As I am not an author, I will give you a list of things Ive read and think work or don’t. Most of these I see (or don’t) in things I’m currently reading. Dunno what “better” in regard to your current skill would be. I’m just typing to type at this point. [spoiler]— Give em flaws, obviously. Doesn’t have to be big, anything from minor ticks to trust issues. You can use cliche as a template, but try not to make it their entire personality. You can use yourself as a template as well, but don’t turn it into a self insert unless you’re writing Wattpad fan fiction. You’re a reference, it’s not an autobiography. Unless it is… Let them develop through the plot, doesn’t have to be every single story beat but enough to prevent stagnation until the last chapter, or having them sidelined when it’s the side character’s turn. Characters always develop. You may finish one arc but even that can evolve or another problem may appear or is still unresolved. The name doesn’t have to reflect the personality (depending on setting or plot relevance) the name can be a hopeful wish, but it doesn’t have to be realized or followed. Smith might prefer woodworking. Mr. Strongarm might be a couch potato. Daisy might be a mass curdler, etc. Depending on the genre you might want distinct characteristics, or realistic characteristics. Play around with it. Think up some other trial characters and how everyone would react. Is it interesting? What would make it interesting? Now how would you make this behavior consistent, but not repetitive? Distinct ones make it easy for the audience to follow. Sometimes, realistic ones add an unpredictability to the character, depending how well you write their reasons and reactions. Moral compass can change depending on the situation. Personal rules can be broken, kinda like diets. Inconsistency can add to a character. Not too much though. Just make sure that the breaking of a personal rule is meaningful. Doesn’t have to be a big fight, perhaps something snaps during a bus ride or a conversation with a nerd. Or they could just be a habitual liar. That’s interesting. Dialogue? Good luck. Don’t force an interaction too hard. It’s obvious- Wait now I’m just talking about writing gripes. Nvm.[/spoiler] Edit: Ima contain all that in a spoiler box [spoiler]my sources: I made it the hyuck up. I also read a thing or two. — I recommend Webtoons. Not amateur writing but not all professional. Mainly popular, so that allows a wide variety for you to experience. Plus easy reading format for phone, and pictures! The OtomeIsekai/ShoujoFantasy and Action genres have a [i]lot[/i] of cookie cutter characters and plots with different spins to them. Read a few and see how it turns stale, why, or why not. Nothing beats a quality manga though. Something good I will always recommend is Chainsaw Man Part 1. Good characters. Flaws and constant subtle developments. Very unpredictable while still using shounen manga cliches as a canvas. *Check it out in Shounen Jump, not sure if all chapters are free there. Might just be recent ones. Actual book? Idk man. It’s been a hot minute. Helsreach is pretty neat. A WH40k book with a killer audiobook version. I think it’s easy to understand if you’re not familiar with terms. The weight of it all probably doesn’t transfer though...[/spoiler] TLDR: nuance and constant but subtle developments.