How to Write an Unlikeable Character

Okay, you might be wondering, “Why do I want to know how to write an unlikeable character?” Surely the point of developing and writing characters is to get the reader to like them? To root for them? To suffer with their failures and celebrate their successes?

Well sure, sometimes. But not necessarily all the time. Take a moment to think about all the people you know. Are they all likeable? If the answer is no (which I’m pretty confident it is), why should all of your characters be likeable?

Today we’re going to look at three main things. The role of unlikeable characters in stories, how to write an unlikeable character, and how to make an unlikeable character likeable.

The role of an unlikeable character

Let’s go back to your first question for a moment. Or the first question I assumed you’d have, anyway. Why write an unlikeable character at all?

There are a few reasons you can include an unlikeable character in your story. Or several—why stop at one? Here are a few of the purposes that unlikeable characters can serve in your writing:

• To learn to do better
  You might want an unlikeable character in your story so that they can improve. Starting with an unlikeable character gives you a lot of room for character development and growth, which can be fun to read. And write!
• To provide contrast/be a villain
  This can be extreme (think the Dursleys in Harry Potter) or a little more subtle (like Daphne Deighton in American Royals). In either case, the unlikeable character is deliberately set up as an antagonist. They’re meant to be the bad guy, and being unlikeable is part of the package.
• For variety/realism
  Sometimes people just… aren’t that likeable. And it’s okay! Unlikeable doesn’t have to mean awful or villainous, it isn’t necessarily the same as evil or hateful. Sometimes people are basically okay, morally, but prickly or annoying. Writing characters like this can be tricky and divisive, especially if you want your protagonist to fall into this category. It can also be deeply interesting, so don’t rule it out!

How to write an unlikeable character

The immediately obvious answer to this is in the character’s flaws. If you’re writing an outright evil character you can just go wild with this. Make them really awful and boom: unlikeable character. If you’re looking for something with a bit more nuance though, you have to put more thought into it.

To start with, bear in mind that flaws should typically be a natural flipside of positive traits. This is actually true even when you’re writing regular old likeable characters. When you consider their flaws, they should come from whatever their defining positive traits are.

If your main character is brilliantly intelligent, maybe her flaw is that she can be patronising to the people around her. If your protagonist’s key strength is their independence, their flaw might be an unwillingness to work in a team. You know the drill.

When you’re writing an unlikeable character, follow the same rule, but dial the flaw up enough that it outweighs the positive. To revisit our first example, you get a character like Sherlock Holmes in the BBC version.

How to make an unlikeable character likeable

I’m not talking about how to redeem an unlikeable character, or demonstrate their growth into a better person. I’m assuming for the purposes of this section that you’ve got an unlikeable character who’s going to stay that way. What you’re looking for then are ways to avoid readers completely turning against them.

There are a few strategies you can use. You might want to focus on just one, or bear them all in mind as you perfect your unlikeable character.

You can give them an understandable motivation for their unpleasantness. Maybe your super-smart (and patronising) character has a family who talks down to them constantly. It doesn’t make their tendency to do it to other people less annoying, but it might elicit some sympathy.

You could demonstrate other positive elements of their personality, to balance out the negatives. Your condescending genius might not have good reason to be so unpleasant, but hey, they also give generously to charity! Or maybe they’re really funny? People will forgive a lot if a character can make them laugh.

Another option is to focus on making the character relatable. This is easiest if you’re working with a point of view character, since you can give your readers direct insight into their thought process. Most people can empathise with the frustration of trying to explain something to somebody who’s so badly missing the point that they must be doing it intentionally. Right?

By working in some or all of these, you can make it easier for readers to enjoy spending time with a character who’s designed to be kind of unpleasant.

How do you feel about unlikable characters?

Do you enjoy reading them, and/or writing them? Let me know your favourite example of an unlikable character!