James Dashner — American Author born on November 26, 1972,

James Smith Dashner is an American writer of speculative fiction, primarily series for children or young adults, such as the Maze Runner series and the young adult fantasy series the 13th Reality. His 2008 novel The Journal of Curious Letters, first in the series, was one of the annual Borders Original Voices picks... (wikipedia)

Be unpredictable, be real, be interesting. Tell a good story.
You'll work hard to create characters that are compelling and unforgettable. But in the end, it's the story that matters.
Never give up. Laugh a lot. Be good to others.
In my early writing, all of my characters were exactly the same person. They all spoke the same, made the same types of jokes, reacted the same, etc. I think they were all just me in disguise.
To practice - write each and every day if possible - then try to attend professional writer's conferences where you can learn your craft, get to know fellow writers, and meet editors and agents.