How I Create My "Good" Characters

And Your Book Deals

Jul 11, 2022

I tend to write really evil bad guys with few redeeming qualities. So to play against them, I write really good protagonists. Of course, not too squeaky clean—that isn’t realistic.

So do my “good guys and gals” always do what is right? No. No one does everything right. In real life, we make mistakes. It’s how we learn. And so I like to create characters who still have some learning to do. That learning can be something that happens in the main plot of the story or it can be a subplot.

But undoubtedly when my protagonists learn, it makes them a better person.

Take Skye from Sanctuary’s Aggression. She needed to learn to face the facts staring her in the face and stop thinking everything would go back to normal. Until she does that, she can’t do the things she needs to do in order to survive.

Dylan, on the other hand, is sure most people are not worth his time. He’d rather hide away in his mountain home, content with the company of his brother and a few friends.

What they learn improves their lives and their personalities. Skye becomes the bad butt she needs to be, but she is still kind to people who don’t want to kill her. Dylan becomes someone people look up too—and he enjoys being a leader.

Clashes happen along their journey and that’s part of what keeps the story going. But unless there is a reason for a disagreement with another “good” character, I like my characters to show something that is sometimes in short supply—respect and consideration.

When respect is given to anyone—parent, child, partner, friend, neighbor—it is never a wrong move. When we show respect and consideration to others, they are more likely to reciprocate. And that makes both parties feel good.

Have you ever played The Sims? Just think of that little bubble over their head. lol.

I keep that in mind while writing. When Dylan is being—well, crabby—as he sometimes can be, Skye goes out of her way to be understanding. She could crab back at him, but then there would be a fight over nothing—and the words in a story are too precious to waste on that. There are much more important things to do!

Not to say, that discord can’t be the main focus in a story. But in my opinion, in an apocalyptic story, the fight needs to be with the evil dude or dudette!

By the end of a series, I not only want the bad guy taken care of, I also want all the good characters to be living as peaceful of a life as they can—and that includes lots of respect and consideration from all their pretend family and friends.

Happy Reading,
Maira :)