The Heart Of Character Investment: Empathy And Relatability

What makes a reader become invested in a character? This is a question with a wide variety of answers, but it ultimately comes down to the reader's ability to relate to the character on a human level. Even if the character is not human, their wants and desires should be understandable to a human. A character with a strong voice that makes the reader invest in them is also important. Additionally, a character with flaws, who makes decisions that the reader can understand or that are realistic, is more relatable. A character who is too perfect or has no flaws may bore the reader. A character's choices should also be consistent and make sense. Finally, a character with a strong goal or quest that the reader wants to achieve can also make the reader more invested.

Characters should have a universally human quality

Creating characters that readers can become invested in is a challenging but rewarding task. One of the key aspects of achieving this is to give them a universally human quality. This means that, even if the character is not human, their wants, fears, and motivations should be understandable and relatable to human readers. For example, a desire to be loved, fear of dying alone, or the need for acceptance are all universal human experiences that can be applied to characters.

Human qualities can be positive or negative, and often a mix of both is the most interesting. For instance, a character who presents themselves as confident and outgoing may, in reality, be deeply insecure and struggling with self-acceptance. Contradictions and complexities such as these can make characters feel more real and allow readers to connect with them on a deeper level.

Additionally, it is important that characters' choices and decisions are consistent and make logical sense within the context of the story. This helps to create a sense of immersion and makes it easier for readers to predict and understand the character's actions and decisions. For example, if a character is established as being impulsive and quick to anger, their actions should reflect this, and any changes or growth should be gradual and believable.

Characters with universally human qualities are often more relatable and engaging for readers. By giving them flaws, contradictions, and understandable motivations, writers can create immersive stories that resonate with their audience and keep them invested in the characters' journeys.

Characters should be defined by the choices they make

When it comes to creating characters that readers will become invested in, one of the key considerations is that characters should be defined by the choices they make. This means that the decisions a character makes should be consistent and make sense within the context of their established personality. For example, if a character is established as being fearful and timid, their choices in challenging situations should reflect this. However, if this same character undergoes character development and becomes more courageous, their choices should then reflect this change, with each decision building upon the last to showcase their growth.

The choices a character makes should also be relatable and understandable to the reader, even if the character is non-human. For instance, a character's desires and motivations should be universally human so that readers can empathize with their struggles and root for their success. This could include desires such as wanting to be loved or fears such as dying alone, which are inherent in the human experience.

Additionally, characters who present themselves one way but are something else entirely beneath the surface can be intriguing. This contradiction creates an air of mystery, leaving readers curious about the true nature of the character and how their inner conflict will impact their choices.

It is also important to remember that characters should not be defined by a single trait. While a specific trait may be important to the story, a well-rounded character will have a range of characteristics, allowing them to react and adapt to different situations. For example, a character might behave differently towards their college professor than they would with a childhood friend. This ability to navigate social nuances makes the character more believable and engaging.

Furthermore, flaws are essential in creating relatable and compelling characters. Perfect characters without any visible flaws can be boring and unrelatable. By contrast, characters with flaws that are common or recognizable will feel more human and accessible to readers. These flaws can be internal, such as indecisiveness or aggression, or external, such as facing discrimination or struggling with insecurities.

In conclusion, creating complex, relatable, and dynamic characters is essential for engaging readers and making them invest in the story. By focusing on the choices characters make, writers can craft compelling narratives that resonate with their audience and keep them turning the pages.

Characters should be relatable

Creating relatable characters involves giving them human qualities and flaws. Even in a fantasy setting with non-human characters, their motivations and desires should be understandable to the reader. For example, a character's desire to be loved, their fear of failure, or their struggle with self-acceptance are all relatable traits that readers can empathize with. This sense of relatability allows readers to step into the story and care about the character's journey.

Additionally, characters should have distinct personalities and not be defined by a single trait. They should be dynamic, with their choices and decisions driving the plot forward. A well-written character will have an arc, showing growth or change throughout the story. This could be a character learning to accept their flaws and embrace their true self, or it could be a journey of self-discovery as they question their beliefs and challenge their own morals.

Characters that are too perfect or one-dimensional can be boring and fail to evoke emotional investment from readers. It is important to give your characters flaws and imperfections, allowing them to make mistakes and face the consequences. This creates a sense of realism and makes the character's journey more believable.

Relatability also extends to the problems and conflicts the characters face. When a character faces a challenge or obstacle, it should be something that the reader can understand and empathize with. This could be a personal struggle, a moral dilemma, or a situation where the character must make a difficult choice. By presenting characters with relatable problems, readers can put themselves in the character's shoes and become emotionally invested in their journey.

Lastly, it is important to remember that different readers will relate to different characters. Some readers may be drawn to a character's strength and resilience, while others may connect with a character's vulnerability or sense of humor. As a writer, it is essential to create well-rounded, three-dimensional characters that readers can believe in and care about. This will ensure that your story resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

Characters should have a strong voice

A character with a strong voice is essential to making readers care about them. This means that the character should have a distinct personality that comes across in their dialogue and actions. The character's voice should be clear and consistent so that readers can identify them even without dialogue tags.

Giving a character a unique voice helps to create a sense of immersion, making the character feel like a real person that the reader can connect with. This connection is crucial for investment, as readers are more likely to care about the character's journey and root for them to overcome their flaws and achieve their goals.

Additionally, a character's voice should be appropriate for their background and context within the story. For example, a character's speech patterns and word choices should reflect their social status, education level, and cultural background. This attention to detail adds depth and makes the character more believable.

It is also important to give characters flaws and contradictions, as this makes them more relatable and human. Even in a fantasy or sci-fi setting, a character's desires and motivations should be understandable to the reader. This could be as simple as a desire to be loved or a fear of failure.

By creating characters with strong, distinct voices, authors can engage their readers and make them want to keep reading to see what happens to the characters they have come to care about.

Characters should have a desire/goal

A character's desires and goals are essential to creating an engaging narrative and fostering emotional investment from the audience. Setting clear objectives for a character provides a sense of direction and purpose within the story, giving the audience a reason to root for their success or failure.

When crafting a character's desires and goals, it is crucial to ensure they are specific, achievable, and come with clear consequences for success or failure. This creates a sense of urgency and investment in the character's journey. For example, a character's goal could be to regain their honour, with the consequence of failure being lifelong exile from their homeland. This clear and compelling goal provides a framework for the character's actions and decisions, allowing the audience to understand their motivations and emotionally invest in their journey.

Additionally, it is essential to ensure that the character's desires and goals are relatable and understandable to the audience. Even if the character is non-human, their motivations should be recognisable to human experiences, such as the desire to be loved, the fear of failure, or the need for acceptance. This sense of relatability creates a deeper connection between the audience and the character, making it easier for the audience to empathise with their struggles and root for their success.

The character's desires and goals should also drive their decision-making and influence their interactions with other characters. This helps to create a well-rounded and dynamic character, as the audience can understand the "why" behind their actions and see how their goals shape their behaviour. This adds complexity to the character and makes them more human, as real people's desires and goals also influence their decisions and interactions.

Furthermore, a character's desires and goals can be a source of internal conflict, creating a compelling character arc. For example, a character may desire something that goes against their moral code, or they may need to make a difficult choice between two conflicting goals. This internal struggle adds depth to the character and makes them more relatable, as it showcases their flaws, weaknesses, and the process of self-discovery.

By giving characters clear, relatable desires and goals, with defined consequences, writers can create compelling narratives that resonate with their audience and keep them emotionally invested in the character's journey.

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