According to writing coach Joe Bunting, there are seven traits of sympathetic characters. While they apply to any character, these are especially important to the main character of any story.
Take action
The protagonist must ‘protag’ (verb, ‘to protag,’ copyright Sanderson), that is,be proactive. Proactive characters make hard choices and go after the thing they want. This is essential.
Fight against injustice
A character who is bullied, persecuted, treated unfairly, or the victim of injustice generally attracts sympathy. We all love an underdog.
Demonstrate competence
We like characters with competence, doing hard tasks well. Even better, we like an arc of competence; from novice to expert, apprentice to master. Perseverance through failure earns a lot of sympathy points. Embed a training montage and a rising level of competence through the try-fail cycles of the plot, you’re on to a winner.
Value friendships
Characters who cultivate and maintain friendships are more sympathetic than steadfast loners. Other characters who like and care for the protagonist puts them into a sympathetic light.
Do good deeds
This is the whole basis of Blake Snyder’s “Save the cat.” Selfless, altruistic acts put the protagonist on the side of the angels whatever their other flaws.
Display individuality
Bunting lights on character ‘quirks,’ but there’s more to it than a physical tick, a habit or irrational fear. The protagonist especially has to be a distinct individual to stand out from the meek, the drones, the Mean Girls, or the Smart Clique. The ideal protagonist is always, in some way, a bit of a rebel, a non-conformist. They have their own opinions, values and beliefs. They become leaders, not followers; bland is banned.
Hide a secret vulnerability
This is a flaw, fear or weak spot. We don’t mean kryptonite or vertigo, this has to be character driven. Perhaps it’s a fear of abandonment, fear of failure, the shame of a guilty secret, a longing, a thwarted ambition, or a sense of unworthiness. This is prime territory for a character arc of growth, redemption or achievement and can power character motivations in the background.
Front, Centre, Side and Mirror
The more of these traits a protagonist possesses, the more likely readers will stick with them. Even the anti-hero needs these traits, else we lose the ‘hero’ and get left with the ‘anti.’ Any or all of these seven traits applied to side characters immediately lifts them from flat bit-players to rounded and lively star turns. Use these for antagonists and the core conflicts of the story become even more vivid and convincing. No one likes a cardboard cut-out villain.
Seven-plus and minus
Apply all of the seven traits without any mitigating flaws or imperfections and you get the dreaded Mary-Sue paragon of virtue, just as dull and unappealing as the flat cut-out. Use these traits to leaven the character’s flaws, base instincts and bad decisions, you can make even the most immoral and repugnant player into a compelling personality.