how to write characters that feel real

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books and resources mentioned:Little Thieves - Margaret Owens: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54017820-little-thievesWriting Fiction - Janet Burroway: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222117.Writing_FictionKatabasis - RF Kuang: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210223811-katabasisTaipei Story - RF Kuang: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248137276-taipei-storyThe Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24100.The_Golden_NotebookThank you to @raphaella is writing for the voice note! - https://www.instagram.com/raphaellaiswriting/follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books and resources mentioned:The Goldilocks Principle of Interiority by Susan DeFreitas: https://susandefreitas.medium.com/the-goldilocks-principle-of-interiority-96dfadf877f7Reddit thread on Psychic Distance: https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/65rg8v/how_to_improve_your_writing_with_psychic_distance/Interiority & Psychic Distance visual from the episode: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHCzNVWBik/dimG7kPEjKhLb_jvlYAfEg/view?utm_content=DAHCzNVWBik&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h256b5d539cTheir Vicious Games - Joelle WellingtonThe God of the Woods - Liz Moore: Blue Sisters - Coco Mellors: This Monster of Mine - Shalini AbeysekaraFourth Wing - Rebecca YarrosMystery Lights - Lena Valencia follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books and resources mentioned:The Will of the Many by James Islington: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58416952-the-will-of-the-manyCatching Fire by Suzanne Collins: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6148028-catching-fireCrash Out by @jennlimwrites - https://www.youtube.com/@jennlimwritesBecca & Emily’s podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-in-draft/id1866919629follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books / resources / authors mentioned:NOTES FROM THIS EPISODE ARE FROM - Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7963.Characters_Viewpointfollow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books / resources / authors mentioned:Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7963.Characters_Viewpoint(Ari found Characters & Viewpoint more helpful)The Art of Character by David Corbett: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15808807-the-art-of-characterWhy your Character Feels Flat: https://jpenberth.substack.com/p/why-your-character-feels-flat-even5 Types of Character Arcs: https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/learn-5-types-of-character-arc-at-a-glance/Writing Character Arcs - Mythcreants: https://mythcreants.com/blog/planning-character-arcs/follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books we are reading:Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21956219-assassin-s-apprenticeWuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32929156-wuthering-heightsbooks / resources / authors mentioned:A Mastery of Monsters - Liselle Sambury: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220160462-a-mastery-of-monstersLiselle Sambury: https://lisellesambury.ca/Liselle Sambury’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LiselleSamburyThe Rabbit Club - Christopher J. Yates: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216865335-the-rabbit-clubBrielle Writes Editing Vlog: https://youtu.be/dblvV1LqAP0?si=zK3NlwGbcdvl5eREBlood Over Bright Haven - M.L. Wang: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208430658-blood-over-bright-havenBook Lovers by Emily Henry: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58690308-book-loversThe Secret History by Donna Tartt: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29044.The_Secret_HistoryCeCe Lyra’s Writing Courses: https://learn-with-cece.thinkific.com/follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books we are reading:Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23453099-eileenAssassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21956219-assassin-s-apprenticebooks / resources / authors mentioned:Fantasy Then and Now: Panel with George RR Martin , Robin Hobb, Rebecca Roanhorse, and Ryan Cahill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl1sS8MXjFICharacters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7963.Characters_ViewpointThe Art of Character by David Corbett: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15808807-the-art-of-character“Do I Like It?” By Veronica Roth: https://veronicaroth.substack.com/p/do-i-like-it-reflecting-on-divergentfollow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.we reflect on 2025 and talk about our 2026 writing goals and what we want to achieve in the new year. the answers may surprise you!follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes

craft & crashouts is a writing podcast where ari kuplu and mikayla cerar talk about their own personal writing journeys as they seek to become traditionally published.books / resources / authors mentioned:Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19161852-the-fifth-season (The Broken Earth Trilogy)Paris Review Fall 2025 Edition: https://store.theparisreview.org/products/the-paris-review-no-253-fall-2025follow us on socials:To be featured on the show with your crash out if you need a little pick me up, send us a voice note via our instagram DMs or email.@craftandcrashouts on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/craftandcrashouts/⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us at: [email protected] Kuplu: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aribpk⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ari’s Pages⁠⁠⁠⁠Mikayla Cerar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@mikwrites_⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mik Writes