The Secret Ingredient to Writing Characters Readers Can’t Forget
You can follow the recipe exactly, down to the last teaspoon of vanilla. You can sift, mix, bake at the perfect temperature. And still—your cake can come out flat, forgettable. Missing something.
That something? Soul.
The best recipes aren’t just about ingredients. They’re about what you stir in with your whole heart—your memories, your longings, the way you hum while folding batter, or whisper “please don’t sink” through the oven door. That same magic applies to writing characters.
Because when it comes to storytelling, your characters are the flavor. And no one wants bland.
Why Cookie-Cutter Characters Fall Flat
We've all read them—the “perfect” heroine who never makes a wrong move, or the love interest with abs and zero personality. They're polished. Predictable. Safe.
But readers don’t fall in love with perfect. They fall for the characters who mess up, who feel too much, who say the wrong thing at the worst time—and then try to make it right. Flat characters lack texture. They don't rise off the page because there’s nothing real baked into them.
You don’t want cookie-cutter. You want cinnamon rolls with layers, messy centers, and icing that drips down the side because that’s the good part.
How to Season Your Characters with Flaws, Fears & Desires
Think of your character like dough. You could leave it plain—or you could knead in a backstory, a heartbreak, a soft spot they never show anyone. Ask yourself:
What are they afraid of?
What do they long for (even if they won’t admit it)?
What bad habit do they fall back on when they’re under pressure?
What lie do they believe about themselves?
It’s in the contradictions—bravery mixed with insecurity, wit layered with bitterness—that your characters start to feel human. And the more you feel for them, the more your readers will too.
Using Character-Driven Prompts to Spark Authenticity
This is where prompts come in—not to limit you, but to liberate you. A good prompt doesn’t tell you what to write. It asks a question your character needs to answer.
One of our favorites in the Story Pantry is this:
Write about someone who always bakes when they’re anxious, and ends up in a baking competition against their ex.
This one prompt opens the door to so much:
Why does baking soothe them?
What happened with the ex?
What’s at stake in this competition?
What breaks open in them by the final round?
You’re not just building a scene. You’re building a soul.
So the next time you sit down to write, don’t stress over getting every line perfect. Start with a character who feels like someone you’ve met in a dream—or maybe someone you’re a little afraid to become. Let them be soft in some places, sharp in others. Let them surprise you.
Because when you give your characters your honesty, your imagination, and a little of your own ache, you’ll find yourself creating something unforgettable.
And isn’t that what stories are really for?
Go ahead. Stir in your soul.
Let them rise.