tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post2434456174092855738..comments2024-03-17T21:35:22.730+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: 6 Reasons to Write Flawed CharactersLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-8271666445849352042012-01-19T12:37:22.893+11:002012-01-19T12:37:22.893+11:00If a character is not flawed, the character is pro...If a character is not flawed, the character is probably not fully developed. Flaws are what make us human, and make our characters relatable:)Idabel Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05520325764365705743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-81513916541575763632012-01-16T09:09:09.729+11:002012-01-16T09:09:09.729+11:00Lauren, good luck with your next project. Giving y...Lauren, good luck with your next project. Giving your MC a few flaws will bring the story alive.<br /><br />Sharon, your chapter book sounds wonderful.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-11745917749987508182012-01-15T15:22:17.209+11:002012-01-15T15:22:17.209+11:00So far the longest book I have completed is a chap...So far the longest book I have completed is a chapter book. My mc is lovable, but flawed. He is greedy and makes lots of mistakes. but he solves his own problems and improves his character.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-70365638865804307202012-01-15T05:46:46.933+11:002012-01-15T05:46:46.933+11:00Those are some good reasons, and I have to agree w...Those are some good reasons, and I have to agree with you, Lynda. Nice post!Connie Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06264510809220669622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-46512243170970609802012-01-14T10:57:50.022+11:002012-01-14T10:57:50.022+11:00Nice list of the reasons to include flaws in chara...Nice list of the reasons to include flaws in characters. Being able to relate to the mistakes a character makes is certainly a good way to draw a reader in to your fiction.T. Roger Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16304103509683960962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-77072536379919990852012-01-14T05:45:22.084+11:002012-01-14T05:45:22.084+11:00I love flawed characters. I love reading about th...I love flawed characters. I love reading about them and I love writing them. <br /><br />Great post!M.J. Fifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15626475963328519693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-67859366418415403952012-01-14T03:53:05.624+11:002012-01-14T03:53:05.624+11:00I too like reading about and writing about flawed ...I too like reading about and writing about flawed characters as flawed characters are more interesting and come across as closer to reality.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-45497351967149601392012-01-14T02:05:01.094+11:002012-01-14T02:05:01.094+11:00My next project is an old idea that was shelved an...My next project is an old idea that was shelved and will soon be revisited, and my MC could benefit greatly from some flaws. I realized after the plotting and crafting that while the story around her was compelling and intriguing, she herself was "too good to be true."<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder!LAHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15268579298100917721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-8137475313489142232012-01-14T00:44:05.364+11:002012-01-14T00:44:05.364+11:00Hi Lynda! Yep you nailed it. Flawed characters are...Hi Lynda! Yep you nailed it. Flawed characters are so much more interesting... the kookier the better IMO!PK HREZOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650153097981426833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-69653369324114123282012-01-13T23:57:16.597+11:002012-01-13T23:57:16.597+11:00Great post. Flawed characters are the best. We rel...Great post. Flawed characters are the best. We relate to them and they do things that we can see ourselves doing. Thanks for this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-52916861824178151292012-01-13T19:56:45.801+11:002012-01-13T19:56:45.801+11:00I always liked arrogance as a character trait. So...I always liked arrogance as a character trait. Sometimes just a touch and other times a major case of it.Gyran Gymblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530108423838293039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-43469051818259574252012-01-13T15:22:22.944+11:002012-01-13T15:22:22.944+11:00Alyssia, I think one of her books is on my shelf w...Alyssia, I think one of her books is on my shelf waiting to be read. I'll put it on top of my TBR list I think.<br /><br />Shelly, thanks so much for the share. Ha, great shows to see different personalities.<br /><br />Loree, exactly right. Perfect characters are just not realistic.<br /><br />Anne, Homer and Shakespeare have fantastic examples of flawed characters.<br /><br />Robert, you have me curious about this perfect character with his imperfect moments :)<br /><br />Carol, yes! It can be a little too unrealistic, although I have to admit occasionally I like to be carried away on some fantasy.<br /><br />Jasmine, absolutely. The trick, with all things, is to find that careful balance so the characters are still likeable.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-34663348902303903022012-01-13T11:18:59.118+11:002012-01-13T11:18:59.118+11:00I agree, although I do think that sometimes author...I agree, although I do think that sometimes authors blow their character's flaws out of proportion. I read a romance novel once where the heroine pretty much did nothing but freak out, cry and scream, right up until the end. Despite the fact that she had justifiable issues, I just couldn't get past it. I wanted to reach through the pages and choke her little neck.<br /><br />Erm, anyway, you're right though. Characters definitely need flaws. :)Jasmine Walthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802723505443235517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-63945903789032154942012-01-13T10:58:51.404+11:002012-01-13T10:58:51.404+11:00Flaws make characters human and allow for growth.Flaws make characters human and allow for growth.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-37567350244685554122012-01-13T10:42:31.331+11:002012-01-13T10:42:31.331+11:00I've noticed that especially the love interest...I've noticed that especially the love interests are always a little too perfect in a lot of books. Their supposed "flaw" is really just another endearing quality. Not quite realistic or well-rounded. And they're always so annoyingly hot and gorgeous, to the point of cliche. It's easy to want to make the "perfect" character, though, when we write. Our ideal.Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-43265899974397055232012-01-13T08:04:02.284+11:002012-01-13T08:04:02.284+11:00Great post! No one wants a perfect character becau...Great post! No one wants a perfect character because then we wouldn't be able to relate to that character at all (since we're not perfect). ;)Precy Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714824672731935371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-63322308860585845262012-01-13T07:28:02.534+11:002012-01-13T07:28:02.534+11:00But... a secondary character - not the main - can ...But... a secondary character - not the main - can be perfect. I've written one, and he worked, but he he didn't and couldn't take up too much space. And he did his significantly imperfect moments.Robert Guthriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618840090348189477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-4349986875668203582012-01-13T06:10:40.352+11:002012-01-13T06:10:40.352+11:00I think you covered all the important points. Perf...I think you covered all the important points. Perfect characters are boring!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-52441620701361908592012-01-13T05:04:43.578+11:002012-01-13T05:04:43.578+11:00Amen! One of the first things I ask myself about a...Amen! One of the first things I ask myself about a character is "what is their primary flaw?" Very cool:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-77775352119340619272012-01-13T03:20:40.075+11:002012-01-13T03:20:40.075+11:00I agree 200% with your posts Linda, but if you onl...I agree 200% with your posts Linda, but if you only knew how many stories of rejection I hear because of a "flawed protagonist". It makes me question sometimes what readers are really looking for.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483490020980574428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-49470650153945240392012-01-13T02:40:40.379+11:002012-01-13T02:40:40.379+11:00I write verse and not alot of prose. But I do read...I write verse and not alot of prose. But I do read. The flawed protagonist was present in the first epic peoms (Homer, etc). And Shakespeare relied on these techniques to create dynamic tension. A novel without it fails to engage my attention and keep it. The idea of a shared humanity is critical in literature.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01681799401614263953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-32084204935998523882012-01-13T02:30:58.543+11:002012-01-13T02:30:58.543+11:00This is an excellent post, Lynda!
Great list.
I ...This is an excellent post, Lynda!<br /><br />Great list.<br /><br />I would add - reality - which runs parallel with or extends from number 3 - because in reality, we relate to a situation or character. <br /><br />In reality, there are no perfect people, and even the good ones have some kind of flaw. When I'm reading, I notice myself saying "in reality, this would never happen", or, "wow, in reality, yeah, that could happen".<br /><br />I especially like number 6.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-45548327605823453612012-01-12T23:08:23.069+11:002012-01-12T23:08:23.069+11:00I love your posts and will be sharing this on Face...I love your posts and will be sharing this on Facebook and Twitter.<br /><br />As for flawed characters, it draws peeps into your story. It gives others the ability to feel they're not alone and even can help real peeps solve their own issues in life.<br /><br />I like watching the rehab, hoarder, and the strange things people eat shows to get good grip on personality disorders so to speak. I also rely on some of the wierd peeps I know.shellyhttp://www.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-90113965629816557782012-01-12T23:06:43.114+11:002012-01-12T23:06:43.114+11:00Such a fabulous post. As someone said above, this ...Such a fabulous post. As someone said above, this is an issue I have with my own writing, attempting to write a hero & heroine who are way too perfect to be real. I think one of the best points you listed was the fact that flawed characters add conflict. And what's a book without that? A golden rule to remember, definitely.<br /><br />My CP and I were just talking the other day...If you're a romance reader, read Kristan Higgins. She is FABULOUS at writing the flawed character. One of the many reasons her releases always land on my keeper shelf.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16514163880053470414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-75709991303050940812012-01-12T22:17:10.617+11:002012-01-12T22:17:10.617+11:00Thank you for the post.
Could a reason be:
"...Thank you for the post.<br /><br />Could a reason be:<br /><br />"It would be very difficult for the reader to bear perfect characters in such an imperfect world."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com