What makes characters great? (And I don’t mean great as in a great person, though that’s a fun conversation too. I’m talking about writing characters who could walk off the page and into real life.) I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately as I work on another story. I’ve learned over the years of writing that I’m drawn to certain types of characters.
I enjoy books where the characters have real flaws and might not always make the right choices. Even when they make the wrong choice and I want to toss the book, it draws me in. For many, there’s a fine line between reading for escape and too much of the character’s struggles.
For me, those struggles are what make the characters stand out. That’s what makes them real, even though they’re fictional. Some characters make all the right choices but they have internal struggles. Then there’s the internal verses external struggle. Some characters face a physical obstacle that they must overcome. Those can be interesting and usually involves another character, or several characters. Other characters face an internal battle where they must overcome something within themselves. Those are my favorite.
What about you? Have you discovered a certain “type” of character trait you prefer that makes the character great?
Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor's degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she's not homeschooling her kids, you'll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha's genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.
I so agree with you. if a character has flaws that God can help him/her overcome with trial and error (just because he/her is human) I love to watch this character grow and try to make things right. I just finished a book where one main character never wanted to marry and now his brother is dead and he is in charge of his two nieces, ages 5 and 7 and he is soooo out of his element, he doesn’t know what to do. Long and short he does get married only to put his new wife and two nieces on his brothers ranch while he lives in town and sees them only on Sunday for dinner after church. Well he is called out on this by another man. Very interesting and this man will stick with me, for the reason how easy it is sometimes to only think about ourselves and not about what God would have me do even if it is out of my comfort zone. I love it when stories teach me a lesson or guide me in an area where I need a little help. Ok sometimes a lot of help.
I agree but it’s so hard to write…because you feel more. And sometimes it would be nice to just have happy, happy, but that’s not life…so in fiction, characters need to struggle to make the story real but have a happy ever after so we can still experience escape (my humble opinion). Thanks for the insight!
I like characters to have flaws, as in real life, we all have flaws. If they don’t have a flaw, they aren’t believable. It doesn’t have to be a big flaw, it could be a struggle with anything. Just something that shows they’re human and don’t have all of the answers. I love it when their flaw(s) draw them closer to each other and to Christ.
You make a great point! I love when characters teach me something. I have a lot of flaws that I still need to overcome, and it’s great when I can learn through my favorite method of reading.
That happily ever after is definitely a requirement for me. I need that moment of bliss to help smooth out the harsh edges that the characters have brought to the story.
Those are my favorites too. I love watching characters learn and grow, and if it teaches me in the process, even better.
I like relatable characters
I like when charters get àn happily ever.i Also like if characters have flaws or they make a mistake in the past and come back later to apologize and if it’s with a woman or men and get back together years later.
Hi Tabitha! I agree with you on what makes characters great & make me really like them.
To me, flawed characters who change for the better because they realize they aren’t being the type of Christians or pleasing to the Lord in their actions or words are the best. Characters who rely on God to help change their heart attitudes are “great”. Because in real life, we all struggle with things in our own personalities that we don’t like or want to change.So when I can relate to a character struggling in the same areas as me, it makes them real in my mind. I don’t like a character who is resistant or unwilling to change something about themselves.
I also like characters who stick up for the “underdog” (because I totally do!). Someone who comes alongside a friend to remind them of their worth in Christ & stands up against people who criticize them or treat them badly in some way. Like the hero in a book….makes me fall in love with him right along side the heroine :-)
Character growth is important to me when I’m reading a story. I have to have that to really enjoy reading it. Maybe I don’t like a particular character at first, but by the end, they change for the better and I end up liking them a lot. There have been a rare book where I still don’t like them at the end, but thankfully that hasn’t happened to much. I’ve not thrown a book across the room in a long time….figuratively speaking of course, because I’d never actually do that…lol!
I like characters that make mistakes, but own their mistakes and learn by them.
I like to read about flawed characters and how they overcome their battles. It makes the characters seem more real and down to earth. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
like all kinds
I definitely agree with all the imperfectness and struggles, since that makes them more realistic and relatable.
Me too. They’re a lot of fun to read about.
Oh yes! The second chance is one of my absolute favorites. It’s hard to see them mess up, but then when they learn from their mistakes, I love it.
I love everything you said! And I completely agree. No actual book throwing here either, but there is the occasional death glare when a character annoys me.
Yes! There’s so much to be said for a character that can own up to their mistakes and grow from that.
I love that the characters can represent so much to each of us. Their flaws and their battles create learning experiences for me and I love learning from them.
Variety is good.
I adore characters that I can relate to. Sometimes their struggles feel overwhelming, but then I get to cheer all the harder when they overcome.