Comments on: How To Write A Likeable Character https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/ Helping writers become bestselling authors Thu, 20 Mar 2025 04:59:27 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: MINDY ALYSE WEISS https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781290 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 04:59:27 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781290 In reply to Lucy V.

Thanks, Lucy! And ooh, figuring out the ‘scale of adversity’ sounds like a great future post.

]]> By: Lucy V https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781287 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:45:53 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781287 In reply to MINDY ALYSE WEISS.

Yup, this is common. Balance is the key, but so is relatability. We want characters that feel ‘real’, even in genres that are UNreal (such as fantasy or sci-fi, or ‘larger than life’ genres like horror and thriller). Putting ourselves in the character’s shoes is my first step, as is weighing up what exactly has happened to them. The more serious the adverse life event for your character, the longer it will take for them to bounce back. So ask yourself, ‘where on the scale is the adversity?’ is my top tip here.

]]> By: Lucy V https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781286 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:42:10 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781286 In reply to ANGELA ACKERMAN.

Yes, absolutely! Optimism is such a key trait – but it only counts as optimism with a healthy dose of realism. Contrast is everything.

]]> By: Lucy V https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781285 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:40:59 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781285 In reply to Trine Grillo.

Delighted it was useful. Good luck with your characters!

]]> By: Lucy V https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781284 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:40:21 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781284 In reply to V.M. Sang.

Glad it helped! Thanks for telling me

]]> By: V.M. Sang https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781283 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:54:02 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781283 Thank you for this. Most helpful.

]]> By: MINDY ALYSE WEISS https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781282 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:05:24 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781282 This is so helpful, Lucy! In one of my first MG manuscripts, the character had such a lack of self-confidence that beta readers sometimes pitied her vs. liking and rooting for her. The tips you mentioned worked great for me!

The only hitch I had was giving an optimistic outlook. I was so worried about people pitying my MC that one of the first fixes was to stop her from dwelling on the bad. But I had an editor at a major house think she was bi-polar because she bounced back way too fast. Finding the right balance is hard! Any tips for others who struggle with this?

]]> By: ANGELA ACKERMAN https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781279 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:18:18 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781279 Good advice, especially the optimism. I think even though we hit characters with a lot of challenges, they need to bounce back from the dark thoughts rabbit hole fairly quickly and find their way back to optimism and what they can control. We admire characters who can do this, and it makes a bad hand dealt seem ever more unfair…so we root even harder for them to succeed. 🙂

]]> By: Trine Grillo https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/03/how-to-write-a-likeable-character/#comment-781278 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:04:34 +0000 https://writershelpingwriters.net/?p=58015#comment-781278 I love this. So helpful as I am digging deeply into my characters.

]]>