Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-26181085-20150407180904/@comment-26007602-20150408054731

I've never personally created an OC, nor do I really prefer that type of story, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. That said, I'd argue that you almost never want your character to be obnoxious. Sure, he may be unlikable, but you never want him to a point where the reader contemplates stopping reading because they can't stand the character. You need them to be likable or relatable in some way. Just one.

You could perhaps make him charming. Give him some flair and finesse in his dealings, something more than simple brutality or careful dissection. Maybe he has compassion for something or someone (just don't victimize that something, as it will become cliched). Show is that he's still human, and not totally devolved into an unthinking killing machine we see so much of.

To avoid the classic cliches of others abusing him to the pint of him snapping, maybe try something else. Maybe he's in an industrial or natural accident that leaves him crippled and unable to cope? (Thatau be cliche, but I haven't seen much of those). Don't combine abuse and then an accident, as that will lead to clichéd territory as well.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. Incorporating them would require a heavy rewrite, but if you're up for it, making an OC is not impossible. Maybe see if someone else has advice too?

Hope this helped a bit!