Minahel asked Darren Shan:

Your books took up a great deal of my childhood. Ever since I ordered the first Cirque du Freak book from a a scholastic book order on a whim, I couldn't get enough of your books! When I wasn't re-reading them, I was scouring the shelves for more. As an aspiring writer, I wanted to ask: What are some tips on making characters feel real and on developing them throughout a novel?

Darren Shan This is something that just happens naturally, the more you write. I can't really explain how I handle character development, because it happens without me really knowing how. It's one of the quirks of writing -- the more you learn how to master your writing techniques, the more control you surrender to your characters. You know things are working well when your characters are doing things that take YOU by surprise. To get to that point, you just have to put in the man hours and keep writing, writing, writing.

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