How to Write Interesting Characters?
The essential tools for creating unforgettable characters
It’s arrogant when writers assume the audience will find likable characters interesting. Writers often justify their choices by stating that the protagonist must fail, conflict must occur at specific points, etc.
Most writers create likable characters, but the audience doesn’t find them interesting.
Interesting characters often become memorable, while likable characters create a sense of hope.
Putting a character in a challenging position doesn’t make them interesting. If the character is designed to be likable, their choices in difficult situations won’t seem authentic. These character patterns are common in some mainstream movies. Studios invest heavily in marketing to convince the audience that the protagonist is likable.
The point is, I’m not entirely against likable characters; I only oppose dishonest, apathetic, and lazy characterization.
The average audience doesn’t consume stories to find someone to like. They watch because they are curious, and writers must feed this curiosity with interesting characters. Here are some methods to achieve this goal.
1. Know the difference between sympathy and empathy
A writer must coherently construct the character and the situation so that the audience can determine whether to sympathize or empathize with the character.
What is sympathy?
Sympathy occurs when the audience feels pity or sorrow for the character’s misfortune. A character being the victim of something they can’t control, like poverty, harassment, or childhood trauma, causes sympathy.
Example — Django Unchained (2012)
Django starts as a slave and, with Dr. King Schultz's help, becomes a free man. However, Django faces discrimination wherever he goes because he is black. The audience sympathizes with Django, as slavery is beyond his control, making him a victim of a discriminatory society.
What is empathy?
Empathy occurs when the audience understands the character’s condition by imagining themselves in the same situation—a challenging situation that the character can control, such as finding a job or rescuing someone.
Example — Django Unchained (2012)
Django’s primary goal is to rescue Broomhilda from the cruel slave owner Calvin J. Candie. Unlike slavery, this mission is something Django can control and take action to achieve.
What matters more, sympathy or empathy?
The answer is both. In life, there are things we can control and things we cannot. Like that, a character requires both to resonate deeply with the audience.
2. Know the difference between conflict and obstacle
Conflicts and obstacles drive the character’s journey by forcing the character to make choices and take action to achieve the goal.
What is conflict?
Conflict occurs when the character faces disagreement or opposition between opinions, principles, interests, or needs.
Example — The Social Network (2010)
Goal: Mark Zuckerberg wants to join a final club (a better social network).
Conflict: Erica breaks up with Mark.
Action: Outraged, Mark writes an insulting blog post about Erica and creates Facemash. The heavy traffic crashes Harvard's computer network.
Reaction: This incident brings Mark's programming skills to the attention of the final club members, who later invite him to join their project. Then, Mark builds Facebook.
Conflicts aren't always intense disagreements; sometimes, they are as simple as a "no." Their nature varies by genre and the writer’s choice of narrative execution.
What is an obstacle?
An obstacle is something that blocks the character from achieving their goal. For example, a person, an event, an organization, etc.
Example — The Social Network (2010)
Obstacle: The Winklevoss twins and their partner try to take Facebook from Mark.
Conflicts are often personal, arising from the character's flaws, while obstacles are external challenges the character must face to reach their goal.
Another example:
Conflict: Batman's rule of "no killing" conflicts with the Joker's attempt to force him to kill.
Obstacle: Batman must stop the Joker's crimes while following his "no killing" rule.
Conflict pushes the character to achieve the goal, while obstacles stop their progress.
3. Know the difference between need and want
The need shows the audience how a character must change to achieve their want. For example, we all need love and care, but we also want wealth and success.
What is a need?
Overcoming a weakness within the character.
A need involves overcoming a character's weaknesses. It’s what a character must achieve for a better life, indicating something profound is missing within them.
Example — Joker (2019)
Arthur seeks structure and direction in life. He needs a father figure. Since his biological father is absent, Arthur looks up to Murray Franklin as a father figure.
What is want?
A want is what the character desires in the story—a specific goal outside themselves.
Example — Joker (2019)
Arthur wants to be a comedian (joker).
Need and want drive the character’s journey. By confronting conflicts and obstacles, the character fulfills both, leading the audience to sympathize or empathize with them throughout the quest.
Take Away
Does your character need to be likable or interesting? It depends on the writer’s intention and vision. If the story demands a likable character, figure out why it’s essential.
When the audience cares about a character, they invest in the story, regardless of agreeing with the character’s morals.
Most mainstream films fail because the audience cannot connect with the character. These films often create situations to move the plot forward instead of creating challenges for the character.
Ask yourself why you love your favorite characters. Is it because they are likable, interesting, or something else?
Personally, I like interesting characters. I think interesting characters are likable 😋.