Good writers ask, "What if?" Great writers ask, "Why?" More than any other detail in your story, readers are captivated by characters the most. They may forget the plot points, the setting, perhaps the ending. However, an unforgettable character will stay with them forever. A few examples: Harry Potter, Superman, Batman, Dr. Who, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Anne of Green Gables, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jack Reacher, Elizabeth Bennett, Jane Eyre, Bilbo Baggins. Boring characters rarely make history. There are many articles here at the BRP that explore the importance of characters. Here are links to a few: Creating Compelling Characters Characters in a Series Calling For Back-Up: Sidekicks and Henchmen Love Your Characters For more information on how to build believable characters, check out Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict and the Build A Cast Workbook . They apply the concept of personality types to building characters t...