Growth, love and character development.

I find that the best way to create a character is, as I’ve said before, to allow them to develop organically. Like a new relationship it’s never healthy to force it faster than it develops when left unattended. The best kinds of relationship I find are the ones where you’ve known the person for a long time so you have an entirely different frame of mind when it finally comes to having a romantic relationship with them. Knowing somebody in a context outside of the dating world means that the focus isn’t all about the relationship potential; you’re not asking if you’d live together well, or whether they’re attractive, or whether your family would approve. It simply boils down to you, and your friend, doing what you do and if you then develop feelings for them then all of the awkward ‘getting to know you’ things are out the way and don’t impede the course of the relationship.

Let it grow

It’s all about giving it time and not letting the ‘end goal’ spoil your perspective. When introducing a character it can be tempting to throw it all in and have where they’re going to end up firmly in your mind. “He’s going to lose a sister, she’s going to save the world, they’re going to get together at the end.” These kind of very strong, very direct end goals will ultimately cloud and change how you write your character so they fit into this pre-determined state despite the fact it’s not happened yet so, truly, it physically cannot affect the character in any way, shape or form unless you let it so. A certain amount of control and restraint is needed as otherwise you’ll risk spoiling the natural development of a person and, also, spoil it for your reader. Like relationships, if you go out desperate and diligent in your conquest for love you’re unlikely to find something you’ll be happy with in the long run. Ease off a little; you don’t need to delay it but there’s no need to rush it either.