How to Create Characters That Are Believable and Memorable  by
Glen C. Strathy  If you create characters from the outset who
will fulfill the dramatic functions of your plot (see Archetypal
Characters ), you will have saved yourself a considerable amount
of rewriting later on. Assuming you read the previous article
and have now created characters (or at least ideas for
characters) who will take on these functions, your next step is
to turn them into people your readers will fall in love with.
Generally speaking, when you create characters, you have four
main criteria to meet. You want to:  1. Create characters who
fulfill the required dramatic functions.  2. Create characters
who are memorable.  3. Create characters who are believable.  4.
Create characters who are three-dimensional.  Of course, not
every character has to meet all these criteria. You will develop
your major characters more fully than minor ones. However, it is
useful to consider all four aspects when you create characters.
Having briefly dis