Please help! My MC is turning out to be REALLY BORING.

He's a gang leader who runs a speakeasy during the 1920s. I want him to be likeable, but not like how James Cagney made his gangster characters likeable. He's mellow, somewhat gruff, friendly and charming -- I'm just not sure how to effectively bring those qualities out in him. There's also that dark part of him that *will* use violence against those who seriously tick him off. But he's just really...blah right now. Any suggestions on what I could do to strengthen these qualities?

Don't have any specific qualities to suggest, but what drives you crazy about people you know in your own life or simply know of? What qualities do you really admire or get a kick out of, or find hilarious? If you give some of those specific qualities, tics, habits, ways of speaking, etc. to your MC, he'll probably start to come to life, if for no other reason that those qualities press your buttons for good or ill and that will come through in the writing.

Think Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca then add your character. Might work.

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