Daisie
"Confused and fungal"
So I have this character that I'm trying to add a little bit more likeability to, and I figured I'd come here and get some advice on it.
I don't think she's even particularly unlikeable, but because of her backstory, I do feel like I'm starting off at a bit of a handicap. I'll explain.
Lucia was originally the character of a friend of mine, and I'm taking her over for a writing project of mine (with permission of course). Lucia has a defined role in her relationships throughout the story and I do like her, but all of the other characters (both my friend's and my own) are coming off more appealing to me, and I suspect it isn't just a matter of personal preference. I think I've isolated that I'm at a bit of a disadvantage for a few reasons.
1. She comes from wealth. Now this isn't a damning sentence or anything. My favourite character is an exorbitantly wealthy person. But I also think that having grown up in a very upper-class background does make it so that there's naturally a little less relatability than the average person. It may not be a huge issue, but it's something to note anyways.
2. Maybe more of an addendum to the first one, but she's very posh. She's not just wealthy, but she does subtly project herself as above others. It's a big factor.
3. My friend and I have always struggled to give her some sort of purpose among her compatriots. For the most part, she's soft-willed and doesn't like getting dirty with her hands, so she's historically been very passive, especially in a high-action and high-emotion story.
4. Respect. She's a bit difficult to hold respect for because it's a habit of hers to ignore or run away from her problems. I'm cool with slowly fixing that over the course of the project, but at the same time, I do feel the need to give her something else until then. I'm in need of redeeming qualities, lol.
So if you have any general advice on how to make likeable characters or how to make an unlikeable character more appealing, feel free. But also I would love advice on Lucia specifically, and maybe even some ideas for what her strengths could be. Cause right now as it goes, my characters take the loose pattern of:
Reavis - Strong, stubborn leader who takes responsibility for the others
Stan - Also strong, but way more selfish, as such usually winds up being crude comic relief
Nate - Voice of logic, and oftentimes a voice of morality.
Lucia - ???
I get the vague feeling that having her be the more emotional core of the group is a good idea, but I'm nervous on how to go about that. I don't want to wind up making it feel forced and have her become preachy or annoying in a new way. These kinds of characters seem pretty difficult to work with. For anyone who's seen The Good Place, I think of Tahani - She's very similar. I don't outright dislike her, but I don't think I've met a lot of people who she's the favourite of, and she is probably my least favourite in the main lineup. I want to try and help Lucia avoid that, and give her a fighting chance against those around her.
Disclaimer: I'm perfectly aware that likeability isn't always objective. I'm not trying to make her appeal to the individual everyone, cause to be honest, no character is going to do that. But there are characters out there that are nearly universally disliked, so it's not completely subjective, either. I want to help her fare in general, and a little bit for myself (Shocker, but I feel so-so about writing for a character I don't mesh with as well).
As such, if you'd like, I wouldn't mind if you told me your personal take on what you find likeable or unlikeable, just to gauge what others have to say on the matter. Have you seen characters similar to Lucia before? Have you liked them or not? For the likeable ones, how do you think they pulled it off, and for the unlikeable ones, how do you think they could have been improved? I'm looking for all forms of advice!
I don't think she's even particularly unlikeable, but because of her backstory, I do feel like I'm starting off at a bit of a handicap. I'll explain.
Lucia was originally the character of a friend of mine, and I'm taking her over for a writing project of mine (with permission of course). Lucia has a defined role in her relationships throughout the story and I do like her, but all of the other characters (both my friend's and my own) are coming off more appealing to me, and I suspect it isn't just a matter of personal preference. I think I've isolated that I'm at a bit of a disadvantage for a few reasons.
1. She comes from wealth. Now this isn't a damning sentence or anything. My favourite character is an exorbitantly wealthy person. But I also think that having grown up in a very upper-class background does make it so that there's naturally a little less relatability than the average person. It may not be a huge issue, but it's something to note anyways.
2. Maybe more of an addendum to the first one, but she's very posh. She's not just wealthy, but she does subtly project herself as above others. It's a big factor.
3. My friend and I have always struggled to give her some sort of purpose among her compatriots. For the most part, she's soft-willed and doesn't like getting dirty with her hands, so she's historically been very passive, especially in a high-action and high-emotion story.
4. Respect. She's a bit difficult to hold respect for because it's a habit of hers to ignore or run away from her problems. I'm cool with slowly fixing that over the course of the project, but at the same time, I do feel the need to give her something else until then. I'm in need of redeeming qualities, lol.
So if you have any general advice on how to make likeable characters or how to make an unlikeable character more appealing, feel free. But also I would love advice on Lucia specifically, and maybe even some ideas for what her strengths could be. Cause right now as it goes, my characters take the loose pattern of:
Reavis - Strong, stubborn leader who takes responsibility for the others
Stan - Also strong, but way more selfish, as such usually winds up being crude comic relief
Nate - Voice of logic, and oftentimes a voice of morality.
Lucia - ???
I get the vague feeling that having her be the more emotional core of the group is a good idea, but I'm nervous on how to go about that. I don't want to wind up making it feel forced and have her become preachy or annoying in a new way. These kinds of characters seem pretty difficult to work with. For anyone who's seen The Good Place, I think of Tahani - She's very similar. I don't outright dislike her, but I don't think I've met a lot of people who she's the favourite of, and she is probably my least favourite in the main lineup. I want to try and help Lucia avoid that, and give her a fighting chance against those around her.
Disclaimer: I'm perfectly aware that likeability isn't always objective. I'm not trying to make her appeal to the individual everyone, cause to be honest, no character is going to do that. But there are characters out there that are nearly universally disliked, so it's not completely subjective, either. I want to help her fare in general, and a little bit for myself (Shocker, but I feel so-so about writing for a character I don't mesh with as well).
As such, if you'd like, I wouldn't mind if you told me your personal take on what you find likeable or unlikeable, just to gauge what others have to say on the matter. Have you seen characters similar to Lucia before? Have you liked them or not? For the likeable ones, how do you think they pulled it off, and for the unlikeable ones, how do you think they could have been improved? I'm looking for all forms of advice!