Real Life to Fiction: Creating Compelling Characters (guest post)
- C.C. King
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
Today I’m excited to welcome author Kim McCollum to the blog to talk about something many writers wrestle with: creating characters inspired by the people around us.
Kim’s latest novel, Harriet Hates Lemonade, introduces us to a woman who believes she has everything under control, from HOA politics to neighborhood infractions, until life forces her to confront the deeper patterns shaping her rigid world. It’s a layered story about control, loneliness, and what happens when we’re finally pushed to see ourselves clearly.
(You can read more about Kim and her book here!)
In today's guest post, Kim shares thoughtful insight into how writers can observe the world around them and transform real-life traits, tensions, and contradictions into fully realized fictional characters.
If you’ve ever wondered where the line falls between inspiration and invention, or how to build characters who feel startlingly real without simply copying life, I think you’ll find her perspective very helpful! Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of crafting characters based on the people around you.
Enjoy the post!
—CC
Tips on Creating Characters Based on the People Around You
by Kim McCollum
I am a chronic people watcher. This was true even before I became an author. Whether I’m sitting in a coffee shop in downtown Bozeman, standing in line at the grocery store, or even out on the pickleball court,
I am constantly observing.
’m not just looking at what people are wearing or how they style their hair. I wonder what their life is like outside of whatever scenario I’m watching them in. I’m also looking for their habits, the way someone’s voice pitches up when they’re frustrated, the way their hands flutter around when explaining something, or the way they tap their toes and sigh when forced to wait in line.
In my writing, my characters are often pieced together from the people I encounter in my daily life.
In my debut, What Happens in Montana, I drew from an incredible group of girlfriends I met when I lived in Las Vegas. We were all young mothers together, navigating life with babies who are now twenty-four years old.
Those decades of shared history, laughter, and unconditional support became the blueprint for the deep bonds in that story.
It taught me that real history between people provides a richness that you simply can't manufacture from scratch. When I wondered what Brooke might say in a certain situation, I would think of the friend I modeled that character after, and I could hear her voice.
When I moved into the world of Harriet Hates Lemonade, I started looking for points of friction. Much of Harriet’s initial crankiness was inspired by a neighborhood I once lived in that looked like Mayberry from the outside, but was surprisingly uptight underneath.
I remember receiving a formal letter because our garbage can was visible from the street just one day early. I even heard a real-life suggestion that the HOA should use DNA testing on dog poop to catch neighbors who weren’t picking up after their dogs.
While those moments were frustrating at the time, they were gold for character development.
Harriet became the embodiment of that rigidity. She is a woman who uses rules to create a sense of safety in a world she can't control.
Unfortunately, when I was writing Les, Harriet’s late husband, I didn't have to look far for research. Whenever I needed to know what he would say, I just thought of things my ex-husband had said to me over twenty years.
By taking those specific patterns of speech, the "love bombing" and the subtle devaluing, I was able to create a villain that felt devastatingly real because he was rooted in my lived experience.
When I see someone being difficult in public now, I find myself asking what they might be dealing with. Harriet isn't just a grumpy widow. She’s a survivor of emotional abuse who uses her rules as a fortress.
For any writer looking to ground their work in reality, my best advice is to look past the surface flaws and try to understand the survival mechanism behind them. Then, use a blend of observation of strangers, friends, and family to craft a believable character.
—Kim
About the Guest Blogger & Her Book
Kim McCollum graduated from Barnard College with a major in Japanese and was soon navigating the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. When her first child was born, she stayed home to raise her children. Once they headed off to school, Kim finally found time to pursue her passion for writing.
Her award-winning debut novel, What Happens in Montana, was published in January 2024, and her short stories have appeared in several publications. She lived in Bozeman, Montana, with her supportive husband, Brian, and their blended menagerie of five kids and three spoiled pets.
Kim's most recent book, Harriet Hates Lemonade, was released on January 20, 2026, and is for available on Purchase a copy of Harriet Hates Lemonade on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. Be sure to also add it to your GoodReads reading list.
Here's a little about the book:
Meet Harriet. But don’t be surprised if she isn’t interested in meeting you.
Harriet has life all figured out, and she doesn’t hesitate to inform others of their shortcomings. Though her attempts to become president of the homeowner’s association failed, that doesn’t stop her from berating “off-leash-dog-man” or reporting the neighbor who had the audacity to leave their easter decorations up an entire week past the holiday. The problem is, unbeknownst to her, Harriet’s rigid rules and judgmental opinions are not her own.
Her ordered life plunges into chaos when a twelve-year-old neighbor knocks on Harriet's door seeking help because the girl’s father is physically abusing her mother. Reluctantly, Harriet comes to her neighbor’s aid and, in the process, recognizes her own insidious abuse which has unwittingly shaped her isolated, rigid existence. To escape her crushing loneliness, she must learn to break free from the patterns of control and isolation that have defined her life and learn to connect with people she previously viewed as heathens.
Connect with Kim:
Do you have ideas on what you read in today's guest post or creating characters based on people in your real life? Let Kim and me know by commenting on the post or sending a message through the site!
Peace & Plenty,
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