Let’s look at K. M. Weiland‘s Crafting Unforgettable Characters.
I enjoyed the short chapter entitled ‘Likability is Overrated’. (Sidenote: UK preference is ‘likeable’; US preference is ‘likable’.)
She begins this section by saying:
As writers, we want readers to love our characters. We want them to connect with the men and women who inhabit our stories. We want them to empathize so strongly that they are moved to laughter and to tears right along with these imaginary people we’ve created. So, naturally, we want our characters to be as likable as possible. Right?
Well, maybe not.
And then later goes on to say:
Dichotomies drive fiction. When we write characters who are fighting both their circumstances and their own natures, we create characters who are instantly real. And, thus, instantly interesting. Forget niceness. Niceness doesn’t enchant readers and doesn’t sell books. This doesn’t mean, of course, that characters can’t be good or moral. It doesn’t mean the only hero worth reading about is the anti-hero. But nobody wants to read about perfection. What readers want is reality. And the reality is that imperfection is by far the more appealing option. A character’s charisma is what draws readers back, not his likability.
So, with this in mind, I’d love to hear about your view on this. And I’m keen to learn about your main characters.
- Should main characters be likeable?
- What makes your main character interesting? What imperfections are they wrestling with?
Head to the comments to discuss or send me an email.
CherryEdits 