Sci-Fi, fantasy and speculative Indie Authors Review discussion

I have a few general questions- open for anyone who wants to respond. I'm just looking for honest opinions about the types of characters that get you hooked in a book!

Not everyone will relate to a book's protagonist... but in order to get hooked, I feel like you need to connect with them on *some* level... or at least feel something towards them.


How do you feel about a protagonist that starts off cold and distant?
Lets say he/she doesn't have much to believe in, doesn't care for much- and isn't willing to sacrifice much. Even though you could guess that a character arc will take place- would this type of character frustrate you? (Even if they had reason to be the way that they are?)

Let's say you are game for a cold protagonist. What are some qualities that would help you connect with them, despite this?

What are some of your least favorite qualities in a protagonist?

I'm asking because I'm working on developing some of my own... and I really value different opinions, however varying they may be.

From what my readers are telling me, this is a fun character to get to know. Just make sure the reason they are this way is solidly established as the actual character arc takes off.

Depending on the rest of the story, you may have a little difficulty getting a strong fan base (i.e. how many rules you break in the writing itself.) But, once people get to know your protagonist, they'll be solid fans until the end. (At least, from my experience.)

What really throws me off for any character, especially the protagonist is when there is a flat arc. If the character comes into the story knowing everything and able to do everything perfectly, the setting, and other hard work that goes into making the story memorable might as well not exist. The exception to that is if the story uses extended flashbacks well - that might keep my interest.

And, what helps connect me to any character, no matter where they are in the arc are their flaws and virtues. How do these play into who, or what, the character is now?

Hope that helps, and best of luck with your development.

K. wrote: "From what my readers are telling me, this is a fun character to get to know. Just make sure the reason they are this way is solidly established as the actual character arc takes off.

Depending on ..."

Hi K, Thanks for your feedback. It was very well written- and I'm glad that there is interest in this type of character. The one that I am writing doesn't find their virtues until later- which is part of the character arc. I agree about backstory and reasoning- and I've definitely been establishing a reason for their disposition.

Thanks again.

I write unlikable characters but they do grow and change. redeeming qualities are what connects readers. you'll have to put the protagonist through hell to get them to change for whatever reason to get the readers to care. I think it's the fear of the character being too static or staying stagnant that readers might not want to chance reading about the adventure the protagonist goes through because they don't want to waste their time.

Brittney,
Personally, I am not convinced that protagonists need to be identified with (i.e.; possess character traits that are pleasant or honorable). Martin Scorsese' "King of Comedy" is an amazing example of having a very undesirable and off balance protagonist. I view it merely as story to be watched (or read) and I personally don't feel I need to see a mirror (or a wished for mirror) of myself. It's that type of perfect hero that has crept into books and films to undermine innovation.
It was John Cassettes, another filmmaker, who always spoke out against Hollywood's demands for perfect heroes. He said that what makes people interesting is when they make questionable decisions. How they counter, or correct those questionable decisions and actions is what gives them substance.
I wrote a story where the protagonist starts out as a calloused, unemotional man, with no hints of compassion. My feeling was that when he does have a cathartic event that changes him it's even more impactful, as there was n hint of possible evolution or change in the beginning.
Perhaps my opinion is based on most writers today employing cookie cutter characters, whose trajectory is woefully predictable.
You want anti-hero? Read some Cormac McCarthy (The Crossing, No Country for Old Men).
Good luck.

How do you feel about a protagonist that starts off cold and distant?

It's okay for a character to have some objectionable traits at the start of a novel. That's what character development is about. The character should evolve throughout the story, perhaps struggling to understand and come to terms with their faults. Will readers sympathize with cold/distant characters? Only if there is a reason. EG: they have been damaged by some event, action,person. But the faults should never be unforgivable.

All of you have confirmed what I was thinking- thanks so much for the response! I'm always eager to hear more as well.

The character I have in mind is definitely distant, cold, and complacent with their so called fate. Of course, they have good reason to be the way that they are. The story I have in mind would definitely bring their walls shattering down, and rise up in them a desire to act.

I love hearing what makes you all connect with a character- even if they are cold to begin with.

Just think of the continued success of a story about cold, distant character who changes through a series of fantasy events... Yes, Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol.'

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a great example of an anti-hero that we end up rooting for. She is not someone we would want to be at first and maybe never is, but we slowly reveal the wounds and scars she has and begin to understand her bristly exterior as the mask it is. I would say that if you are writing anti-heroes, great, just make them authentic in that way. People aren't unlikable for no reason. If you let us into their world slowly, we will begin to understand them and get hooked.

I'm not sure how much help this will be, but to me, the specific characteristics of the protagonist don't matter much. What matters to me is this: does the author really understand and love the protagonist? If they do, the protagonist is likely to "human" and interesting, pretty much regardless of what they are like.

The alternative -- which seems to have become more common in recent decades (and a big reason why I stopped reading fiction almost entirely) -- is this notion that characters can be "manufactured" using charts and forms and spreadsheets and "recipes" and whatever else, resulting in (more often then not) an elaborately detailed pastiche with no life or dimensionality.

So for me, what it comes down to is that if the author does not feel a deep connection to a character, I won't either.