Creating characters that readers can relate to and root for is essential when writing a story. It doesn’t matter if your character is the hero or villain, they ought to be relatable in order to keep readers engaged.
But how do you make a character relatable? How do you ensure that your audience will connect with them and feel invested in their journey? This blog post explores three key elements: reliability, likeability, and arcs. We’ll discuss what each of these elements involves and provide tips on how to craft captivating characters who draw readers in from start to finish.
Making your character relatable
In order to create a relatable character, there are a few key elements that you can focus on.
First, it’s important to choose a relatable archetype for your character. For example, if you’re writing about a high school student, you might want to choose the “jock,” “nerd,” or “popular girl” archetypes. Then, you’ll want to give your character some relatable flaws and weaknesses. This will help readers connect with your character on a more personal level.
Finally, try to write your character’s dialogue in a way that feels natural and realistic. If your character sounds like they’re always spouting out perfectly crafted one-liners, it’s going to be difficult for readers to relate to them. However, if you can create a relatable character with believable dialogue, you’ll be well on your way to writing a story that resonates with readers.
How to make your character likable
If you want people to like your character, you need to give them a reason. Is your character brave? Kind? Funny? Smart? There needs to be something about your character that is likable, or else people will just find them annoying. Here are a few tips on how to make your character more likable:
-Make them relatable: People like characters who they can see themselves in. Your character doesn’t have to be exactly like the reader, but they should have some relatable qualities.
-Give them flaws: No one is perfect, and neither should your character. Give them some flaws that make them more human and relatable. Just don’t make their flaws too big or too annoying.
-Make them intriguing: People like characters who are mysterious and enigmatic. Make your character someone that people want to get to know more about.
-Make them fun: Nobody likes a wet blanket, so make sure your character is someone that people enjoy spending time with. Give them a fun personality that will entertain the reader.
So what about those characters who are grumpy, or even downright evil? You can still make them likable by showing how they are motivated and justified in their decisions. Maybe they have a tragic backstory that explains why they are the way they are. Or maybe you show how their actions are based on strong motivations, even if those motivates are ultimately corrupt. We don’t have to agree with what they’re doing, but we can understand perhaps why they want to do it!
Character Arcs: Positive or Negative?
One of the most important aspects of writing a strong character is developing their arc. This refers to the journey that your character goes on throughout the story, and how they change and grow as a result of their experiences. A well-developed arc will make your character feel three-dimensional and relatable and will help to drive the plot forward. There are two types of arcs I’d like to discuss in particular today: positive and negative arcs.
A positive arc is one where your character grows and learns throughout the story, eventually changing into a better version of themselves. This type of arc can be particularly satisfying for readers to experience as it shows that no matter how dark things may seem at times, there is still hope for improvement. Every character makes choices that influence them into both prosperous and disastrous storylines. However, a character who is in a primarily positive arc will ultimately prevail by the end of the narrative.
With negative arcs, your characters don’t necessarily grow or learn throughout the story, but rather, their journey is a cycle of successes and failures. Your character may make mistakes and pay for them dearly, only to repeat those same mistakes in the future. This type of arc can be more difficult to write because there needs to be a sense of realism and tragedy that readers can feel deeply. This arc is less common, but it can be intriguing to watch a character who was once good, slowly descend into darkness as a result of their own choices.
No matter which type of arc you decide to go with, make sure that your character’s journey is believable and consistent. Give them moments to reflect on their decisions, both good and bad, so that we can have a better understanding of the person they are becoming.
Conclusion paragraph: Characters are the heart of any story, and making them believable, likable, and relatable is key to keeping your readers engaged. By giving your character a relatable backstory, flaws that make them more human, and an intriguing journey throughout the story, you can create a three-dimensional character that readers will root for. Remember, there is no one right way to write a likable character; just make sure they feel authentic and real!
