What makes a character interesting?

[jennula]

Hmm, I'm trying to think what kind of characters I like, and, I'd say characters I can somewhat relate to, as in they aren't perfect, but have different flaws (an example is the Engelsfors trilogy where everyone in the main cast is broken in some way or other, and I just can't wait to read more about each and every one of them). Keep their lives a bit mysterious and reveal a part of it every now and then to keep the reader interested in them.

I am also a sucker for characters that are a bit eccentric and/or underdogs in some way or other. But I'm not sure if that makes them interesting, or just that I sympathise a bit more with them =)

[Marton]

I like characters with secrets. It intrigues me when there is more to a character than meets the eye, especially if the character is introduced as minor background character-

I don't like edgy characters with a dark and tragic past though.

[PorcheJ]

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts and advice. Making good characters can be tough, but thing is that you have to let your characters guide you. Let them tell you the story. Each character has a different motive, personality, or background. Characters should also be identifiable. Meaning that readers are easy to identify them and know who they are; what their motive is.

[Rea]

REALISTIC PSYCHOLOGY. If you use realistic psychology, the character will become more relatable, more thought provoking, and generally more interesting. Also make them struggle. That is VERY important.

[Nyalslo]

A character is interesting when they don't fall under the category of a FRIGGIN MARY SUE. Having a Mary Sue character makes the story way too predictable and unexciting. Basically, as what the others have said, I find a character admirable when they have a flaw that connects to their future character development. I have seen characters with a flaw that made me hate them in the beginning, but as the story progresses, that character does so as well in terms of becoming a better person than they were before which is a common theme that most people in both comics, books, and reality go through, making me fall in love with them in the end. Plus, if a character is perceived as OP, then I would find it interesting if a backstory of their hard work and challenges they had to go through was shown in order to justify how and why they are the person they are now. This is all just my personal opinion.