Everyone has experienced some painful event in their past, and your characters should be no different. During character creation, I've found that discovering their defining traumatic moment will bring them to life on the page. Once that happens, I turn them loose and let them say their own thing. And they will. Often saying things in the moment that surprise me.
Here's an example from a WIP:
As the door swings shut he becomes aware of a shadow lurking in the darkest corner of the room.
“I thought I smelled shit,” it says with a disturbingly familiar voice.
“That’s because your head’s always up your own ass, Dwyer,” Rune quips.
I had the insult in mind, but the retort came out of the blue thanks to my rugged character's past. Part of his trauma was being in the war, so his military background honed the ability to deflect insults and other slights. As soon as it popped out of his mouth I said "Good one!"
Depending on the story, you may not need to tell the reader what the event is. Perhaps your character doesn't even remember or acknowledge the cause. But you should know what it is.
What awful thing(s) happened to your character that influenced who they are when their story starts?
Did it make them stronger? Colder? Or did it weaken them?
Did it plant the seed of how they react to the inciting incident of your story?
Explore the darkness, and bring your characters to light.
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