This month's Round Robin Blog Fest Topic : Feb. 19 - Describe a flawed character you might use as a heroine or hero in a story. How did they become so flawed? How might their flaws affect the story and what will happen to them?
“It seems to me
that most characters, in anything, are flawed in some way, just like most
people. You look for the good in the flawed people and vice versa, and then try
to make them appealing in some way. – Author: Aiden Gillen
Flawed
characters are what make a story far more entertaining than perfect, well-rounded
characters. Any book or movie would be dull without characters who have an
issue they have to overcome. A lot of the time, it’s those flaws that help to
drive the plot. Not only does the character have an objective to achieve, they
must also battle their fears or hang-ups to get through to the end. Think
Indiana Jones and his fear of snakes.
In general, there are three types Of Character
Flaws:
1. A minor character flaw is an
imperfection which serves to make them memorable to the reader, but doesn’t
affect the story.
2. A major character flaw is
more noticeable and restricts the individual, whether physically, mentally, or
morally.
3.
A fatal flaw can cause a character
to bring about their own downfall and possibly their death.
Would you be engaged if the main character had everything they wanted and never had to struggle? What would be the point of reading their story?
But if
that same main character suddenly lost everything, or discovered the luck they
thought they had was a by-product of criminal activity on the part of their
partner, that would turn their lives around and they wouldn’t see life as the
same rose garden. In fact, they’d become the underdog in how they dealt with
those new situations. Their perfect worlds would suddenly be flawed as would
their attitudes toward the changes they’d need to make.
In my newest book, The Conned Lady, Katie Mullins' biggest flaw is that she trusted the wrong people and paid the price. Only the bad guys have infiltrated her closest friends who all have their flaws and secrets. I found this book interesting to work on because it wraps up the series and forces Katie and her boyfriend Danny to face their worst fears.
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2yB
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
Diane character flaws are what make all of us, and our characters, human. You next book sounds great. Love the cover, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, So true. Goody-two-shoes types don't make for an interesting story. Anne
ReplyDeleteI can identify with your Katie. All too often, people are to be trusted until proven otherwise, but oops, that's too late.
ReplyDeleteSo, she should make a good protagonist.
I liked your 3 types of character flaws -- and like your Katie, few seldom know about even in close relationships about their partners flaws until too late.
ReplyDeleteGood post. We couldn't possibly care very much about someone who has it all. It's the struggle to attain or overcome that makes the story worth reading and the protagonist worth remembering. There's a reason Gone With The Wind has been a classic forever and it's not because Scarlet is a perfect person.
ReplyDeleteFlawed characters are integral to a good plot. If everything is easy, there’s nothing to root for, no conflict, nothing of interest, and it’s hard for most people to relate to.
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ReplyDeleteI read once that when you first fall in love, you think your loved one has no flaws. Then when that changes into love, you try to ignore the flaws you increasingly find. But when it finally morphs into real, lasting love, you realize you love your person BECAUSE of their flaws, because without them, they wouldn't be the person you love.
ReplyDelete