What I remember when I started to write was how I couldn't wait to get up in the morning to get to my characters. Judy Blume
When I begin a book, I inevitably discover many things along the way, about the characters, their past histories and the political intrigues that surround them. This discovery process is vital, and I would not prejudice it by deciding too much in advance. David Brin
When we read, we are doing more than delectating words on a page stories, characters, images, notions. We are communing with the mind of the author. Martin Amis
When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature. Ernest Hemingway
Write with abandon and no constraints for first draft. Cut brutally and save in separate files on second draft. Add conflict; don't be afraid to make your characters suffer. Read what you love. Write what you love. Love. Francesca Lia Block
You'll work hard to create characters that are compelling and unforgettable. But in the end, it's the story that matters. James Dashner