Explore the art of obsession in storytelling. Learn why unapologetic, messy characters create more impact and catharsis than traditionally likable ones.

Making a character 'likable' is often the fastest way to make them forgettable. If you want to create someone who sticks in a reader’s mind, you have to move past 'pleasant' and tap into the parts of us that want to be bolder, or maybe even a little meaner.
Personality. How to create a character that has personality. Someone who is unapologetically themselves. Someone who leaves others obsessed with them.








An unapologetic character is defined by their raw, unfiltered energy and their refusal to follow social rules or engage in people-pleasing. According to the podcast, these characters are often a total mess, yet they resonate with audiences because they remain true to themselves regardless of the consequences. This authenticity creates a powerful connection with the audience that polite or rule-following characters often fail to achieve.
Character obsession often stems from a 'borrowed body' experience where the audience lives through a character's bold or impulsive actions. We are often drawn to characters who suppress the same social filters we navigate in real life. This creates a sense of catharsis, allowing readers or viewers to explore parts of themselves that want to be bolder or meaner through the safety of fiction.
The discussion suggests that making a character traditionally 'likable' or too polite can actually make them forgettable. Effective character development and storytelling techniques often require moving past being 'pleasant' to create someone who sticks in a reader's mind. If a character is too focused on being nice, they may lack the depth required to make the audience truly care about their journey.
Catharsis in fiction occurs when we see characters act on impulses that we usually suppress in our daily lives to avoid social judgment. By watching unapologetic characters navigate the world without filters, the audience experiences a release of their own suppressed emotions. This emotional connection is a key reason why we stay up late finishing books or defend complex characters as if they were family.
Creado por exalumnos de la Universidad de Columbia en San Francisco
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Creado por exalumnos de la Universidad de Columbia en San Francisco
