Is your MC a jerk?

My MC is a jerk...he's a neo-nazi bastard. But he does have redeeming qualities. If you think your MC is likeable, that's all that's important.

I'm not writing YA, but yes, my MC is a jerk. My two other supporting MC's are very sympathetic, though. My MC is not a narcissistic high school girl though, he's an embittered 60 year old man.

haha. Good thing I just posted something that looks a little like what you described. My first books have had a good hearted MC and I think that a lot of teens do identify with that. I just think that they like to mix it up a bit too. Like for every sweet MC side of them, they need a little bit of trouble mixed in. Just my opinion.

My MC is a jerk I guess. Sort of.
She is more of a jaded kid rather than an outright jerk though. She certainly isnt like the jerks you describe.

And yes, she is a teen girl, 13....

I think kids (particularly teens) always like to read about people doing naughty or bad or illegal things. I do think the rise of celebrity-obsessed magazines and media has had an effect on teens who now seem to think bad manners are acceptable, even funny - and sadly, so do some of their parents.

All I can suggest is that those type of books are part of a trend - and like any trend, they'll burn out. Kids may be amused by those sorts of characters, but as others have said, there's no real substance.

Nobody is perfect - everyone has dark and light sides to them. But I do think it's important for MCs to have some redeeming qualities, otherwise the reader won't want him/her to succeed at whatever it is. Deep down, the MC needs to be a fundamentally decent person - maybe with issues - but still basically a person who wants to like and be liked.

Of course, there will always be the tiny percentage who don't follow this, but I would suggest that it's more likely to happen in adult fiction?

My MC in my newest book is popular and pretty, but she's also nice. Yay for not being a Gossip Girl!

The MC in my second book was popular, pretty, and a conceited jerk, but deep down, I knew she was a good person. Maybe that was the problem. I knew it, but the rest of the readers didn't! When she realizes who she's become, she tries to transform herself into a better person, but it's hard.

In my first book, my one MC (there were three) prided herself on being unique and smart and looked down on anyone normal. I admit to this line of thinking sometimes, but she took it to the extreme. However, it was portrayed as a problem with her, and one of her other friends got angry for constantly belittling people who weren't like her.

in my is it YA/is it not YA, my mc starts off as being something of a spoiled brat, and then everyone dies, and he has to suck it up.

I think biting, scathing sarcasm makes likable, jerky main characters. ^_^ Jokes at the expense of supporting characters is not an admirable quality, but it can get some laughs and folks can quote their favourite put downs/ comebacks. ^_^

-An

My MC is a jerk. He's a thousands-of-years-old misanthropic curmudgeon hermit. Part of his jerkiness is his complete disregard for human life.

I'm probably one of those 'jerk' girls you described. Elitist, probably, but if such girls are to survive, they either give up or end up rather socially isolated (not that that's a bad thing. In fact, that's what I opted for. I like my friends, and I could honestly care less about what other people are doing.) If a girl was like this long enough, she wouldn't be complaining about how stupid other people are, she would be ignoring them, much in the same way a character whose mother died five years ago wouldn't be mentioning it at every turn. I think the whole 'not understand' thing is rather stupid, though.

Personally, I don't think stupidity is that big of an issue (there will always be stupid people, some of them are pretty nice, and hell, there's Darwin awards), but more concern should be focused on the petty. For some reason, I don't see many teenagers in YA doing that.

Then again, could you give some examples of what you're talking about? I don't read that much YA, and if I read these books, I may not identify with the main character at all.

Evernight: Bianca's not a jerk, though a few people think Jared is. Bianca is an intelligent, bookish girl, and her interests aren't shared by many, but she feels intimidated at school instead of arrogant. She is far from perfect and aware of it. Jared is loudmouthed, hot-tempered and stand-offish, but he stands up for what's right and isn't afraid to defy authority/the crowd/etc. to do it.

Venus and Mercury: I am still getting to know Julia, but she's not a jerk either. She, too, is very focused on her education, so much so that some people find it odd, but she doesn't judge other people for being different; in fact, she thinks of herself as odd. And she's a very outgoing, affectionate girl that people sometimes underestimate but generally like. In some ways she's very naive, and that will be a problem for her in short order, but she's not at all obnoxious.

I tend to prefer the non-obnoxious characters; a witty, intelligent, bold jerk is sometimes delightful, but this character type is hard to write well. I've seen great examples, but I've also seen far more that just came across as annoying.

My last MC was definitely difficult to like (sort of an understatement ), but I at least found her sympathetic. She comes from quite a screwed-up family, and she doesn't really know how to relate to guys at all. At times she's a complete and utter bitch, and I've definitely wanted to slap some sense into her on more than one occasion, but at times I (tried to) show her vulnerable side too. I've read books with horrid, manipulative MCs that I liked, and sweet, shy MCs that I hates. I think it's all in the execution, and it's impossible to gauge how others will react to your characters ahead of time. Just, for the love of all that is holy, don't stack everything against your protagonist! There is nothing more instantly unlikable than discovering that the author is fully behind one of his/her characters.

Ansel is a jerk, but he gets over it fast when people start trying to kill him for no apparent reason. Makes you stop and reassess, you know?

He's whiny, yes, and sarcastic. But he's got good reason. His identical brothers are rich, talented, and famous. He's just a regular kid. That'd make anybody a little bit cranky.


Being a jerk, in my opinion, usually means something is out of balance. Sure, there are just plain nasty people out there, but they usually end up serial killers and "jerk" is probably the nicest thing you can call them. For every jerk in the world, there is most likely an extenuating circumstance.

Now, as for fiction? Yeah, there are jerks for no reason other than to have an excuse to launch all the scathing insults the author was too afraid to say as a kid. I don't like to read those kinds of jerks. With everything in fiction, there needs to be a reason for something. If he's a jerk for the sake of being witty, something is amiss in the storytelling process, if you ask me.

All my mine characters are as lovable as I am. Take from that what you may.

My YA MC was very nice, funny, and she was a senior in HS. But I think being super nice is what makes the story. She stays true to her self even though life is throwing her a TON of lemons. (The reader is seriously hoping she achieves her dreams by the end of the book)

My MG MC is a bit of a downer though, but I know this will only last for a couple of chapters. I have BIG life changing plans for him. (I can't wait! he he)

Go with what you like to write. Be true to your self and write what makes you feel good. Keep in mind that characters going through changes is a good thing. (at least, thats what everyone tells me. See: character development thread.)

Good luck, and most important HAVE FUN!
TL

I have 5 MCs

Azrael- A condescending bastard who thinks he knows more than everyone else... Unfortunately for everyone else, he's usually right.

Luke- A 65 million year old loose cannon who fluctuates between lovable puppy-dog eyes and pyrokinetic rages. He also has a childish obsession with superheroes.

Morghan- A cold-blooded killer. She kills anything she gets her hands on. People. Emotions. Puppies. Note: She doesn't always set out to kill them; she's just pretty unlucky that way.

Nikoli- Creator of the current realm of mankind. 100% scorned lover. If only Azrael would come back to him, maybe he wouldn't be so heartless... But then again, where would my story be without an antagonist?

Michael- Nikoli's biological son. Used, abused, reused... A total nutcase by the time he manages to create his own version of the human race. He tries so hard to fit in, to be normal...and fails.


So, are they jerks? In their own special ways.

I haven't read sloppy firsts, but I agree, I had a hard time identifying with the MC in Teach Me.

I like sarcasm, and I like antisocial misunderstood characters, but they have to be human underneath the sarcasm. Does that make sense? I like vulnerability.

Nah. They're usually misguided sweethearts.

My MC murders people for fun.

But she's not all bad.

scarletpeaches said:

My MC murders people for fun.

But she's not all bad.

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Your MC & my MC (Morghan) should do lunch... Of course, they'd probably end up killing each other before they got past the salad.

Is your MC a demon? 'Cause mine's a shapeshifter. Imagine the fun they could have!

scarletpeaches said:

Is your MC a demon? 'Cause mine's a shapeshifter. Imagine the fun they could have!

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Mine's an immortal. She doesn't shapeshift, but she's pretty tough. Her lovers are angels, so she's okay with extraordinary looks.

Ooh, your MC is a lady-immortal? Nice, as Fern has bisexual tendencies.

Aw, look at us proud parents trying to matchmake our twisted creations. Don't they make you proud?