In Character

One of the hardest things to remember to do while writing is to stay in character. Because a character is an extension of its writer, it is very easy for the author's emotions to reflect through the character. The character may be in the midst of a very touching, romantic scene. But if the author is writing after having a very bad day, the scene might take a turn for the worse, and this normally sweet, romantic character will become bitter and snippy. Or vice versa. The character could be angry and the author mellow so then the prelude to a battle becomes a mellow argument that really takes the story nowhere.

An author must also always be cautious of the way a character talks. They don't talk the way you talk, because then all your people would sound the same!

This all sounds simple, but it really isn't. I've found myself rewriting things several times because the characters sound more like me than themselves.

One helpful thing to do is to answer a questionnaire in the voice of the character. That way you'll be able to flesh out how to write the character. How he will speak, think, even his favorite color. Not all of that is necessarily something that will go into the book but it will definitely make the characters more believable.