Making your characters more marketable to a readers audience

Temple

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had very distinct character designs
That is true, like Spy x Family's popularity is due to Yor's outfit getting cosplayed so much. But I don't think this applies to the popular webnovel tropes. Think of OP MC animes. I don't think any of them became popular because of design. Many of them aren't distinctive at all. Like I said above, Kirito clones.
There are standouts, like Rimuru and Shield Hero. Like they're recognizable, but that's not what pushed them to popularity.
 

RepresentingWrath

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True, but it can get more clicks so that readers can find out how interesting the character is.
What I meant was, popular\markeatble characters are usually somewhat boring\generic. The usual strong, level-headed, somewhat good-natured with pleasant appearance. No matter how much authors an readers here say that they like ruthless murderhobos or weak-willed characters and so on, we are a minority.
 
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The most important thing is to make the design of a character say something about them, that attracts people that like that character type which are also the ones more likely to keep reading. For example, if a girl wears a witch's hat, you know she's some kind of magic user, if a guy wears some black coat with the hood on, you know he's some kind of edgelord, and the facial expression can inform of their personality.
I wanted to disagree with this point based on the witch hat but calling guys with black coats edgelords is exactly what I do in my story.
 

Representing_Tromba

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That is true, like Spy x Family's popularity is due to Yor's outfit getting cosplayed so much. But I don't think this applies to the popular webnovel tropes. Think of OP MC animes. I don't think any of them became popular because of design. Many of them aren't distinctive at all. Like I said above, Kirito clones.
There are standouts, like Rimuru and Shield Hero. Like they're recognizable, but that's not what pushed them to popularity.
True, but it can help.
GOD imagine Sword Art Online and Bland Isekai Harem being someone's childhood
It is. Imagine how many watched new testament devil sister as a kid. Though I bet you are being sarcastic.
 

Representing_Tromba

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I am. It's just that I can't imagine being creative when one of your childhood inspirations is In Another World with My Smartphone
True. So bland and boring.
That is true, like Spy x Family's popularity is due to Yor's outfit getting cosplayed so much.
81f.jpg
 

ThrillingHuman

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If you were recommended to make your characters more marketable (IE more desirable to a readers eye) how would you do it?
big boobs
If that means making a character dummy thicc, could you justify it?
are you prescient or what? But I wouldn't. Big boobs need no justification.
How would you alter their outfits to be more "desirable?"
BIG BOOBS
What else might you do to make them more interesting in looks?
EVEN BIGGER BOOBS
 

Tempokai

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Simple. Just make the character relatable, funny, and whatever that gives out elusive "emotions" in real life, and the likeability surely will follow. In terms of image, outfit and whatever, just look at the manga and anime characters, they're the best

Also:
Ah, the age-old quest to turn characters into irresistible bait for readers' wandering eyes. How noble, how utterly altruistic. Paul_Tromba, you have stumbled upon a conundrum that has perplexed scholars and philosophers for eons. Indeed, how does one transform a mere amalgamation of words into an object of fervent admiration, a beacon of allure in the vast sea of fictional beings?

As you eloquently put it, "dummy thicc" seems to be the new epitome of literary virtue. Of course, why rely on depth, complexity, or meaningful development when you can simply inflate a character's posterior to legendary proportions? Surely, readers will flock to your masterpiece for the profound insight it offers into the human condition. After all, who needs nuanced storytelling when you can measure character appeal by the square inches of their fictional derrières?

And let us not forget the pinnacle of fashion, for nothing screams "desirable" like extravagant outfits designed solely to accentuate the curves and bulges of anatomically implausible figures. Is there not an old proverb that goes, "The more ludicrously revealing the costume, the deeper the narrative resonance"? If not, there should be. Surely, your characters' ensembles must defy the laws of physics and common sense, leaving readers awestruck by the audacity of your artistic vision.

But lo, dear inquirer, you dare to seek more than mere physical exaggeration. How noble! A character's personality and capabilities, you suggest, might also play a role in their likeability. How quaint. Why bother crafting compelling motivations or growth arcs when you can simply resort to snappy one-liners and tropes as stale as decade-old bread? Remember, readers adore characters who fit neatly into predetermined boxes; complexity is overrated.

In fact, why not abandon the notion of characters altogether? Instead, create a catalogue of inanimate objects - each representing a different marketable trait. Want a 'strong' character? Behold, a dumbbell with abs. Seeking 'mysterious'? A shadowy fedora resting atop a trench coat. The possibilities are as limited as your imagination!

So, Paul_Tromba, embrace the path of least resistance. Craft your characters not with depth or authenticity, but with the calculated precision of a mad scientist assembling a marketable monstrosity. And as your readers gaze upon your masterpiece, remember that in the grand tapestry of literature, it's not about leaving a lasting impact or provoking thought. It's about making your characters as memorable as the fleeting rush of a sugar high, and just as nutritionally bankrupt.
 

ThrillingHuman

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Although this is sadly true for webnovels, a lot of the more popular webnovels that graduated to being LNs, Manga, and traditional books have had very distinct character designs. This helped to boost their popularity a bit, mainly thanks to horny teens. As for YA novels, I can't really speak on that. YA novels aren't bad but a lot of the characters are bland or interchangeable as you said.
I feel like this is the case of characters going so unique that they are unrealistic and it completely detaches readers from the story and forces them to evaluate it on the story's rules. If these characters were unique but not completely unrealistic but someone you could imagine in real life, they'd not be as popular.
 

Representing_Tromba

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I feel like this is the case of characters going so unique that they are unrealistic and it completely detaches readers from the story and forces them to evaluate it on the story's rules. If these characters were unique but not completely unrealistic but someone you could imagine in real life, they'd not be as popular.
Yeah, that's true. You have to have a balance. If they are too out there in the design then it's unrealistic but if you make it too bland then it feels very basic and boring.
 

APieceOfRock

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Making an unforgettable character is better than making a bland/marketable one. I think it's more useful long term to have characters that have well-defined personalities (like Edward and Eric (I forgot his name lol) from FMA). Another important thing is to make characters that fits the story. Now, making a comedic character in a dark and depressing world isn't a no-go—it can actually create a beautiful contrast if you know what you're doing.
So make characters that fits the world first. I think being marketable or not should be left for last.

For example: I have this world that has just been freed of a century-old war. The main character is left scarred by that war. After figuring out the character arc, I then think to myself, "Would wolf girls be popular on SH?" Quirky little details as add-ons are fine, I think. But I'm too amateur to incorporate those quirks into the character so everything I make just feels like "human but with animal ears and tail."
In fact, I often forgets that my character is supposed to be a wolf girl if I don't constantly remind myself. I think that's a fail on my writing.
 

ThrillingHuman

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Yeah, that's true. You have to have a balance. If they are too out there in the design then it's unrealistic but if you make it too bland then it feels very basic and boring.
No, unrealistic is good. It allows the author to ceize the initiative and strongly lay ground rules in their story.
But that unrealism must also possess charisma.
As for blandness - didn't @Temple tell why it is also good?
So you should not seek balance between them.
 
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