A fascinating question because I used to intentionally make my characters Mary Sues. As a former child who used to write, for a while I never understood why people would give character traits they disagree with to the character or characters who are supposed to represent what is right in your world, since they’re the ones unfolding the story’s solution. This had the side effect of my main character being nicer than me, and sometimes my parents would remark to me “why can’t you be like your main character”, which had the side effect of putting me on the fast track to self-improvement. Anyone else?
If I got any writing done, the characters would be productive and actually finish writing stories instead of procrastinating like me.
Self confidence
Whatever other qualities I give them, whatever qualities or flaws I have, I write about characters who are comfortable being who they are and know what they want. Which is like the polar opposite of my terrified-of-my-own-shadow ass
I write about bad guys. All my characters are bad guys. One is greedy and manipulative, whereas the other one is a violent sociopath, while the other is a womaniser and finally a thrill junkie who loves to watch people get beat up. I’m working on the aspect that the sociopath and thrill junkie are also serial arsonists.
I don’t agree with what my characters do, but they represent an untold story. I have little interest in making my characters likeable and instead more like the person they are supposed to be. Bad guys.
Selflessness and compassion.
ive always like realistic characters. its what i struggle most with in modern tv. i like to see progress being made on a problem/relationship through real conversations and disagreements. i find a lot of kids shows charming for this when characters have to work to solve seemingly simple problems. i tend to get annoyed at shows that have problems caused by people doing the dumbest, pettiest things that no real person would ever actually do (in theory… some people amaze me). e.g. netflix shows that can run 4 seasons on someone having a psychotic revenge scene. like who does that??
