Whether or not your protagonist must be likable is an ongoing debate in writing circles. In a guest post on Jane Friedman’s blog, Susan DeFreitas says forcing your hero to be likable is less important than portraying them as vulnerable. “In fact, making your protagonist too good, paradoxically, is an excellent way to make your reader not care about them at all,” she writes. “Not only because such characters don’t ring true (we all have our foibles and flaws) but because, generally speaking, we don’t turn to fiction for stories about perfect people.”
Instead, readers are drawn to vulnerability: a character’s weaknesses, fears, and soft spots. DeFreitas identifies three vulnerabilities that attract readers:
- Insecurities. “What does your protagonist hide, and why? What are their weak spots and insecurities?” DeFreitas asks. A character may have a crusty exterior, but if you show one of their insecurities, the reader now has a way to relate.
- Fears. Similarly, fears can humanize an unlikable character. Focus on emotional fears rather than object-oriented phobias. A reader might relate to a fear of spiders, but they will understand fear of rejection.
- Internal conflicts. Conflicting morals, ideals, or goals can help your character seem more three-dimensional and create reader empathy. Depending on the conflict, your reader may even root for one side or the other to win out.
