What makes a great main character? > Likes and Comments

I'm just curious bc I feel like a lot of main characters are similar these days...

doesnt act like a pick me

doesnt act like "i am not like other girls"

A lot of main characters feel similar these days because they fall on the same category like those dark brooding males or "not like other girls" girlies but their characterizations are so underdeveloped.

Great characters, even when they feel like a certain stereotype, can be great if the writer knows how to develop the character's story. Like for example, Katniss Everdeen— she's kinda not like other "girly girls" but her character is still a character that you'd want to root for because her femininity is not scraped off just so that she can appear as a girlboss.

detailed past, critical thinking

In a well written story, a great character feels real. We recognise their emotions, their inner weather, their dilemmas. Emotional depth is not optional. Without it, a character is furniture that talks.

But here’s more to it: emotional depth alone does not make a character real.

What makes a character real is this:
a real character surprises you without betraying themselves.

What were your favourite, or unforgettable characters?

•When they’re strong, but not so strong they have to show it off.
•When they’re not constantly overthinking everything. (It drives me crazy)
•When they know their limits, and don’t try to be the hero.
•When they’re smart
•And most importantly, they’re not a pick me!

Here is a great example:

•Katniss Everdeen *cough* reason number one of why I stole her name. *cough*

morally greyyy (Aaron Warner from Shatter me was greattt)

What I believe makes a great main character is their own personal goals, motivations, and personal depth :)

I think a great main character has to have some flaws the reader can relate to.

when they have enough backstory that they feel they didnt just fall into the moment but were there before the story starts without it being overexplained

when they have little quirks (ex. foods they always get, a item they fidget with, something they always do when anxious)

Gotta be strong init