What makes for an interesting character?

Question

ohsheeT · Accepted Answer

I think what would be a great story would be to write about yourself

But not as you

You would have to step out of the picture and write about your experiences your thoughts your dreams your energy your emotions

But write it as a person looking into the picture not from a person that is the picture if that makes sense

I honestly believe that you could write a bestseller if you did it that way because of who you are everything that you experienced the things that you love and like in this world and all that way

I don't know if you know this or not but with your questions and answers we've gotten to know you a little bit and you have some of the most beautiful thoughts you have been places you have felt things and that energy comes out through your questions and answers

And I think the reader would become that moment with you as they read it and want to experience that moment as they read it

And then there's that moments that they just want to hold on to you as they read what has happened and tell you everything will be okay but I think you could write a very very good story if you were to write it about yourself but not writing it as it's coming from yourself but write it as you're looking at this person

exitseven · Accepted Answer

A lot of internal conflict. Or a fascinating back story.

jazzy34 · Accepted Answer

What keeps me interested in a book is when a character completely evolves. There's one book I love that the main character went from a naive, sheltered young woman, to mature, wise woman. If a character doesn't change, grow, evolve, etc in any way, shape, or form throughout the book, I consider the book a flop.

Cinematic Lily · Accepted Answer

For me, an interesting character feels real but a bit larger than life 😌. They have clear desires, flaws that actually cause problems, and they change over time. Contradictions help a lot, like a brave person who’s terrified of intimacy. Unique voice, consistent behavior, and tough choices that reveal who they truly are make them unforgettable ❤️📽️📚

OneViewpoint · Answer

The internal struggle between strength and weakness. Good and evil. A flawed protagonist requires a flawed antagonist to provide contrast between good and evil. Tragic flaws. Tragic events. Uncertainty. Unanswered questions that the reader desperately wants answered. The woulda could've shoulda effect. Ambiguity. What if? What if the bad guy isn't all bad. What if the good guy isn't so good?

Look at...

Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoevsky)
The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)
You Can't Go Home Again (Thomas Wolfe)
To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
Les Misérables (Victor Hugo)
David Copperfield (Charles Dickens)
Surface Detail (Ian M. Banks)... this one is brutal moral ambiguity
The Heart Of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)
Cry The beloved Country (Alan Paton)
Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)... more moral ambiguity

BCRanger10 · Answer

An interesting character...

Has internal conflict
Has flaws and weaknesses
Tries, fails, learns, and grows
Has a personality
Has understandable and relatable motivations
Are timeless and not tailored for "mOdrN aUdiEnceZ!"

Their identity, though a factor, is not and should not be THE reason for why an audience becomes invested.

Anonymous · Answer

I guess I would say a character who has a bold and eccentric personality but at the same time is relatively realistic and not just a caricature as well as perhaps having some depth and backstory as to why they are who they are today.

I would also say a sort of slow burn very gradual character development where there's no specific episode where the character suddenly changes but it's a very gradual build up where you can see the pieces of the puzzle lining up along the way.

I guess I'd say overall anti-heroes are the best at showcasing this off but it could work with heroes and villains... as well as anti-villains I guess though I very rarely see those brought up.

MrChinaski · Answer

Vivid backstory, deep consideration of choices but still surprising at times, perspectives on the world that are thought provoking rather than obvious, underlying challenges that reveal themselves consistently but with subtlety.

And my unsolicited recommendation is Stoner by John Edward Williams.

MisterWack · Answer

Depth.
The way they interact with other people in their world, the way they’re described, the way they are portrayed, their motivations, their goals, their character, their overall personality, background, hobbies, how they dress.

That is how you make an interesting character interesting, grow them flesh them out to be more than 2 Dimensional.

Billlewis · Answer

When I read a book, one thing that tends to make the characters more interesting and appealing is if the author doesn't spend too much time developing them. I've read too many books in which far too much time and energy is expended developing the characters.

Iron_Man · Answer

Me I make an interesting character.

FreyaRed · Answer

Facet rich personality and personal codex. People generally despise others who change their opinion too often or just because it fits to current situation.

thegreenyogi · Answer

A ton of mystery, good humour and inner confidence.

RachyRach · Answer

Development that is progressive and realistic no just a sudden shift. I want to see them go through the process of facing challenges, overcoming them and becoming the person they should be.

browsingthroughthe · Answer

True and wholesome and real and based on real qualities

xawyx-3 · Answer

Combination of mystery, humor, and good personality.

loveslongnails · Answer

Identification with their situation OR something so completely incomprehensible to you that you're fascinated by them. Also, out of the box thinking.

Shiprex · Answer

Someone who is passionate and articulate about things

Anonymous · Answer

Usually flaws and relatable offend found in the villains or bad guys of the story.

lilBigPotato · Answer

A personality with some depth.

Pretendingtobesweet · Answer

Nasty women and evil men.. that's what we are for real

Bricealan · Answer

@simslover92 Humor, talent/skill

4ngelic · Answer

Imperfections and realism

AngryCarl3 · Answer

Strong motivation and consistent habits.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Substance and depth.

DonaldDarko · Answer

Intelligent and rational.

WhitneySnow · Answer

Depth

Molly1990 · Answer

Their flaws and personalities.

Alexson_stormzy · Answer

Capital composure and excitement

NathanDavis · Answer

introspection

ThisSiteSux · Answer

Conflict

Anonymous · Answer

female flaunters

What makes for an interesting character?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

AI Opinion

What Girls & Guys Said

What makes a person interesting?

What makes for an interesting character?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

AI Opinion

What Girls & Guys Said

What makes a person interesting?

We're glad to see you liked this post.