When writing a novel, how can a character be developed well, but QUICKLY?

Essentially, what you do is show the character:

Do that and you can ground your characters quite quickly.

“No way.”

New COVID-19 variant detected in Washington state. Here’s what to know - The Seattle Times

“I’m just a fan of your catch and release program.”

“It’s not looking at you.”

Claire sat back down, legs tucked elegantly beneath her. “You are looking a bit sloppy,” she said, inspecting May through narrowed eyes.

Have you ever had sex with your mother-in-law? If so, how was it and did your wife ever find out?

“You don’t need a cat. You can’t take care of a cat. You can’t take care of a ficus.” Claire flopped on the other side of the sofa and wriggled her feet beneath May.

Doing something they enjoy, that expresses their personality, and that is in some way unusual or noteworthy;

“Yes way. It’s washing itself under the street light. Uh-oh, I think it spotted me. It knows I’m watching it. I swear it’s looking at me.”

How do you find out who your handler is as a targeted individual?

Engaging in conversation that also shows something about their intelligence, personality, wit (or lack thereof); and

May studied the black and white comic panels. “Oh, my. She looks…anatomically implausible. What is she doing to that poor man? Wait, are those cat ears?”

“Cute girls?”

Two of my family members have recently converted to Islam and have brought shame on my family. How do I get them back into the fold of Hinduism?

“Damn straight. So get to it! This time next week, I want to hear some moans coming through that wall.”

“About wearing more clothes? How am I supposed to catch any fish if I don’t show off the bait?”

“Nope, I mean a cat followed me home. A black cat, to be exact. All the way from the club. Probably still out there, for all I know.”

‘We Were Right’: Leaked Medical Report Says Boxer Who Beat Up Women At Olympics Is A Man - The Daily Wire

“Why is that always your first suggestion? I do not need some tea. It’s three o’clock in the morning! If I have tea, I’ll never get to sleep.”

Claire, one of May’s three flatmates, former university roommate, and best friend in all the world, shrugged expansively. “It’s a Saturday night. What else would I be doing?”

“Well, maybe if you’d wear more clothes, they wouldn’t feel so cold. Hussy!”

USA roster: 15 MLS players called for 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup - MLSsoccer.com

“I’m glad my sex life is so entertaining.”

In the kitchen, Claire set out a battered pair of mugs: May’s black, with “PEBKAC: Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair” in white letters; Claire’s white, with “This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays” in dark blue. She carried both mugs into the living room. “A moggie followed you home? Is this some weird Internet slang I’m not current on?”

May yelped. “Hey! Your feet are cold!”

What is your opinion about homosexuality? Do you think that it is by nature or a choice?

“No, about the cat. You don’t need a cat. You remember what happened to your spider plant, right?”

“So you didn’t meet any cute boys at the club tonight?” Claire called as she bustled about the small kitchen.

“I’m serious!” Claire said. “It’s staring straight at me.” She let the curtain fall. “Weird.”

Airlines Scrubbed Cheap Fares After Getting Caught Charging Solo Travelers More—But Prices Won’t Stay High - View from the Wing

“May! You’re home late! Early, I mean. Well, I mean, it’s early in the morning, but you’re home before I expected. Er, after. Before?”

“Perv.”

“I know! That’s why I’m putting them under you!”

How come I can't stay sober?

“From the look of you, if you try to sleep now, you’ll spend the next three hours hanging onto your bed trying to stop the world spinning. Since you’re not going to sleep anyway, you might as well keep me company.”

“It’s a cat. All cats are weird.” May sipped from her mug, inhaling the warmth. She closed her eyes. The room spun. She opened them again. “Ugh. I think I drank too much.”

“Nary a cute boy in sight.”

Google Photos albums redesign adds Material 3 Expressive toolbar, QR code sharing - 9to5Google

Here’s how we presented the character Claire when she was introduced, which the agent particularly singled out:

“Exactly.”

“I need to do laundry.”

Paul Skenes Q&A: Pirates ace speaks frankly about lack of run support in quality starts - TribLIVE.com

“Number one, it’s not porn, it’s ecchi, and number two, why would I waste a perfectly good Saturday doing anything else?” Claire pulled at her tea and sighed. “The only thing that could make this day better is if you'd come home with some cute boy, so that after you kicked him out tomorrow I could live vicariously through you.”

“Well, maybe if you didn’t spend all day reading—” May prodded the book with its garishly-coloured cover with her foot. “Bizarre comic book porn…”

May pushed Claire’s feet away. Claire rose to peer out the window. “Huh. It’s still there.”

So who has worn a cock cage. One of my guy FWBs put one on me last Sunday and left with the keys? I was very nervous at first but have calmed down. Told me he'll unlock it tomorrow.. Let me know.

“You know what? Never mind,” May said. “I am way, way too drunk to be having this conversation.”

“Tart!”

“I don’t know. Partying. Going to a pub. Anything besides sitting on the couch reading…” She squinted. “What the hell are you reading?”

What would you change in the "Game of Thrones" storyline if you were one of the writers of the TV series?

“I try not to, but thank you for reminding me. I know I don’t need a cat. I don’t want a cat. What would I do with a cat?”

Create a context between this character and other characters.

“Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs!” Claire turned the book around.

M’s Kirby struck in face by 103 mph line drive - Seattle Sports

“I’ll put the kettle on.”

“Fine.” May collapsed into the warm spot Claire had just vacated.

“Yep!” Claire chirped. “There’s this schoolboy, see, and he’s homeless, so he lives in this boarding house that used to be a hot springs bathhouse, which is cheap because it’s haunted, so he decides—”

Why do people with trauma easily recognize other people with trauma through eye contact?

“Claire, I—”

“Hang on, are they playing ping-pong?”

The agent had only one bad thing to say (the synopsis was crap; writing synopses is hard!), but praised the characterization and particularly how well we introduced a character’s personality quickly.

“Exactly.”

“Claire! Why are you still up?”

“But they’re cold!”

After Eunice and I finished London Under Veil, I entered the first chapter in a contest at a convention where you could submit something and have it critiqued by a professional book agent.

“None of those either. Look upon the wasteland that is my sex life, and see that it is barren. Naught but a moggie followed me home.”

“Thanks. You’re looking pretty ratty yourself. Have you been in that bathrobe all day?”

“They are! He broke the rules of the boarding house by petting this character while she was in cat form, so they invoke the ancient rules of single combat via ping-pong, and—”

“You need some tea!”

They both burst out laughing. “I’m right, though,” Claire went on.