Harsh words, only to often used. Hero’s are tricky things, they are. You can have heroes who you absolutely love, you literally would follow them to the end of the world. Or, you can have those heroes who you absolutely hate.
Yep, I have had several hateable heroes, sad to say. So, here ten tips to a likeable characters.
1. Silence isn’t golden
No one likes a character who hides away in the corner, quiet and not doing much. The more your hero does, the more likable they get. (Now, this is not always the case, but more often than not, it is.) Think about it, if Katniss hadn’t done anything, no one would like her. So, action is the biggest defining point of a likable hero.
2. Be on your best behavior
As a hero, you have to have good morals. Standing up for justice, honor, and bravery. No one wants a hero with loose morals. So, best behaviour is a must. This usually plays out as standing up for the weak. This is the best time to remember this: WWCAD? What would Captain America do?
3. Love and be loved
They have to be liked. (This doesn’t have to be a love-love, but more of a friendship love. Actually, in Greek there are four kinds of love: Agape is a spiritual love, Eros is a romantic love, Philia is friendship love, and Storge is love for family. Know you now, right?) Friends are a need. Like my mother always says, “If someone doesn’t have friends, there’s usually a reason.” So, if a character is friendless usually you think, “Hmm...that’s suspicious.”
4. A battle of wits you say? Well, you appear to be unarmed.
A hero needs wit and humor. Lets face it, no humor to lighten things up gets really, reeaaallyy, rrrreeeaaaallllyyyy, rrreeeaaalllyyyyy heavy. Now, if you have one character who is usually making jokes, that’s all fun and games until you realize how lame and serious your hero is. Sooooo....word of warning, unless you want to have to rewrite your hero.....make them witty and all that bundle of laughs.
5. The Daleks do not understand!! Explain!! EXPLAIN!!!
(If you’re wondering, the Daleks are villains in Doctor Who. Seeing as they’re robots, they often do not understand and have to say the afore quote.) We all love those bumbling, idiotic heroes. But if your hero is not competent, just forget it. I mean, that is the point of a hero, to come up on top. And if that’s not possible, well...
6. Determined as ever...
If your hero is not determined to overcome the challenge, that is not a hero. Lets add in a few plot twists and some hardships, and bingo, the hero decides, mmm, better not. So, he has to have determination. I don’t know whether that is something like Sam and Dean Winchester, who are after vengeance, or the Doctor, who saves people because he’s seen to much destruction and death. That’s really up to you, but he has to have determination.
7. Brave
This might be stating the obvious, but he has to be brave. This goes along with #1, if they are not brave, they probably won’t be doing much. Naturally this excludes those heroes who are the weak, all of the sudden saving everybody kinda guy. :)
8. Abnegation at heart
Your hero has to be selfless. I mean, selfless. Using logic, you can see how this is a must. If they’re not selfless, they probably aren’t gonna risk their lives to save others. Just the way it is. Well, of course, unless they have a turn around right before the climax.
9. You attract more flies with honey than vinegar...
You attract more loyal followers if you are kind rather than sour...words of advice to a hero. Kindness is one of the defining traits of most hero’s. Some being Captain America, Giselle from Enchanted, and really any princess or Disney hero. :)
10. Circumstances
This is one thing that will make your character be liked: circumstances. A truly evil villain, a lying scumbag, a little backstabber, some unfortunate friends who have no morality or anything to live for, and suddenly...I love the hero! Now, this only works in small doses, and in certain stories. Sticking to Captain America, Loki is one of those villains that you love and don't necessarily hate. They are like the classy gentleman who just happen to be evil. So, if you have a villain like that, sorry, your hero isn't gonna gain much love via circumstances. Perfect example, Moriarty and Sherlock. Ehehehe...I knew I'd fit something Sherlock into this post...:D
Happy Writing!
Scarlet
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