How to Make an Unlikeable Character Utterly Compelling

Getting rejections because your characters aren't 'likeable'? Here's what to do!

Hi friends,

Marla Singer in the film adaption of Fight Club, played by Helena Bonham Carter

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Does a Character Have to Be Likeable?

I have spent my whole life in ruins, because of people who are nice

— “Disappointed”

Editors and agents are always returning manuscripts with the note, ‘I just didn’t like any of the characters.' It’s one of the most common reasons given for rejection. So how important is it to create a likeable character when you’re telling your story? And if it is so important, how come plenty of other books and films manage to be utterly compelling, despite there being literally no one in the whole cast of characters who isn’t completely despicable? Why do these exceptions work? What do these characters have to have, if they don’t have likability? Why are there some characters who are grotesque, awful, and yet despite this — or even because of it — their stories get published, their films get made, their TV series are renewed? We just can’t look away?

I’ve certainly grappled with this over the years. My favourite character, possibly of all time, is Fight Club’s Marla Singer (pictured). Do I like her? Not really. Do I wish Chuck Palahniuk would write an entire book about her? Hell yeah! But why is this?

When asked, I used to mumble something about them being ‘compelling’. But that just raises the question of ‘What makes a character compelling?’ We’re back to square one. What exactly do we have to give a character, if we’re not going to make them likeable?

Finally I think I might have the answer…