There’s a moment in every story when a character stops being words on a page and starts breathing. You know it when it happens. Suddenly, they’re making choices you didn’t plan, saying things that aren’t in your notes, dragging the plot in a direction you didn’t intend—but can’t resist following. That’s when you know they’re alive. Creating characters that feel real isn’t about giving them a tragic backstory or a quirky catchphrase. It’s about knowing…