HalimaMIS

Hello, Welcome to my little corner of the internet!

I'm Halima, a writer, photographer, and a self-professed bookworm. When I was just 4 years old, I'd take my sister's colored crayons and draw tales on my bedroom walls, which for sure landed me in trouble, but anyways... writing stories was how I've always spoken my feelings and thoughts and wild imagination. I remember in fifth grade I used to draw comics & write short stories then sell them at school, and I think that was when I officially decided I wanted to become an author. (Of course I had no idea real writing would require searching for poison names and the squeezing of my memory for that one word I can't remember, but I'm okay with that as long as I don't get arrested for the questions I ask google when I'm writing YA murder mysteries)

I wrote two fiction novels and am elbow-deep in my next one, while also beta reading other writers’ works. My goal? Helping stories shine and making your writing journey feel a bit less like wandering in a dark forest. Around here, you’ll find writing advice, relatable author humor, and the occasional life lesson I learned from getting way too emotionally attached to fictional characters. Beta reading is part of what I do too, which is a fancy way of saying I’ll read your work and give honest, helpful detailed feedback on what’s working and what could use some TLC. And if you’re only looking for feedback on that crucial first chapter? I do that too!

You can find me here if you're interested

A few fast facts about me:

Years of fiction, romance, thriller, dystopian, and high fantasy writing and reading experience with a record of reading over 200 fiction books

Custom bookmark designer because every book deserves a sidekick! Design bookmarks for your story

Beta reader with a first-chapter option

Your question: "how to write characters with a consistent personality in each chapter. I run into a problem where I change my character’s personality a lot when writing each chapter to fit the situation and it ends up making them look like a different character entirely. I want to know how I can keep it like that while showing improvement in their character development. For example, the main character of a story I'm doing is scared of facing himself and his mistakes in the past which leads to self deprecating himself. The problem is that now ever time I write a new chapter, the self deprecation gets worse and loses meaning and he acts so differently."

Sorry it took me a while to answer. I had to think about a helpful reply and organize my thoughts. I get that you're going through the classic "my character feels like five different people in a trench coat" problem. Been there. But here's the thing, writing consistent characters is like parenting. You want them to grow up, but not turn into complete strangers every time they face a new situation. Fixing this problem is easy but it needs practice tho. The tips I can give you to overcome that are simply 7 but you have to actually put the effort and try to change your style in order to get better.

1. Know Your Character Like You Stalked Them on Social Media

Write down the core traits of your character. Not just “scared of facing himself.” Get specific.

• How does he react when someone compliments him? (Cringes? Shrugs it off? Makes a joke?)

• What’s his default way of coping? (Angry cleaning? Self-deprecating humor? Avoidance through snacks?)

2. Anchor the Self-Deprecation

The problem isn’t that your character is self-deprecating; it’s that you’ve probably cranked the volume to 11 from what you told me and now it’s just noise. Self-deprecation works best in layers, like an onion.

• Early chapters: He uses it as a shield. Maybe he makes a sarcastic comment to avoid an awkward truth.

• Midway: It starts slipping—he self-deprecates, but it stings a little more because he's aware of how deep he’s drowning.

• Later: The self-deprecation shifts—maybe it’s tinged with acceptance or even humor. He’s owning it, not drowning in it.

3. Test his Personality in Different Settings

In my opinion, your character should feel like the same person whether they’re fighting a dragon or deciding what to order at Starbucks. The stakes are for sure different, but his core reactions will stay the same no matter what. So I advice you try oracticing writing different scenarios that may not be in the book just to get to know him better.

• Example: If your character is awkward and self-loathing, he’ll probably stammer and overthink his Starbucks order. In a fight, he might hesitate and second-guess himself.

Same guy, different vibe.

4. Growth is important too

When you want to show character growth, don’t just tell he’s changing. Show it in contrast. Yk, just like the show don't tell thing

• Early chapters: He flinches at confrontation, hides behind jokes, or spirals into self-hate.

• Later chapters: He still flinches, but now he pushes through. He makes a joke but adds, “Yeah, I know it’s bad. I’m working on it.”

5. Focus on Dialogue

Your character’s dialogue is like their fingerprint. If you nailed it early, use it as a touchstone. Does he always deflect with humor? Does he avoid big words because he doesn’t want to sound smart?

6. Write the ‘What Would They Do?’ test

Whenever you get stuck, ask yourself:

• How would my character respond if someone spilled coffee on them?

• What would they say to their crush?

• How would they handle being stuck in an elevator with their ex?

These mini scenarios force you to think about how your character’s core personality shines through. Same thing like testing his personality in different settings but that one doesn't need many writing practice.

7. Ask for Feedback (But Not from Your Mom)

Show Their Backstory: Give hints or flashbacks to events that shaped their personality. Traumas, betrayals, or losses can help readers understand why they’ve chosen their path, even if they disagree with it.

Create Internal Conflicts: A villain with conflicting feelings—like guilt over their actions or doubts about their mission—feels more real. This complexity can create tension, as they might be torn between different desires or moral struggles.

Make Their Goal Justifiable: Even if their methods are twisted, their end goal could make sense. Maybe they want peace, justice, or respect, but their approach is extreme. This can create moral ambiguity and make readers question who’s truly “right.”

Use Empathy to Your Advantage: Even if their actions are unforgivable, give readers a reason to sympathize with them. Whether it’s loneliness, insecurity, or societal rejection, relatable emotions add depth and blur the line between hero and villain.

Give Them Unique Traits and Hobbies: Beyond evil deeds, villains can have quirks or interests, like a love for painting or gardening. These small details add layers to their character, making them feel less like an “evil archetype” and more like a complex individual.

Let Them Evolve: Allow your villain to grow or change as the story progresses. Maybe they start questioning their motives or become more ruthless. This development adds a dynamic element that keeps readers engaged.

Explore Their Relationships: Whether they’re mentors, parents, or friends, showing your villain’s relationships can humanize them. Even a toxic relationship with a loved one can give insight into their psyche and make their choices feel more nuanced.

Dialogue that Means More Later

A clever line of dialogue can seem completely innocent at first but gains significance as the story progresses. This is a great way to slip in foreshadowing without slowing down the plot. However, avoid making the line too cryptic or obviously prophetic.

Example: In "Breaking Bad", there’s a moment when Hank (a DEA agent) jokes about Walt (the protagonist) secretly being a drug kingpin. It’s played off as a joke at the time, but later, when Hank finds out Walt *is* the drug kingpin, the line takes on a whole new meaning. The beauty of this kind of foreshadowing is that it seems like casual banter—until it’s not.In your story, a character could casually say, “I’ve always been terrible at keeping secrets,” early on. Later, this foreshadows a moment when they accidentally reveal something crucial or betray someone without meaning to.

Misdirection and Red Herrings

Sometimes, foreshadowing works best when paired with misdirection. You plant hints that could point to several outcomes, but the reader only realizes which one was true in hindsight. This keeps them guessing and makes the actual reveal more satisfying. You could use misdirection by making readers think one character is going to betray the protagonist (through small suspicious actions) but later reveal that it’s actually another character who has been betraying them all along, and the first character was innocent.

Dreams and Visions

If you’re writing a genre that allows for it—like fantasy, sci-fi, or even psychological thrillers—foreshadowing can come through dreams, visions, or hallucinations. These can be vague and symbolic or eerily accurate, but they should always leave readers wondering whether they’re really seeing the future or just imagining things.

Example: In "The Hunger Games", Katniss has a recurring image of Rue dying that foreshadows Rue’s eventual fate. It’s presented as a fear at first, but it becomes a heartbreaking reality. The dream sets up the reader’s emotional reaction to Rue’s death before it happens.

I'm about to finish right now, don't lose focus. These are some final things you want to be careful of...

Repeat Without Overdoing It: A symbol or piece of dialogue can appear more than once, but avoid hammering it into your reader’s head.

Use Different Methods: Mix it up—foreshadow through symbols, dialogue, character actions, and even setting. This way, your story feels layered and engaging.

Balance: Too much foreshadowing can spoil the twist. Too little can leave readers confused. Find the sweet spot where readers feel satisfied when they finally connect the dots.

Foreshadowing is like seasoning—you want just enough to enhance the flavor, but not so much that you overpower the dish. If you’re dropping “hints” so big and obvious that your readers see the twist coming from a mile away, you’ve crossed into neon-sign territory. Subtlety is key. The best foreshadowing feels like an “aha” moment when the twist finally happens. It should make readers think, “Of course! It was right there all along,” not, “Well, duh, I saw that coming 100 pages ago.” Trust your readers to put the pieces together without spoon-feeding them the answers.

I've tried to give you some tips to help you

Use Symbols and Motifs

Symbols are a great way to foreshadow events without being too obvious. If a character repeatedly looks at an old family photo, it could foreshadow that the family’s past will play a crucial role in the plot later on. The key here is consistency—repeat the symbol a few times, but don’t draw attention to it too blatantly.

Example: In 'The Great Gatsby', the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is a symbol that represents Gatsby’s hope for the future and his obsession with Daisy. Throughout the book, Gatsby is fixated on that light, and it foreshadows his eventual downfall. The light represents his unattainable dreams, subtly hinting at the tragic ending.

In your story, you might use a recurring object, like a watch that keeps stopping, to foreshadow a future moment where time plays a crucial role—maybe a race against the clock or the death of a character.

Character Behavior as Clues

Your characters can unwittingly foreshadow events through their actions, dialogue, or even their thoughts. This method is often the most subtle because readers will interpret these moments as character quirks—until the payoff comes, and suddenly those quirks aren’t just quirks anymore.

Example: In 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone', Professor Quirrell’s odd behavior (his stammering, nervousness, and constant fidgeting) is actually foreshadowing the fact that he’s hiding Voldemort under his turban. At first, it just seems like Quirrell is a jittery professor, but by the end of the book, his behavior makes sense.

You can do something similar by having a character always touch or adjust a specific piece of clothing (like a ring or a scarf) without explanation. When the twist comes, it turns out that this object has a hidden significance—maybe the ring contains poison, or the scarf conceals an injury.

Stay tuned for part 2

P.S. As an author of two fiction novels and a bookworm who's read over 200 books, I offer a beta reading service for first chapters, short stories, and novels! After reading your writing, I give a full, detailed report of everything including character development, world building, pacing, dialogue, and plot structure + in-line comments and grammar/punctuation correction.

Give them a Reason: Make sure they have a relatable motivation, not just a desire to "be evil." Maybe they're protecting someone, seeking revenge, or genuinely believe they're the hero.

Add a Flaw: Make them human by giving them a vulnerability—something they’re ashamed of or afraid to lose.

Let them Have a Redeeming Quality: A villain who loves their family or shows mercy in unexpected moments can feel real and multidimensional.

P.S. As an author of two fiction novels and a bookworm who's read over 200 books, I offer a beta reading service for first chapters, short stories, and novels! After reading your writing, I give a full, detailed report of everything including character development, world building, pacing, dialogue, and plot structure + in-line comments and grammar/punctuation correction.

The plot ideas in my head: incredible, beautiful, award-winning