Create Characters That Feel Real
A Proven Framework to Build Characters Readers Believe In.
Most scripts fall flat not because of structure—but because the characters never live beyond the page. If your hero doesn’t feel real, your story won’t either.
My free PDF, The 5 Layers of Compelling Character, gives you a proven framework to build deeper, richer, emotionally addictive protagonists.
This is the same method I use in the writers’ room—and now you can steal it for your own script.
Drop your name and email, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox so you can start building characters that feel like people. Not plot devices.
Send Me My Free PDF
Andrew Pyper
Author of the bestselling Oracle, The Demonologist and The Residence
James is a terrific writer, storyteller, teacher and screenwriter. In my working experience with James I have been guided by his knowledge about not just writing a script, but finding the answers to the more fundamental questions: Why this story? Why now? Why am I the one to write it? How to make it pop? James knows.
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I’m James Hurst, a professional screenwriter with over 25 years in the industry. I’ve written for award-winning shows like Wynonna Earp, Hardy Boys, Being Erica, Flashpoint, and The Listener. Along the way, I’ve picked up two Canadian Screenwriting Awards, a Peabody Award, and a deep understanding of what makes a script actually work.
Here’s what I’ve learned: structure matters, but character is everything. If we don’t care about your hero—flaws, wounds, contradictions and all—nothing else lands.
That’s why I created The 5 Layers of Compelling Character—to share the exact framework I use (and teach) to help writers build rich, dimensional characters that drive the story forward and keep readers hooked.
Whether you’re writing a grounded indie film or a long-running TV series, this tool will help you create characters that feel real, human, and unforgettable.
Be easy, stay awesome, and keep writing,
– JamesÂ
