Nice People Suck
There is a character in my ms that is sweet, thoughtful, naive, and gets taken advantage of a LOT. I know real people like her. When I started writing, I intended to write someone normal, someone we could all relate too. Yet everyone who reads my ms says, “I LOVE character X. He’s awesome. Character Y is nice, but I don’t love her.”
Sadly, I don’t disagree with them. She is really nice. I like her. She’d make a great friend. But I LOVE the b*&%^y side character who is trying to steal her boyfriend.
Why do characters who are cruel, sarcastic, slutty, rude (continue string of negative synonyms) resonate better with readers? Why don’t we root for the nice guy?
Sadly, I don’t disagree with them. She is really nice. I like her. She’d make a great friend. But I LOVE the b*&%^y side character who is trying to steal her boyfriend.
Why do characters who are cruel, sarcastic, slutty, rude (continue string of negative synonyms) resonate better with readers? Why don’t we root for the nice guy?
41 Comments
William Kendall
Because the rogue, scoundrel, or villain, what have you… is so much more of a pleasure to read.
Heather Hellmann
I’ve always wondered that. Character traits such as the ones you listed make the story more interesting. Personally, I like sarcastic characters.
Norma Beishir
William–is that why you cultivate that image? Because it gets good reviews?
Kathryn
I think it’s because there can be more depth, more backstory as to how they got to where they are, and more experience that makes them more of a rounded character than the nice person.
L.A. Colvin
I agree with Kathryn but also I think they spark something inside of us. The part that wanted to scream at your boss or have a one night stand. Those characters are living the things we WANT to do but are held back by morals or religion or just plain out fear.
Cynthia
I agree with Kathryn. Many times there is more depth to that character, as writers we need to create that depth and myster for the nice character as well to make them more interesting.
Lindsay N. Currie
Ah, good post. I enjoy the villain or “bad guy” more I think because they provide an outlet. Not that I don’t like good guys, but if they’re going to be good, they better also be flawed somehow or I’ll find them boring:)
Susan Kaye Quinn
Rascally characters seem like they have more conflict going on – with themselves, or with the outside world. Conflict=riveting for the audience. However, I think a GOOD character (nice, even) with a really awesome conflict is the best of all. I’ll be rooting for them every time. 🙂
Rachele Alpine
True, true…nice people in books are just boring! I like characters who cause trouble and mix things up a bit in the book! They’re also more fun to write!
Susanna Leonard Hill
I agree with the posts above and would add that, ultimately, which of us is perfect? Not me! I think the b^&*y characters resonate because we can relate to them – we recognize a bit of ourselves – and we think, this is believable.
Faith
What everyone else said! I don’t mind a nice character, but no one is perfect, and I want a character with flaws that I can relate to. That doesn’t mean the nice person has to be bitchy, but I want to see her struggle and have bad hair days too, you know?
Lydia K
The naughty characters are always so entertaining!
Cat
I don’t know. I like nice characters, so long as they have a sarcastic side, or rebellious streak, or stubborn attitude to them. 🙂
Constance
lol… so very true…
I think it is because most people DO have bitchy thoughts about things on a day to day basis. We might not ACT on them, but we think them. It is nice to know that other characters have them to. then we can laugh at them and make ourselves feel better.
🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill
Hey Becky – I gave you an award (which you hopefully don’t already have!) 🙂
Kari Marie
I secretly want to be the bad girl – cause in real life I’m not. But I love reading about NICE girls who figure out how to be NICE and stick up for themselves. They become a little naughty and nice….
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