Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Likeable Characters

This post asks if your main character should be likeable.

Let me be blunt: if I don't like the characters in a story, regardless of its format, I am unlikely to consume it.  Why would I spend hours with people I don't like?  If I enjoyed that, I'd go to parties.  There are better things I could be doing with my time.

That said, my taste in characters is pretty diverse.  I don't care for flat or stupid ones.  But I like unsullied heroes, and I like antiheroes if they're written well.  I like complex characters who grow and change, who face and overcome real problems.  I don't want them to be perfect, because I enjoy seeing them struggle with their flaws.  I just don't like assholes.

Sometimes, of course, a character grows on me.  It was someone else who spotted Shiv's real damage, which got me interested, and the more I explored, the more I liked the pesky litter fucker.  And then his fan base grew from about two people, to dozens; he's now one of my most popular characters.  He's still kind of a dick, but it's easier to put up with when we know why, and he's actually making effort on a few things he cares about, such as professional development.

You can write unlikeable characters if that's what you enjoy.  Just understand that you'll be paddling upstream with many readers. 
Tags: how to, networking, writing
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  • 3 comments
polydad

A possible case example

polydad

April 9 2018, 07:03:10 UTC 3 years ago

How do you feel about Nick van Rijn?

He was written deliberately to be an asshole, somewhat like Tony Stark. Who, come to think of it, is another good test case.

Personally, I wouldn't be willing to *work* with either of 'em. But reading about 'em is fun.
ysabetwordsmith

Re: A possible case example

ysabetwordsmith

April 9 2018, 08:46:08 UTC 3 years ago

>> How do you feel about Nick van Rijn? <<

Doesn't ring a bell.

>> He was written deliberately to be an asshole, somewhat like Tony Stark. Who, come to think of it, is another good test case.

Personally, I wouldn't be willing to *work* with either of 'em. But reading about 'em is fun.<<

Tony is borderline for me. I have enjoyed some of the movies but not others. I enjoy him when he's geeking out, and I can tolerate some social clumsiness, but I don't like the outright cruelty some of the awkwardness is downright painful to watch.
polydad

Re: A possible case example

polydad

April 9 2018, 09:01:29 UTC 3 years ago

Nick is one of the protagonists of "The Man Who Counts", by Poul Anderson. (Also published as "War of the Wing-men.") He's a lazy boor, but also somehow an effective leader.