Any Tips On How To Make Readers Root For A Character That's Not The Narrator?

Any tips on how to make readers root for a character that's not the narrator?

Well, why have you ever rooted for characters other than the narrator? What have you read or heard from other people that makes them root for a character? Oftentimes a good chunk of an answer just takes a bit of introspection or listening.

Typically, readers root for characters that they find to have at least one of the qualifications:

Useful: Contributes positively to the story, either by helping others or driving it themselves.

Sympathetic: The character is understandable as a well rounded person.

Funny: Is amusing to readers.

Relatable: Readers can see parts of themselves in the character. A Reminder About “Relatable” Characters (link embedded)

Admirable: Has generally good qualities, but does not have to be perfect. A realistic role model.

Interesting: The more they learn, the more people want to know more about them.

(This isn’t a rigid list, but the qualifications are generally positive or entertaining)

None of those qualifications are restricted to only show-able in a narrator in any way, however a good part of ‘rooting” for someone involves wanting them to achieve their goal. Not being the narrator, they’re likely not the protagonist and therefore the main plot may not be about their goal. You can address that in a few ways:

Subplots: Give the character and their goal a subplot, however remember that subplots have to be related to the main plot and can’t just be a character going off for unrelated reasons.

Aligned goals: By participating in the plot and alongside the protagonist, the character’s goals can be worked toward, though it’s not the same as the protag’s.

Same goal: They have the same goal as the protag. (When using this option, make sure to give that character unique motivation. Being too similar to a protagonist in motive can decreases reader interest.)

Side stories: The character is allowed to have their own adventures, you just shouldn’t be dedicating a lot of “screen time” to them if they aren’t directly plot involved.

In the most generic sense, you just want to write an interesting character. No, the reader is not going to be able to see their inner monologue, but they can’t see most of any book characters’ inner monologues and it’s rare for a reader to hate everyone but the narrator (unless they’re all poorly written or that’s the point).

You can still teach a reader about a character through: body language, description, dialogue, symbolism, actions, choices, etc.

Good luck with your character!

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tropes i will never get tired of

fake dating

omniscient narrator who immediately contradicts the characters (“This is fine,” she said. It was, in no way, shape, or form, fine.)

deadpan jokes while swordfighting

the “I FUCKING LOVE MY WIFE” guy

oblivious pining that slowly escalates until A is going on page rants about how pretty B’s eyes are but still doesn’t seem to recognize they’re in love

Strong Leader Type having to physically fall down in order for the other characters to see how exhausted they are

funny villains who talk and make jokes with their heroes while they’re fighting them

the villains presented as the protagonists

*increasingly pulls out bigger and bigger weapons from more unlikely places*

“I said all of your weapons” *pulls out more*

“ALL OF THEM” *pulls out one last tiny dagger*

traumatized character using humor to cover up ptsd

characters going out for a break at a restaurant/movie/whatever and something bad happening

using the “*gasp* what’s that over there???” trick to avert the enemy’s attention and it working

a villain’s weakness being something totally random and nonsensical

a hero duo arguing over who’s the sidekick while fighting a villain

“don’t be silly, we don’t need [important thing]” “you lost it, didn’t you?” “yeah”

“what’s the one thing I told you not to do tonight?” “raise the dead” “and what did you do?” “raised the dead”

“I think that went pretty well” *explosion in the distance*

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clamofbeans2

5 years ago

Why have I never see this????

Thor Ragnarok: Deleted scene

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clamofbeans2

5 years ago

Twelfth story, “Comedy's your thing.”

by satans_dolly_boy666

“So… Is it your hobby to do business with homeless people?”

Prompt #11: “Homeless Peter (finally) plus our billionaire who wants to give him a hand.”

YAASSSS I WROTE SOMETHING RELATED TO A HOMELESS PETER PARKER wiii !!! Am I welcome to the Homeless Peter Parker fan club now? no seriously why this is a thing in this fandom? (don´t answer it)

Words: 1074, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 14 of Tony Stark & Peter Parker duo Prompts OR Spiderman stories and ocasionally the appearance of Tony and the avengers

Fandoms: Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies), Spider-Man - All Media Types, Iron Man (Movies)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: Other

Characters: Tony Stark, Peter Parker, Happy Hogan, Mary Parker, Richard Parker

Relationships: Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Happy Hogan & Peter Parker

Additional Tags: Homeless Peter Parker, Homelessness, Protective Tony Stark, Precious Peter Parker, Peter Parker is a Mess, Peter Parker Needs a Hug, POV Peter Parker, The parker luck :D

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