Tipster Tuesday (2)

Today's Topic:

LIKABLE MAIN CHARACTERS

I can't tell you the number of books I've stopped reading because of unlikable MCs. I read a book called STAKE THAT not long ago and, honestly, I really, REALLY disliked the MC. I finished the book, but it was an incredible chore. The MC came off as shallow--constantly mentioning the love interest's looks, while more or less ignoring his actual personality. (Or lack there of...but that's a topic for another day.) I felt that way about TWILIGHT'S Bella as well. I found her shallow and immature and...honestly, she was kind of a doormat at times. All in all, not someone I'd like to be friends with.

If your reader doesn't like your MC, s/he'll be less inclined to finish the book. It's like being trapped in an elevator with that really annoying guy from 3B that likes to talk about his recent battle with toe fungus. You know the one...

So, how do you make your characters likable?

--Avoid the damsel in distress

This was part of my problem with Bella. She always needed Edward and Jacob to save her. I think the bravest thing she did in the whole series was jumping off that cliff and that was out of stupidity, not bravery. (Sorry, but I think jumping off a cliff to hear your boyfriend's disembodied voice is stupid...and a little cuckoo, honestly.) If you can correct me and give me an actual act of bravery on Bella's part, go right ahead. Annnnyway, when your MC is a chick that always needs saving it makes her look weak. And no one wants to read that.

--Let them be heroic

And by heroic, I don't mean "victimized." Just because your MC survived being ship-wrecked, doesn't make them a hero. If he went back in, braving a ship quickly filling with ice-cold sea water, to save others, then he's a hero.

I do hate to keep bringing the TWILIGHT saga into this, but it just keeps popping into my head. You remember that scene in NEW MOON when the Volturi let Edward and Bella go and as they're leaving, they see some tourists being brought in and later hear them being slaughtered? Did they go to help those people? No. I would have seen as was very heroic of Edward to at least TRY to help...but he didn't. It bothered Bella, but she didn't try either...and she's definitely not getting any hero points from me for just being bothered.

--Perfection is the enemy

The term for this type of character is 'Mary Sue.' They're beautiful, guys love them, they can do no wrong, and if by some cosmically-unlikely chance they do, no one gets mad at them. Because they're a special snowflake, y'know? Well, that's boring and uninteresting and no one in their right mind wants to read about them. You remember the later books in the ANITA BLAKE series? Yeah...by the end of that, Anita was nothing but a huge Mary Sue.

--A good sense of humor is always a plus

I like a character that can make me laugh. If I'm reading your book and it makes me laugh, you've done something very right and I love you for it. Injecting your MC with a dose of funny is always a great way to win your reader over. But don't go too overboard or they'll start expecting a corny sticom laughtrack to play.

--Whiners don't make friends

People that constantly whine annoy me in real life, so opening a book and finding a whiny MC makes me want to throw something. Instead of having your MC complain about the things happening to them, have them try to change it.

--Quit being such a baby

This ties in with being a damsel in distress and whining. I don't like MCs that break down at the drop of a hat. I want to see some strong MCs. Grubbs from Darren Shan's DEMONATA series is a good example of a strong character. He's scared out of his mind about fighting demons, but he still does it.

For those of you who skipped to the end, here you go:

*Strong characters are more likable than whiny doormats in distress.

*Avoid the dreaded Mary Sue.

*I'll like you more if you can make me laugh.

*If you want us to like them, don't let them sit by while people are dying.

What makes you like a character?

What makes you dislike them?

Can you read a book even though you don't like the MC?

HAPPY WRITING, LOVELIES!