Okay, so, you've made your casting choice. You're happy with it. But here's the next daunting task: the details.

*cue intense organ music*

Relax, guys. This process isn't as bad as I'm making it sound...or am I? *cue mysterious look*

Okay, okay, seriously, though. Building your character can be really fun if you get really into it. It depends on how motivated and committed you are. The best characters, I think, come from hard work and thorough planning.

If you've read this far down and still don't know what I mean by "OC", here's a definition: It stands for "original character", meaning a character that the author has created to insert into their  fan fiction. If you didn't know that tidbit, it's okay. Some people don't. (And it's okay to admit that you don't know. I'll just be aghast and almost horrified when you tell me.)

Anyway, back to creating your character...

*The name: Guys, let's be real here. A name is a critical part in who a character is. Don't pick one that about 500 other fanfic writers have used, because then you'll fall into the pit of similarities and never come out. And please make sure it makes sense. (Bonus points if their name has a meaning that that character represents.)

*The age: Okay, most characters seem to be in the late teen age (that's good if you're doing an AU or a high school fic. Hell, it's even good for a daughter/son!fic [because I'm sure those exist somewhere, the son!fics, although daughter!fics are more common]. Probably not suitable for a romantic relationship with the Winchesters or whoever their interest is if there's a huge age difference...). Not a lot of people past 21. Not a lot of people past 30. Or around the boys' ages.

Suggestion: maybe try making an older character to already be diverse?

*Description: Details, details, details. Paint us a picture of who your OC is. What's their height? Do they have any quirky features, like freckles or a skin tag? Pixie cut or Rapunzel hair? Do they have multicolored eyes liked Jared Padalecki does? (I'm so freaking jealous of that...my eyes are just blue. Well, sometimes they can look green, but that's if light hits it a certain way...) Are they a bit on the thin side or have a little more weight to them? It's okay for your character to look normal and not super hot Top Model.

But, please, can I ask one thing of you? Do not be that person who writes their character in the mindset that everyone else thinks they are the hottest thing on the planet while the character wonders "ohmygod how can they say that? I'm an ugly duckling." I remember when Stephenie Meyer did it in Twilight *shudders*. As much as I thought the books were okay, Bella's mentality was not.

Pretty please, for me?

*Personality: The better you understand your character's personality, the better off you'll be in the writing process. You'll be able to figure out how their mind works and how they would react in certain situations. Do they have a short temper? Trust issues? Daddy issues? Abandonment issues? Do they not give a shit about what people say/think about them? Do they have a big heart? Are they selfish? Selfless? Do they keep to themselves? Are they an introvert/extrovert?

*Background: This ranges from family background to life. What their childhood is like. Who is their family? What relationships do they have to family, friends? Do they have a significant other? How were they as a child? How has their past made them into what they are now?

*Extras: Quirks, strengths, weaknesses, nicknames, abilities, what species they are (because some people will opt for the non-human OC). What sexual orientation are they? (Yes, the majority of them are straight, but every once in a while a gay/lesbian/bisexual is hidden among all the straightness). Hell, even their birthday. Anything that will give your OC more depth, and anything that you think fits that character, tack it on.

Oh, one thing: Do not make you your character. 

Your character has their voice, just like you do. For me, just inserting yourself (name, description, everything of you) feels a bit distasteful. It makes me think of people who write fanfic solely so they can have a romantic relationship with a fictional character. Fantasies (just me personally) shouldn't translate onto the paper if the character is just you in a book form. 

Well...okay, if you still want to write it, fine, but maybe just keep the fantasy for your eyes only.

I've never seen characters as that, some version of me. I see them as people with voices, with stories which need to be told, which they need the world to know about. Even if they're fictional. Characters come to me and nag, they don't want to leave my head. They want to have their own voice. (I know I'm not the only one who has that issue...)

And, no, these are not voices in my head. Sorry, I don't have Lucifer annoyingly singing to me 24/7. Although, he does like to drop by and give me hints to twist my readers' feels and hearts with a rather sharp knife...

I will say that I think it's okay if you include some traits about you in your character, but the line is drawn at a few.

Remember, you mold your characters. You control what they say, do, how they act, etc. You are not them. They are what you make them to be.

Thinker: How did your OC come to be? What made them become a character that led to a fanfic? How did you know that this was where they're supposed to be, and not suited for anything else?