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The Anatomy of a Character: Writing Characters that feel Human
Do your protagonists sound like they were copied from a template, their personalities as flat as a pancake? If your characters feel more like cardboard cutouts than actual humans, it’s time to dissect the very anatomy of a character—layer by layer, flaw by flaw, spark by spark.
In The Anatomy of a Character, you’ll learn how to craft unforgettable, complex, and real characters that leap off the page. From deep psychological makeup to the quirks that make them painfully human, this guide will teach you how
Build multi-dimensional characters with rich backstories and unique voicesCreate authentic motivations, flaws, and conflicts that drive the storyMaster the art of body language, dialogue, and emotional depthDitch clichés and predictable arcs to create something truly originalPacked with sharp insights, no-nonsense advice, and techniques used by bestselling authors, The Anatomy of a Character will challenge the way you think about character creation.
Because if your characters don’t feel real to you, they won’t feel real to your readers.
In The Anatomy of a Character, you’ll learn how to craft unforgettable, complex, and real characters that leap off the page. From deep psychological makeup to the quirks that make them painfully human, this guide will teach you how
Build multi-dimensional characters with rich backstories and unique voicesCreate authentic motivations, flaws, and conflicts that drive the storyMaster the art of body language, dialogue, and emotional depthDitch clichés and predictable arcs to create something truly originalPacked with sharp insights, no-nonsense advice, and techniques used by bestselling authors, The Anatomy of a Character will challenge the way you think about character creation.
Because if your characters don’t feel real to you, they won’t feel real to your readers.
- GenresWritingNonfictionEbooks
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2025
89 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 28, 2025
I give this book fair credit for prompting ideas for strengthening the characters in the sci-fi duology I have in the works; it did a great job of getting the creativity flowing and prompting thought in specific areas.
The low rating is due in large part to worldview differences between myself and the author. She makes stereotypes a jumping-off point for characters as a large part of her approach in this book, and many of those stereotypes reflect, frankly, horrible people. She seems to believe that it acts on assumptions like everyone has a drunk aunt they take advice from (and that's normal and good, half the mothers in the world are over-protective and naggy, dads are always emotionally distant, etc.--and that your characters should reflect these "standards" 90% of the time, rather than being characters that readers can aspire to emulate (because aspirational characters are usually boring).
While there was one place in the book where she talked about aspirational characters and how to make them interesting, 90% of the book indicated that aspirational characters are boring and your characters have to be deeply flawed and imperfect in order to be meaningfully relatable. I firmly disagree, which made this book rather frustrating to read.
But, again, the book did still succeed in prompting ideas for strengthening my work (even if, in some cases, my notes were along the lines of, "What if I did the exact opposite of this?" or "What if I did this... but from a vastly different perspective?"), so I'm giving it a solid middle-of-the-road rating of 3 stars.
The low rating is due in large part to worldview differences between myself and the author. She makes stereotypes a jumping-off point for characters as a large part of her approach in this book, and many of those stereotypes reflect, frankly, horrible people. She seems to believe that it acts on assumptions like everyone has a drunk aunt they take advice from (and that's normal and good, half the mothers in the world are over-protective and naggy, dads are always emotionally distant, etc.--and that your characters should reflect these "standards" 90% of the time, rather than being characters that readers can aspire to emulate (because aspirational characters are usually boring).
While there was one place in the book where she talked about aspirational characters and how to make them interesting, 90% of the book indicated that aspirational characters are boring and your characters have to be deeply flawed and imperfect in order to be meaningfully relatable. I firmly disagree, which made this book rather frustrating to read.
But, again, the book did still succeed in prompting ideas for strengthening my work (even if, in some cases, my notes were along the lines of, "What if I did the exact opposite of this?" or "What if I did this... but from a vastly different perspective?"), so I'm giving it a solid middle-of-the-road rating of 3 stars.
January 10, 2026
3.5 stars!
I finished this book motivated to write "real" characters, and with fresh ideas to implement in my stories. None of the tips or advice were revolutionary or new to me -- it'd be an excellent resource for beginners -- but where I believe this book excels is in stirring up creative juices. With a chatty writing style, the author dove into many aspects of a character (motivation, setting, background, friendships, etc.) and gave countless prompts and examples in each section. Almost all the examples are set in a contemporary genre, but are easily applicable to other genres too. I really loved that the author focused so much on characters learning and growing, and how necessary that is for a riveting story. As a character-focused reader and author, I agree!
I didn't care for the sprinkling of language throughout, and it's occasionally redundant (ex. repeating the same metaphors/advice nearly word-for-word in several sections of the book), but otherwise I found it to be an easy-to-read, motiving writing resource, especially for beginners, or those lacking motivation and/or ideas.
"We don't read stories to watch perfect people do perfect things. We read stories to feel something. And for us to feel something, your characters need to feel something too."
I finished this book motivated to write "real" characters, and with fresh ideas to implement in my stories. None of the tips or advice were revolutionary or new to me -- it'd be an excellent resource for beginners -- but where I believe this book excels is in stirring up creative juices. With a chatty writing style, the author dove into many aspects of a character (motivation, setting, background, friendships, etc.) and gave countless prompts and examples in each section. Almost all the examples are set in a contemporary genre, but are easily applicable to other genres too. I really loved that the author focused so much on characters learning and growing, and how necessary that is for a riveting story. As a character-focused reader and author, I agree!
I didn't care for the sprinkling of language throughout, and it's occasionally redundant (ex. repeating the same metaphors/advice nearly word-for-word in several sections of the book), but otherwise I found it to be an easy-to-read, motiving writing resource, especially for beginners, or those lacking motivation and/or ideas.
"We don't read stories to watch perfect people do perfect things. We read stories to feel something. And for us to feel something, your characters need to feel something too."
January 13, 2026
Overview: So, you have started world building your novel. The genre has been picked, and now you are ready to populate your novel. What makes a good character? Mrs. Azzurra seems to have the answer. How well does it work? Let's find out.
Dislikes: This book will not be for everyone. As it is, Mrs. Azzurra and I disagree about how an aspirational character works. If she is right, then many of the characters that populate the superhero genre wouldn't be as popular as they are. Sometimes, you need someone, or something, to inspire you to greatness.
Some of her characteristics can be a little bit insulting. Many choose trades instead of the humanities and STEM fields, and they aren't necessarily bitter because they either couldn't handle college. Sometimes, those trades can bring in more money than a college degree can offer.
Likes: This book seems to be aimed at the romance authors.
Pantsers and other writers who don't plan out their books might find more use in this book.
Conclusion: This book wasn't a fit for me. If you are starting a creative writing project, then this book may be for you. Enjoy the read.
Dislikes: This book will not be for everyone. As it is, Mrs. Azzurra and I disagree about how an aspirational character works. If she is right, then many of the characters that populate the superhero genre wouldn't be as popular as they are. Sometimes, you need someone, or something, to inspire you to greatness.
Some of her characteristics can be a little bit insulting. Many choose trades instead of the humanities and STEM fields, and they aren't necessarily bitter because they either couldn't handle college. Sometimes, those trades can bring in more money than a college degree can offer.
Likes: This book seems to be aimed at the romance authors.
Pantsers and other writers who don't plan out their books might find more use in this book.
Conclusion: This book wasn't a fit for me. If you are starting a creative writing project, then this book may be for you. Enjoy the read.
September 26, 2025
As a budding author and someone who has read numerous books on how to write and build a living breathing character (without using myself as the inspiration for a character). This book is amazing. The author writes as if she’s talking directly to you. It’s not sterile. It’s truth and it truly helps you dig into your characters psyche on a very intimate level.
The only issue to this book (not sure if it’s the was Amazon’s fault or the cover designer) but the writing in the spine is upside down.
Regardless. I have two books by this author and I plan on owning all of her books because I’m learning more from this book than the numerous others I’ve read over the years.
The only issue to this book (not sure if it’s the was Amazon’s fault or the cover designer) but the writing in the spine is upside down.
Regardless. I have two books by this author and I plan on owning all of her books because I’m learning more from this book than the numerous others I’ve read over the years.
September 6, 2025
A pretty good, and often quite funny, book about how to make the characters in your fiction come to life and fascinate readers. I learned very little, but it would have been great if I'd seen it about twenty years ago.
If I have a complaint, it is that, at times, the book seems to be as much about Luna Azzura as it is about creating characters in fiction. Naturally enough, she uses her own experience as book-fodder, but somehow ... I don't know. It just comes across a little autobiographical in places, which is not what the cover promises.
If I have a complaint, it is that, at times, the book seems to be as much about Luna Azzura as it is about creating characters in fiction. Naturally enough, she uses her own experience as book-fodder, but somehow ... I don't know. It just comes across a little autobiographical in places, which is not what the cover promises.
July 27, 2025
Very basic
This could be useful for beginning writers, or grades 8-10 creative writing classes. Basic vocabulary (5th/6th-grade reading level), with numerous, simple, and lengthy examples. Easy and interesting to read. Unfortunately, its marketing is off target.
This could be useful for beginning writers, or grades 8-10 creative writing classes. Basic vocabulary (5th/6th-grade reading level), with numerous, simple, and lengthy examples. Easy and interesting to read. Unfortunately, its marketing is off target.
November 16, 2025
Inspiration in a bottle. And funny as hell. I'm in love with it. Will definitely read it again. Oh damn I'm lost for words. Please grace us with your first novel soon?
Please?
Keep going, you're awesome my dear :)
Please?
Keep going, you're awesome my dear :)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews