Why Being Mean to Your Protagonist Hooks Readers

As a writer, I get attached to the characters I write. That's normal, of course, because they're my creations, and if I’ve done my job well, they have dreams, desires, anxieties, and shortcomings. So it’s only natural that I want what’s best for them. Sure, I hope they reach their goals and have happy endings…eventually.

But here’s the hard truth I’ve learned: if you want to write a story that keeps readers turning the pages, you have to be mean to your characters. As an aside, I’m currently watching the first season of Prison Break and I noticed the screenwriters did this extremely well. The characters have this great (but complicated) plan to escape from prison and every time they seem like they get close to their goal, a new obstacle hinders them. This is so frustrating to watch, yet I can’t stop.

I know, it sounds cruel (and beyond frustrating) and you may be wondering why go this route. Why would you put these creations you love through hell? Why force them to struggle, to suffer, to face obstacles, when you could just as easily grant them what they want? The answer is obvious: because that’s what makes a great story.

The best, most memorable tales are the ones where the characters are constantly fighting for something they desperately want but just can’t seem to get. And when they finally do — after hardship, heartache, and an endless series of obstacles — the reader feels the weight of that victory tenfold.

Let me walk you through why this method works and how to grasp the art of being “mean” to your characters.

Dangle Their Want Just Out of Reach

In another article, I recommended that your protagonist needs to want something on every page. At the heart of every great story is a character who wants something. Whether it’s power, love, revenge, redemption, or something more personal, that desire drives the plot. But the key to keeping your readers invested is to continually deny them that desire — or at least make it seem just out of reach.

Think of it as dangling a carrot in front of a horse. Each time your character stretches out to grab it, you yank it away at the last second. They have to work for it, push themselves, and struggle against overwhelming odds. If they get what they want too quickly or too easily, the story becomes flat and uninteresting. There’s no tension, no stakes, no reason for the reader to keep turning the pages.

One of the first examples that comes to mind can be seen in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring is full of setbacks and struggles. Each time he gets a little closer to Mount Doom, something happens to delay or endanger his progress — the betrayal of Gollum, the temptation of the Ring, the overwhelming strength of Sauron’s forces. If Frodo had simply walked into Mordor and tossed the Ring into the fire in the first few chapters, there would have been no tension, no growth, no story.

Make Them Earn It

One thing I always remind myself as I write is that nothing good comes easy. When a character is handed what they want without much effort, it doesn’t feel earned. Readers want to see characters fight for their desires, because that’s how real life works. When we read stories, we want to see ourselves in the characters. We want to relate to their struggles, feel their frustrations, and celebrate their victories.

Think of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Katniss Everdeen doesn’t win the Games because she’s stronger or smarter than everyone else. She survives because she’s willing to make hard choices, face her fears head on, and endure unimaginable pain. Every step of her journey is a fight, whether it’s for food, safety, or the survival of her loved ones. She earns every small victory, and as readers, we’re rooting for her every step of the way. It’s not the destination — it’s the journey that keeps us hooked.

If Katniss had waltzed through the Games without a scratch, where would the suspense be? Where would the emotional impact come from? The same applies to your own writing. Be relentless. Every time your character inches closer to what they want, throw another obstacle in their path. Make it a mountain, not a molehill.

Build Reader Frustration and Tension

Now, let’s talk about the importance of frustrating your readers — but in the best way possible. As a writer, you want your audience to be invested in your characters and their journeys. You want them to be on the edge of their seats, holding their breath, rooting for the protagonist even as everything falls apart around them.

A prime example of this is George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. One reason fans of these books are so passionate (and at times frustrated) is because Martin is notorious for denying his characters — and by extension, his readers — what they want. He kills off beloved characters, allows evil to triumph, and throws wrench after wrench into the plans of every protagonist. Readers are left reeling, unsure of what will happen next, but they keep coming back because they’re emotionally invested. They want the characters to succeed, even when the odds are impossibly stacked against them.

This kind of reader frustration is gold. It’s not the type that makes them give up on the story — it’s the kind that makes them need to keep going, to find out what happens next. By putting your characters through trial after trial, you keep the tension high and the stakes real. Readers will hold their breath, waiting to see if the character they’ve come to love will finally overcome.

Make the Final Reward Worth It

After all the obstacles, setbacks, and struggles you’ve put your character through, the reward at the end needs to feel earned and satisfying. Readers should feel a sense of relief and triumph when your character finally achieves their goal — or if they don’t, there needs to be a sense of purpose behind that failure. It’s important to note that the journey is often more important than the destination. What your character learns along the way, how they grow and change, is what will leave a lasting impact on your audience.

Take The Odyssey by Homer as another example. Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca is fraught with danger and distraction — each new island and challenge pulls him further away from his goal. But when he finally returns home, the payoff is immense. He’s not just reunited with his wife and son; he’s a changed man, having faced gods, monsters, and the temptation to give up. His victory feels monumental because of everything he’s endured. The journey is what makes the destination so satisfying.

Read the full article on Medium.