get it. Creating a main character that your readers care about is the key to keep them turning the pages to find out what happens next. Secondary characters can also make a story more exciting and believable.

Characters are usually the most interesting part of a story. You will probably want at least 2 or 3 main characters: the protagonist (the hero), a sidekick, and an antagonist (the villain). A few secondary characters can help bring depth to your story as well, so we give you half a dozen to start with. Which one looks like the most likely protagonist? The most likely villain? How are they all related to each other? Do they work together? Are they family? Neighbors? As you answer these questions you are building your backstory.