When I was working retail, I would keep a blank book with me behind the counter and write down (and doodle) interesting people who came in. A couple customers wound up as the basis for characters. Which makes me wish I was better at drawing likenesses back then. Last week, I had been brainstorming an idea and I felt that I needed a specific type of antisocial character. The next day I was out running errands and I happened to see the exact person I was looking for. Destiny! A few months before that, I was driving and there was a scary lookin' dude getting into his car a few spots away from mine. Only caught the faintest glimpse of him, but he was also perfect for a character I'd been blanking on for ages. Better than perfect, I couldn't have dreamed of someone like him. So naturally I was completely unable to study him or scribble down some notes (I do have a notepad in the car, but I had already started driving and couldn't park... instead I spent a huge chunk of the ride home describing the guy I saw to myself). SEEING these people, to me, is a huge help, having trained as an artist I'm always spotting little details and those inform so much. Even if I can't hear them speak, the rusted old pick-up they drive, the shoelaces that clash with the vintage sneakers, or the fact that this one girl is with her family but she's the only one covered in bug bites... those little things speak volumes about who that person is. It's also why I make it a point to draw my characters, so I can actually see them and study them.

Your comments, Chris, are a testament to the value of observation. The world is filled with story ideas, dialogue, and characters. It's often this little bits of specific human business which we can bring to our characters which make them feel real to readers. Reminds me of that Biblical verse: "But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." Never more true than for writers as we navigate our way through life.

Another thing that can help with character development is taking improv classes ... in class, they work with you so much on just noticing how subtle changes in voice and posture lead to completely different characters ... it's a great immersion tool for writers.