User blog comment:Reens the Hedgehog/Hey Y'all, I got a question/@comment-30144664-20180103211107/@comment-27984457-20180103212851

I've used both, actually, on two different people. However, without general parameters for personality the characters just start too sound like self-inserts. So, for example, when I was writing A Different Kind of Normal, I decided Angel would be cocky and laid back and built the character up from there.

Also, it's a good idea too have a general backstory first as you can build them up form there.