Bea asked Maggie Stiefvater:

What do you think is the most important aspect of creating a new character? Also, any tips on foreshadowing?

Maggie Stiefvater I think some part of them has to feel incredibly true. Even if most of them is stylized in some way, even if they live in a world very unlike reality, some central part of their motivation and personality must be based upon a real-life model. Otherwise they'll feel like book people. Fairy tale people. Consistent, predictable, not necessarily incorrect, but not like someone you might meet on the street.

And good foreshadowing comes first and foremost with knowing where you're going before you begin to write, and finished up by having great beta readers to let you know if you've released your info at the right time and in the right amount.

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