Writing a Likable Main Character

When writing in first person, an author takes on the persona of the main character. It's inevitable. How can you get inside the head of the MC unless you become the MC? This also holds true for third person limited, but either way, the writer is that person, hopefully only during writing sessions or else they would be diagnosed as clinically insane.

This is not the same as the main character taking on the persona of the writer! Writers have personality flaws like everyone else, but they're not necessarily ones that should be ascribed to a fictional character.

Back when I was a new writer working on my second novel, I fell into characterizing my protagonist as cynical and wary of new relationships. Yes, I tend to be cynical, although unlike that character I'm pretty good at hiding it. And no, I rarely form new relationships, because I need to first trust a person before I'm willing to invest time in them. These characteristics actually fit the MC, because she'd been the victim of an attempted murder by a stranger, so naturally after she fled to another part of the country, she wasn't keen on forming new bonds. Her cynicism rose from the fact that people from her past had betrayed her, so she was always analyzing new acquaintances' motives. To me, in my clueless state of mind, she was just right for the story.

Until a publisher I'd submitted the manuscript to told me that my MC was unlikable.

That was a big blow. I didn't get it. I'd been invested in that character for a year and I understood her. Why would she not react the way she did? 

As sensitive to criticism as I am, that rejection caused me to stop writing for a long time. In fact, I swore to myself I would never write again.

Then at some point, I looked at that manuscript with fresh eyes. While I still didn't agree with the publisher (she was criticizing one of my children, after all), I began to see how other people might view my MC. Yes, she had redeeming qualities; loyalty, compassion when push came to shove, but truth be told, her personality was off-putting. It's a wonder she even managed to make one friend.

I later reworked that novel into a novella, for various reasons, mostly to "shape it up" ~ remove unnecessary subplots and unnecessary characters; to tighten the plot. And while I was at it, I softened the MC. I honestly didn't want to, but no one is going to read a story about someone they don't like.

Writing a likeable, but still interesting main character is like balancing on a tightrope. For me it is, anyway. Look out! You're tipping too far to the side! Whew! There you go ~ slow and steady. Whatever you do, don't rock anything!

I internalized the criticism I'd received so much that my subsequent characters became milquetoast. If they ever did say something sarcastic, they needed to follow it up with a laugh. "Just kidding! You know I love you!" The MC didn't dare tip too far to the wrong side. 

Then I was criticized for doing that. One review for Inn Dreams asked, "How old is this character? She comes across as really naive."

So, that MC wasn't likable, either.

Likable characters need to have flaws, but only mild ones. Perhaps they have no sense of direction or they're scatterbrained. I Love Lucy, only in novel form.

Clearly, creating main characters is my downfall. Since I don't read women's fiction (but I used to read what was called "fiction" 🙄 ) I Googled for types of personalities found in that genre. Naturally, Google returned a lot of gobbledygook, but I did find one article that was actually helpful and could be food for thought were I to ever start a new project.

As for the novel I'm writing now, my main character is already formed and even if I wanted to change her personality, there is no way I would go back and do that. I'm not about to start over. Her characteristics aren't ones that someone could rattle off easily. She's not a "type". Definitely indecisive, impetuous, too quick to fall in love (see: impetuous), loyal to a fault, assertive when it really matters; otherwise quite compliant.

Will readers find her likable? I have absolutely no idea. Given my track record, I'm obviously the wrong person to ask about that.

Bottom line, though, is that this novel is plot-driven. If readers want to wallow in a character's foibles, the book won't be for them. 

I've done the best I can.