The Word Cloud

While half way through editing my novel I have been looking at some critera agents look for in a book. Three keep coming up plot (which I have) pace (which is ok but could improve) and then the lead charator. What do the want from a lead charator?
If I was to describe my lead I would say he was intellegent but not as much as he thinks, Hasn't lived life to its full because of his focus on his career and sometimes rutless in his persuit of his goals. His lack of life experience leaves him vulnerable in the novel. He isn't the strongest of leads but this is how he has to be for the strong secondry charactors to work.
What do you think makes a good leading charactor?

Hello jimdiego,

Someone who has a flaw in their character, to make the reader connect or relate to them to  some degree.  A  100% strong character wouldn't be realistic.
And then the books say the character must have changed in some way by the end of the book. That might be more complicated.
In saying that I need to work on my characters, I find that the hardest part of a novel.

: )
Aiyla

Hi jimdiego,
Have you read Hero's Journey: by Joseph Campbell? If not, do, you'll find lot's of interesting insights for characters. It helped me.
Although I don’t agree with everything Campbell has to say with regards to his so called winning formula, for writing, but some of what he has to say makes a lot of sense.
And the storyline will obviously dictate the parameters for your character development, so there’s no fix-it all solution unfortunately. Good luck with it.

Rob