Compartmentalized Lives

Imagine a political activist. This character starts and leads rallies of people demanding change from those with the power to do it. This character must be very strong and very passionate about activism. But ultimately, he must care about more than just that. 

What does he do when the rally ends? Who does he go home to? Who does he drink with? Is he in love? Does he play music? Does he watch Japanese horror movies?

The sign of a one-dimensional (a.k.a. bad/boring) character is that they only do, think about, and talk about one thing. What makes a character interesting is being multifaceted. People have many interests, many desires. In any given day, they could be doing several different activities. 

Remember to make multifaceted characters. It makes for more believable and more approachable people. It also may inspire on connections you may be able to make. Like, I'd a guy sells insurance for a living, but he loves knitting, how might those things blend together in his life?