{"id":993328,"date":"2026-05-13T07:25:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T07:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/?p=993328"},"modified":"2026-05-13T07:25:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T07:25:37","slug":"i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/","title":{"rendered":"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I used to treat UK postcodes as boring address details. Something you check when a parcel goes missing, or when you are trying to work out whether a town is close to Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, or somewhere completely different.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That changed when I began writing more original character profiles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A character can have a great name, a sharp outfit, and a dramatic backstory, but if I cannot imagine where they buy lunch, how they get home, or what kind of street they walk down after dark, the whole thing feels thin. That is why I now start many character ideas with a place. Not always a full address, of course. A broad postcode area is enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When I build an OC, I often sketch the setting first, then use an<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocmaker.ai\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AI OC make<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> tool later to turn the idea into a clearer character direction. That order works better for me. Place first. Visuals after.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#Why_A_Postcode_Can_Help_With_Character_Writing\" title=\"Why A Postcode Can Help With Character Writing\">Why A Postcode Can Help With Character Writing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#My_Simple_Way_Of_Reading_A_Postcode_Area\" title=\"My Simple Way Of Reading A Postcode Area\">My Simple Way Of Reading A Postcode Area<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#A_Small_Example_From_My_Own_Notes\" title=\"A Small Example From My Own Notes\">A Small Example From My Own Notes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#How_Place_Changes_The_Visual_Design\" title=\"How Place Changes The Visual Design\">How Place Changes The Visual Design<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#The_Mistake_I_Try_To_Avoid\" title=\"The Mistake I Try To Avoid\">The Mistake I Try To Avoid<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#My_Quick_Checklist_For_A_Postcode-Based_OC\" title=\"My Quick Checklist For A Postcode-Based OC\">My Quick Checklist For A Postcode-Based OC<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#Why_I_Prefer_Broad_Postcode_Areas_Over_Exact_Addresses\" title=\"Why I Prefer Broad Postcode Areas Over Exact Addresses\">Why I Prefer Broad Postcode Areas Over Exact Addresses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#Final_Thoughts\" title=\"Final Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_A_Postcode_Can_Help_With_Character_Writing\"><\/span><b>Why A Postcode Can Help With Character Writing<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A UK postcode gives you more than a location. It gives you a small clue about the life around that location.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A London postcode does not feel the same as a postcode in Cornwall. A postcode near Glasgow does not suggest the same daily routine as one near a market town in Norfolk. Even before I look deeply into a place, I can usually start asking better questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Does this character live somewhere busy or quiet?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Do they need a car?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Is the train station close enough to matter?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Would they know their neighbours?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Would they complain about tourists, traffic, rent, weather, or nothing at all?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Those questions are small, but they pull a character down from the clouds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I do not use postcode research to copy real people. That would feel lazy and, in some cases, uncomfortable. I use it to understand the shape of a place. The final character still needs their own habits, flaws, goals, and private mess.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"My_Simple_Way_Of_Reading_A_Postcode_Area\"><\/span><b>My Simple Way Of Reading A Postcode Area<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I keep the process rough. Too much research can kill the writing before it starts.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>What I Check<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Why I Care<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">City, town, village, coast, or suburb<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It changes the character\u2019s daily rhythm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nearby transport<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It affects school, work, friendships, and escape routes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Local housing feel<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It hints at money, pressure, family setup, and routine<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Weather and landscape<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It helps with clothing, mood, and scene details<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Distance from bigger places<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It shows whether the character feels connected or stuck<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is not a formal research system. It is just the way I stop myself from writing another \u201cmysterious character from nowhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, if I choose a postcode area near a coastal town, I may think about wind, damp clothes, seasonal visitors, long winter evenings, and part-time jobs in caf\u00e9s or small shops. If I choose a dense city area, the character may have a different relationship with noise, crowds, rent, buses, corner shops, and late-night streets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The postcode does not decide the story. It gives the story some ground.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Small_Example_From_My_Own_Notes\"><\/span><b>A Small Example From My Own Notes<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here is the kind of note I might write before building a character:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lives in a quiet postcode district outside a larger city. Not fully rural, not fully urban. Bus service is unreliable after evening. Works weekends. Knows the main road too well. Wants to leave, but also feels guilty about leaving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That is not a finished character, but it already feels more useful than:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cool girl with dark hair and a sad past.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The first note gives me movement. It gives me weather. It gives me family pressure. It tells me why she might be tired, why she checks bus times, why she keeps money hidden in a coat pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is the part people sometimes skip. They jump straight to hair colour, eye colour, weapon, outfit, power, or aesthetic. I like those details too, but they work better when they come from somewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Place_Changes_The_Visual_Design\"><\/span><b>How Place Changes The Visual Design<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After I know the setting, I start thinking about appearance. A character from a rainy northern town may not dress the same way as a character from a warmer southern coastal area. Someone who walks a lot may wear practical shoes. Someone who spends time in stations may carry a worn backpack. Someone from a wealthy area may try to reject that background through messy styling, cheap jewellery, or second-hand clothes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These little contradictions make the OC more interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sometimes I use visual tools at this stage. If I have a real image direction and want to test an anime-style version, I may use a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocmaker.ai\/ai-anime-generator\/photo-to-anime\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">photo to anime<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> workflow. I do not expect the first result to solve everything. I use it more like a mood test. Does this face fit the backstory? Does the outfit look too polished? Does the character still feel like they belong to the postcode area I imagined?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A good visual draft should raise questions, not end the process.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Mistake_I_Try_To_Avoid\"><\/span><b>The Mistake I Try To Avoid<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The biggest mistake is stuffing too many facts into the profile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nobody wants to read a character bio that sounds like a local council page. I do not need to mention every road, nearby school, shopping centre, station, and county boundary. One or two strong details are better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bad version:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">She lives in a postcode area near several transport routes, retail streets, residential roads, schools, supermarkets, and local service facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Better version:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">She lives ten minutes from the high street, close enough to hear buses at night, but far enough that walking home in winter feels longer than it should.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The second one feels human. It still comes from location research, but it does not sound like research.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"My_Quick_Checklist_For_A_Postcode-Based_OC\"><\/span><b>My Quick Checklist For A Postcode-Based OC<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When I feel stuck, I use this short list:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Question<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>My Usual Answer Style<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What kind of area shaped them?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Busy estate, quiet village, seaside town, outer suburb<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What do they see every week?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Station, fields, corner shop, old flats, main road<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What annoys them?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rent, buses, tourists, noise, boredom, distance<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What do they secretly like?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Familiar streets, local food, night walks, being known<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What visual detail shows this?<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Coat, bag, shoes, hair, accessory, posture<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This works because it connects outside life with inside life. A character who hates their town may still defend it when someone else insults it. A character from a quiet place may crave the city but panic when they finally get there. A character from a crowded postcode may dream about silence, then feel lonely when they find it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That kind of tension is useful.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_I_Prefer_Broad_Postcode_Areas_Over_Exact_Addresses\"><\/span><b>Why I Prefer Broad Postcode Areas Over Exact Addresses<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I never use a real full address for a fictional character. It feels unnecessary and too close to someone\u2019s private life. A broad area is enough for writing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A postcode district or general town reference gives me useful texture without pretending the character lives in a real person\u2019s house. It also keeps the writing flexible. I can borrow the mood of a place without being trapped by exact map accuracy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That matters especially for fantasy, anime, game, and OC projects. The character may not live in the real UK at all, but a UK postcode can still inspire a believable environment. A foggy town. A cramped flat above shops. A long bus ride. A seaside arcade. A school near a main road. These details travel well into fiction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span><b>Final Thoughts<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A postcode looks small, but it can fix one of the weakest parts of character creation: the empty background.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When I start with place, I write better characters. Not because the postcode is magical, but because it forces me to ask ordinary questions. Where does this person go when they are tired? What road do they know too well? What weather are they dressed for? What part of home do they want to escape, and what part would they miss?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Those answers usually matter more than another dramatic scar or rare eye colour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For me, a strong OC does not begin with a perfect design. It begins with a believable life. A postcode area is one quiet way to find it.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I used to treat UK postcodes as boring address details. Something you check when a parcel goes missing, or when you are trying to work&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":993329,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-993328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake - UK News &amp; Updates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake - UK News &amp; Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I used to treat UK postcodes as boring address details. Something you check when a parcel goes missing, or when you are trying to work...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UK News &amp; Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-13T07:25:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"589\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"394\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"skyrank\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"skyrank\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"skyrank\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/e20d333c88af69dc2666d6d09170d8d7\"},\"headline\":\"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-13T07:25:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/\"},\"wordCount\":1370,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Business\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/\",\"name\":\"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake - UK News &amp; Updates\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-13T07:25:37+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png\",\"width\":589,\"height\":394},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/\",\"name\":\"UK News &amp; Updates\",\"description\":\"UK Post Code\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UK News &amp; Updates\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png\",\"width\":307,\"height\":85,\"caption\":\"UK News &amp; Updates\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/e20d333c88af69dc2666d6d09170d8d7\",\"name\":\"skyrank\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47ca67cc5d0cf730aaa8983ae544e33550babcb65d25dfdf940adfbc16c6163a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47ca67cc5d0cf730aaa8983ae544e33550babcb65d25dfdf940adfbc16c6163a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"skyrank\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/author\/skyrank\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake - UK News &amp; Updates","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake - UK News &amp; Updates","og_description":"I used to treat UK postcodes as boring address details. Something you check when a parcel goes missing, or when you are trying to work...","og_url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/","og_site_name":"UK News &amp; Updates","article_published_time":"2026-05-13T07:25:37+00:00","og_image":[{"width":589,"height":394,"url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"skyrank","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"skyrank","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/"},"author":{"name":"skyrank","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/e20d333c88af69dc2666d6d09170d8d7"},"headline":"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake","datePublished":"2026-05-13T07:25:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/"},"wordCount":1370,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png","articleSection":["Business"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/","name":"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake - UK News &amp; Updates","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png","datePublished":"2026-05-13T07:25:37+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-13-122050.png","width":589,"height":394},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/i-started-using-uk-postcodes-to-make-character-backstories-feel-less-fake\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"I Started Using UK Postcodes To Make Character Backstories Feel Less Fake"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/","name":"UK News &amp; Updates","description":"UK Post Code","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization","name":"UK News &amp; Updates","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png","width":307,"height":85,"caption":"UK News &amp; Updates"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/e20d333c88af69dc2666d6d09170d8d7","name":"skyrank","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47ca67cc5d0cf730aaa8983ae544e33550babcb65d25dfdf940adfbc16c6163a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47ca67cc5d0cf730aaa8983ae544e33550babcb65d25dfdf940adfbc16c6163a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"skyrank"},"url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/author\/skyrank\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=993328"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":993330,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993328\/revisions\/993330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/993329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=993328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=993328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=993328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}