Unlikeable characters create tension with your protagonist. In many cases, your hero herself might be the unlikeable one. (In our case, it’s the writer…) But even the most disagreeable character needs to have the reader on their side once in a while. In an article for Writer’s Digest, Danielle Owen-Jones offers tips for making an unlikable character likable.
Owen-Jones says you can use the same techniques for creating a well-rounded likable character, but in reverse. Your complex heroine has a past, goals, obsessions, and flaws. Similarly, your unlikeable character should have a backstory, their own wants, and positive traits.
Give your character a compelling backstory and needs. Very few children start out as misanthropes. Help the reader understand the chip on your antagonist’s shoulder. Choose a few positive traits – Alex in Clockwork Orange loves Beethoven and his droogs – and find something or someone towards whom they are empathetic. Does your grouchy neighbor character like pets or run errands for an elderly relative? A few small moments like those will help humanize them.
If the character has a large enough role, show their vulnerabilities and consider giving them the opportunity to change through a story arc. “Even villains can show remorse for how they’ve acted, or at least offer an awareness,” Owen-Jones writes. “A great arc makes a reader feel invested in character growth—how they’ve changed for the better and what they’ve learnt along the way.”
