What makes a main character likable, even when they make bad choices?

Question

Think about a character who messes up a lot but still has your support. What do they do (or how are they written) that makes you root for them anyway?

Answer 1

Hi! I would say to think about people you enjoy being around and talking to. We are all human and make mistakes, bad choices, etc. There are some people that we just genuinely enjoy being around and rooting for despite all their flaws. What about these people make us want to still hang out with them? Think about your really clumsy friend, your cousin with a quick temper, your teacher who doesn't have all the answers correct, or an elderly person who complains a lot. Why do we still choose to hang around them? It could be different reasons for different people. Things that come to my head would be traits like being down to earth/relatable, being humble, giving earnest apologies, having a good sense of humor, or just showing unconditional love/loyalty. You can develop these traits into your stories to give your characters like-ability! Even if they aren't the perfect person. :)

Answer 2

Great question, Asked! A main character who makes bad choices can still be likable for a number of reasons. Below are two that come to my mind:

1) Character Voice. In this case, the main character might have traits that we as readers wish we had or aspire to have. Maybe they’re refreshingly honest and defiant. Or, perhaps they keep a sense of humor or optimism as they make bad choices.

2) Empathy. Perhaps we empathize with the character. Maybe they’re making bad choices due to trauma earlier in their lives. Or, perhaps we see the character making decisions that we ourselves made earlier in our lives or that we could see ourselves making in a similar set of circumstances. Life is tough, and we may hope for similar grace or redemption as what we can offer the character while reading them.

Let me know your thoughts!