Leo Woodall Prime Target Unlikeable

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Post on Jan 23, 2025

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Leo Woodall's Prime Target: Why "Unlikeable" Characters Are Actually Magnetic

Okay, so you're probably thinking, "Unlikeable characters? Seriously? Who wants to read about them?" And yeah, I get it. Initially, I thought the same thing. I mean, I'm a sucker for a good underdog story, a charming rogue, someone you can root for, right? But Leo Woodall, this marketing guru – seriously, the guy's a legend in his own mind – he's got a point. And it's kinda blown my mind.

The "Unlikeable" Truth: They're More Relatable Than You Think

My first attempt at crafting a compelling character was, uh, a disaster. I tried to create this perfect, flawless protagonist – think super-achiever, amazing at everything, kind of annoyingly perfect. The result? My readers bounced faster than a rubber ball. They couldn't connect. It felt…fake. Like reading a corporate press release instead of a good story. Major fail.

What Woodall emphasizes – and I've painfully learned this the hard way – is that flaws make characters real. Think about your favorite characters. Are they perfect? Probably not. They have quirks, they make mistakes, they even sometimes do terrible things. That's what draws us in. It's the human element. We see ourselves in their struggles.

Woodall's "unlikeable" characters aren't necessarily villains, though. Think Walter White from Breaking Bad. He's terrible, right? A drug kingpin. Yet, we're drawn into his downward spiral, his motivations, even empathizing (sometimes!) with his choices. That's the power of an "unlikeable" character done right.

Crafting the Compellingly "Unlikeable" Character

So how do you do it? How do you create a character that's flawed, even repellent at times, yet captivating? It's a delicate dance, my friends.

1. Understand Their Motivation: Woodall's methods highlight the importance of deeply understanding the why behind your character's actions. Even if their actions are morally questionable, if you understand their motivations, you can make them relatable. This doesn't mean you condone their behavior – it means you explore it.

2. Show, Don't Tell: Don't just tell your readers your character is selfish; show them. Have them make selfish decisions. Have them hurt others (accidentally or on purpose). Let the reader draw their own conclusions. This is crucial for building realistic characters.

3. Give Them a Goal: Even the most unlikeable characters usually have something they're striving for. It could be wealth, power, love… or even just revenge. This gives them a drive and makes them more dynamic. Their journey is what keeps the reader hooked.

4. Make Them Consistent (Even If They're Terrible): A truly great “unlikeable” character maintains consistency in their personality flaws. This doesn't mean they can't grow or change, just that their fundamental flaws remain recognizable throughout the story.

5. Give Them Some Redeeming Quality: It's important not to make your character purely evil, you know? Even a small sliver of a redeeming quality – loyalty to a friend, a hidden soft spot for animals – can make the character more complex and easier for the reader to connect with, on some level.

My biggest takeaway from Woodall's teachings? Don't be afraid to embrace the messiness of human nature. Perfect characters are boring. Flawed, complex characters are unforgettable. It's a lesson I've learned the hard way, but a lesson well worth learning. And hey, if it works for Walter White…

Keywords: Leo Woodall, unlikeable characters, character development, writing tips, marketing, storytelling, relatable characters, flawed characters, compelling characters, character motivation, reader engagement, fictional characters.