35 Springboards for Creating Sympathetic Characters
by Deanna Carlyle
© 2005.
A site-original article.

What makes a reader identify with story characters, and how can we as writers ensure that readers care? To help answer these questions, I've compiled a list of thirty-five character traits and situations that can make your readers identify with, worry about and root for your characters.

Sympathetic Character Traits:

1) a character who is an underdog

2) a mysterious, secretive character I want to know more about

3) a character wounded by life and trying to heal, a survivor

4) a character who is not perfectly beautiful or emotionally well-adjusted, who has room to grow, but who is not so damaged that I don't see much hope for her in a romantic relationship

5) a character who is good with kids, animals, or plants

6) a character unfairly accused or judged by others, who quietly resists this injustice with little self-pity

7) a character whose motivations, though perhaps misguided, are understandable (e.g., out of inexperience, or in reaction to an untenable past situation, or based on altruistic principles)

8) a character who picks herself up quickly and takes action when she's down, rather than wallowing in emotional mire for chapters on end

9) a character quick-witted and observant enough to think up solutions to her challenges, or who knows where to go for help, and who then acts on the resulting plans, rather than staying victimized and losing her goal focus

10) a character who, by chance or design, comes face to face with what s/he's lost (e.g., a lover, a reminder of her miscarriage, a long lost friend or relative, reminder of a deceased loved one, or a bitter professional defeat)

11) a character who, by chance or design, comes face to face with an example of what she doesn't yet have, but desperately wants (e.g., a baby, a successful relationship, a friend's success, a colleague's promotion)

12) a character who comes to realize her shortcomings and who takes steps, however misguided, to overcome them (often two steps forward, one back)

13) a character with a subconsciously denied secret, or a consciously gnawing one

14) a character who ultimately can't live a lie

15) a character who's obsessed with something, say a quirky hobby or an ambition

16) a character who's hurting badly but hides it, who tries to stay strong for others

17) a determined, hardworking character

18) a character who regrets a broken promise, who wants to make up for it

19) a character with sense of humor about self and proceedings, an ironic world view

20) a character who does everything for a personal or altruistic reason (whose actions don't scream plot mechanics)

21) a character who doesn't walk blithely into situations she knows are dangerous unless she has a compelling reason (e.g., to save a loved one or own skin) and/or she has sufficient protection (e.g., she's a cop or with one)

22) a character who doesn't overreact unless there's an understandable contextual or psychological reason for it, or unless the author is purposely creating comic melodrama or suspense. “Why did he do that?”

23) a character who realizes she overreacted and then tries to apologize for it, by word or deed

24) a character who has insight into other characters

25) a deluded, all-too-human character whose rationalizations make me feel a bit superior, yet who awakens my parental instinct, making me worry for her

26) a character who ultimately puts another's needs first

27) a character who is spontaneously generous, who doesn't expect recognition or exchange of favors

28) a sensitive, thoughtful character who notices pertinent details and reflects on events, yet doesn't spend overmuch story time in own head

29) a naive, somewhat unobservant comic character who has to learn the hard way

30) a strong, silent character who means well despite inability to show it in words

31) a complex character who defies stereotype, who acts unexpectedly yet understandably (that is, still motivated and in character)

32) a curious, inquisitive character, open to new information, even if it takes a while to accept and integrate that information

33) a character blinded by a single-minded obsession, whose weakness is the flip side of her strength, and who gradually gains more perspective

34) a character who finds it hard to do the right thing, and then does the right thing anyway

35) a character who may regress to old, unhealthy behaviors, but who ultimately learns her lesson and moves on

These are the main sympathetic character traits I've noticed in my readings to date. Have fun adding your own discoveries to the list.

Creating faulted but sympathetic story people is hard work. You have my full sympathy!

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