Your characters

Ok, you've set up a terrific plot, got a setting, and you've got paper and a pencil. What could you need now? Characters.

There's an exercise I'd like you to do, which is writing a sheet on your character. Likes, dislikes, background, looks, attitude, sayings, etc. This is to define your character. I've seen far too many books that make characters who don't have a personality, they just do what the plot calls for. And trust me, character driven stories are far better to read.

For example: you've got a pacifist scientist, who's scrawny and pale. He "abhors violence", as he says. Yet the script calls for a bar fight right now. How will you manage this?

Instead of making the scientist do something out of character, use his character to your advantage. A thug threatens him, he refuses to fight, and he's pushed into a table of bargoers. Ta-da, bar fight.

Also, develop your characters. Usually it's what they lack that they eventually need: to think, to fight, to strip. Whatever the situation calls for. So make it gradual. Let the reader see the development, and make there be a reason (for example, the scientist is being bullied, and he needs to show them what's what). Of course, you could go for a "be yourself" storyline and make the scientist create a Frankenstein to fight for him, which would be in-character. It's your choice.