The quality of your book depends on what you put in.
BeTheAuthor gives you up to 10 questions. You only need to answer one. But the answers you give are what turn a generic story into something that feels like it was written for a real person. These five rules make the difference.
Rule 1: Be specific
Vague answers produce vague characters. Specific answers give the AI something to work with.
Before: “She likes cooking.”
After: “She makes her grandmother's tomato sauce every Sunday and refuses to use a recipe.”
The second version tells the AI who she is. The first tells it almost nothing.
Rule 2: Include names
If their best friend is named Danny, say Danny. The AI will create a character named Danny. If they grew up in Austin, say Austin. Names anchor the story to real people and places. Generic descriptors like “his best friend” or “a city in Texas” don't have the same power.
Rule 3: Share the weird stuff
Quirks and odd habits make characters memorable. “He talks to his plants” beats “He's a nice person.” “She collects vintage salt shakers” beats “She likes antiques.” The weird stuff is what makes someone recognizable.
Rule 4: Think moments, not traits
Abstract traits are forgettable. Concrete moments stick. “She cried at her daughter's recital” tells a better story than “She's emotional.” “He once drove two hours to return a lost dog” tells a better story than “He's kind.” Give the AI scenes to draw from.
Rule 5: You don't have to answer everything
Only one question is required. A few great answers beat ten mediocre ones. If you know their hobbies and family but have no idea about their biggest dream, leave it blank. Focus on what you know and make those answers count.
Before and after: a full example
Here's what weak vs. strong answers look like for one character, across several questions.
Weak version:
- Job: “Teacher”
- Family: “Has a wife and kids”
- Hobby: “Likes hiking”
- Catchphrase: “Says funny things”
- What makes them special: “Caring person”
Strong version:
- Job: “High school history teacher for 15 years. Has a replica WWII helmet on his desk.”
- Family: “Wife Maria, two sons Jake and Leo. Maria's the one who fixes things around the house.”
- Hobby: “Section-hikes the Appalachian Trail with his brother every summer. They've done about half of it.”
- Catchphrase: “Always says ‘History repeats itself, but usually not in a good way’ when someone makes a bad decision.”
- What makes them special: “Can get any teenager to care about the past. Kids who hated history end up asking him for book recommendations.”
The strong version gives the AI a person. The weak version gives it a template.
Ready to put these rules into practice? Start creating your book.
