Ways to create a likable character

How to create likeable characters:
What makes a character (or a person) likeable?
What should a character be like to be likable?

Why should a character even be likable?

Because, a likable character makes the story compelling and makes the reader care about what happens next.

There are endless ways to making a character likeable and they can even be inconsistent with each other. Just think about different people that you found likeable, they probably weren't all formed with the same mold.

Still, I wanted to list some ways to make a character likable, just to get the thoughts rolling.

Being truthful as a character

The character should not show you that they are nice (by saving animals and being the nicest person ever), they should be real and truthfully shown, going after the things they really want. They should be a complex, round person.

Being unique and making different choices

The character should make big and unique, different decisions, according to who they are. The decisions don't need to be nice.

Suffering

In order to get people to like your character you have to make sure that the character suffers misfortunes in order to accieve what they want. Also, being an underdog and having a wound, psychologically or physically, gets people to care. We can relate to that, because we knows how that feels.

Being good at what they do

Being good at their job or at what they do. When a character is competent at what they do, we are attracted to that.

Wanting something

Having something they love/want/are passionate about makes us relate too.

Being funny

Being able to laugh about things, for example about themselves, not being too uptight. When a character is too uptight, that easily can annoy the reader.

Treating others well

The character doesn't have to be nice. But they must have someone, who they treat well, even if they are not the hero or "the good person". We are not drawn to someone who exists in his/her own world without caring about anyone or anything.

Being humble

Humility, realizing that the world doesn't revolve around them. They can know that they are good, or important, but they have to realize that they are only one part of the whole, one prt in a chain of events.

Being attractive

Being attractive is an often used and obvious way to make a character likable. On the other hand as with the suffering also imperfections can make one more likeable.
 

Leading by example

If the character leads as an example (either in a good or a bad way) to the reader (but feels still truthful) the reader can relate and get an rewarding feeling.

Somebody else liking the character

If someone else (often a nice person) around the character likes him/her they lead by an example and that gives the reader the clue that there must be something likeable about that character.

Do you like the character?

You have to try to transmit what you like about the character.

Sources:

YouTube video: How to Create Likeable Characters by BigPuddleFilms
YouTube video: What Makes a Character Likeable? by Jacob Krueger Studio
YouTube video: Making Your Characters Likeable by Story Dorks
YouTube video: The (Secret) Quality of Attractive & Likeable People by Shogo Garcia
YouTube video: Write Fiction that Captivates your Audience with Character Appeal by Cy Porter


You can watch these videos as a playlist:

If you have any comments, or any other ideas how to make a character likable, (or other reading, listenoing or watching recommentations) just comment below or contact me.

Kim A. Dreamreich