Relatable Characters
Relatability isn’t about what you believe — it’s about what they believe.
Everyone Is the Hero of Their Own Story
Every character sees themselves as the main character. That includes the protagonist, the antagonist, and all the secondary folks in their inner circle. Give them a reason — a purpose that makes sense to them. It doesn’t have to be noble or even smart, but it has to be real. You might think it’s a bad reason — but they don’t. That’s what matters. The reader doesn’t have to agree, but they need to understand it. That understanding is what creates engagement.
Every Character Does What They Do for a Reason
Even the bad guys. Especially the bad guys. A one-dimensional villain who kicks puppies just to be evil isn’t compelling — it’s lazy. Sure, everyone will hate them, but that’s cheap heat. If your character is doing terrible things, ask why. What’s their goal? What happened to them? What are they trying to prove, protect, or gain? When a character’s reason makes sense, readers stay hooked. They may not agree — but they get it. That’s where the magic is.
Take Ferris Bueller’s Day Off — as a kid, Ferris is the hero. As you get older, you start to feel for the principal. You start saying things like, “Why can’t this kid just go to class?” Same movie. Same characters. But you evolve, and suddenly both sides make sense. That’s relatable.
A Believable Reason That Makes Sense to Them
Relatability isn’t about what you believe — it’s about what they believe. An old guy yelling “Get off my lawn!” might seem ridiculous when you’re 20, but at 59? You get it. It’s not about the lawn. It’s about control. Routine. Comfort. We all want things the way we like them. Whether it’s your dad griping about grocery store shelf rearrangements or a soldier coping with fireworks on the Fourth of July, the key is why they feel that way.
Characters don’t need your approval. They need your understanding.
The Best Antagonists Aren’t Pure Evil
Pure evil gets boring fast. Darth Vader blew up a planet, sure — but even he got a redemption arc. Did I buy it? Not really. But the attempt to explain why he did what he did mattered. That’s what readers want. Not a cartoon villain. A human one. When the villain’s motivation is clear — even if it’s dark — you’re giving readers a reason to care about the outcome. They might even find themselves sympathizing. That tension? That’s what keeps pages turning.
The Best Protagonists Are Not Paladins
No one wants a perfect hero. Lancelot slept with Guinevere. Peter Parker’s got personal issues and guilt. Real heroes have flaws — and those flaws don’t magically disappear. They learn to live with them. Just like in real life, progress isn’t a one-time fix. You don’t wake up cured. An alcoholic is always an alcoholic — they just choose every day not to drink. Characters dealing with PTSD, addiction, anxiety — they don’t “get over it.” They learn to cope, to rely on others, to keep moving. And that is heroic.
Let them fail. Let them ask for help. Let someone else step in when they can’t. That moment — when the team picks up the slack, when the hero admits they can’t do it alone — that’s the stuff readers remember. That’s what makes a protagonist someone you root for.
Final Thought
Characters don’t have to be perfect. In fact, they shouldn’t be. They need to be real. Give them purpose, give them flaws, and give them room to fail — and grow. Let the antagonist make sense. Let the protagonist struggle. Keep your people grounded, and readers will follow them anywhere.
Relatable Characters - Original Medium Article
Relatable Characters - Over 1000 Five Minute Focus videos on the Successful Indie Author YouTube Channel
Craig Martelle is an author, leader, and entrepreneur living in Alaska. Retired from the Marine Corps military intelligence community and physical security, he graduated summa cum laude from law school and went into business consulting. From intelligence, to the inner workings of company boardrooms, to on-the-ground leadership, Craig has seen it firsthand.
He is a million-selling author of over 200 science fiction (post-apocalyptic, military sci-fi, and space opera), thrillers, and the non-fiction series, Successful Indie Author. Craig has been running author conferences since 2017, and also the Successful Indie Author Facebook Group, and the Successful Indie Author YouTube Channel.
Leadership is a service, not a crown to lord over others.