2.1 Lin Anderson
In the following video, Lin Anderson talks about how she tackles the issue of the likeability of her characters in terms of how readers form para-social relationships with them.
Download this video clip.Video player: week3_video4_lin_anderson.mp4
Transcript
LIN ANDERSON
Do I worry about the likability of my villains and how do I approach their likability? Well, I would say loveable rogues are wonderful characters to write and read about because they encompass our own diverse traits.
They both exasperate and excite us. As readers, we experience the positive and negative in our own character. We learn about ourselves. An interesting and well-formed villain is necessary for conflict with our main character.
If they’re overcome too easily, there is no drama. They should have a clear chance of winning. Otherwise, we can never take our protagonist into their most difficult place and see them overcome their obstacles, both physical and mental.
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Lin raises an interesting issue, which is the extent to which our relationships with fictional characters can teach us something about ourselves, an issue you will return to later.