Heroes and Villains:
Creating a Character Readers Love or Hate

The one thing you should beware of when creating a character is to leave the reader feeling indifferent towards them...

• Create a character that they like and they will care deeply about that fictional character's fate.

• You might think that its opposite - dislikeability - would make readers not care about a character, but that simply isn't the case.

Making them likeable or dislikeable, then, is an important part of creating a character, and the purpose of this article is simply to list the different ways in which you can influence how readers feel towards your story people.

But first a warning: beware of making the good characters in a novel too good, and the bad ones too bad...

• If a hero is pure and noble with no flaws or imperfections whatsoever, readers, far from loving them, might go to the opposite extreme and hate them for being too saint-like. (Or maybe hate is putting it too strongly, but they will certainly want to see the character's halo knocked off!)

• Likewise, if a dislikeable character is wholly evil with not a single redeeming virtue, they might end up more like a pantomime villain - hated, yes, but in more of a comic way.

This article is split into 3 parts:

• First, a list of some of the qualities to give to characters you want readers to love.
• Second, a list of qualities to use when creating a character you want readers to hate.
• Finally, an important caveat.

Creating a Character Readers Love

Readers tend to love fictional characters who...

• Are dependable.
• Are modest.
• Keep their promises.
• Play fair. (Not that they won't break the rules, but they will have a strong moral code to keep them from crossing the line.)
• Are good-looking.
• Don't see themselves as being better than others.
• Help others for no personal gain.
• Have a sense of humor.
• Are courageous. (Not that they won't show fear - in fact, it's better if they do - but they must always overcome it.)
• Are willing to make sacrifices for the wider good.
• Have goals we can sympathize with.
• Tell the truth.
• Are level-headed.
• Are smart - more in a street wise, common-sensical way than an intellectual one.
• Are even-tempered.
• Are kind and generous and compassionate to others.
• Are the victims of an injustice.
• Are uncomplaining.
• Are volunteers - that is, they are willing to put themselves forward to do whatever needs to be done without being press-ganged into action.
• Are cool under pressure.