Comments on: Writing Compelling Characters

By: Cinette

Cinette — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 01:22:17 +0000

Great post! I’ve inadvertently based my characters in my WIP on at least 4 of the “issues” list, so I hope that means I’m on the right track!

By: Ishta Mercurio

Ishta Mercurio — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:33:05 +0000

Shiny double rainbow – LOL!

And yes, I agree about the necessity of having flawed characters.

By: S.C. Wade

S.C. Wade — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:54:22 +0000

Good post, Faith! Flaws make the characters a little bit more relateable, but also it makes them entertaining to read about. Without some sort of conflict (which can include their flaw) how is there a story?

But be careful on giving the character too many flaws, as that can turn away a reader just as much, I feel. If not done right (just as if the character was “perfect”) it can be a stumbling block to the readers because then you feel just depressed about their life.

I never really *try* to give my characters flaws; it just happens when I start writing. One of my sci-fi short stories I submitted to a contest, there’s a brother who is trying to basically find a cure for his sister. His flaw is that he’s so focused on getting his sister healed that he’ll do anything for that cause (which includes murder and using his ex-girlfriend).

By: Carolyn Abiad

Carolyn Abiad — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:07:29 +0000

Off to search for some more perfect flaws! (Pun intended.) Adding to my TBR list, most likely to my own troubled postal carrier’s dismay.

By: Rayna

Rayna — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 04:39:20 +0000

I have to agree- it is the flaws that make our characters compelling.

By: Jules

Jules — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:48:07 +0000

“My friends, creating compelling characters is only as difficult as the humanity we’re willing to give them.”

Fantastic! Great post!

By: allison

allison — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:50:24 +0000

It’s funny, I always consider past relationships, self doubt (etc) when thinking about helping my friends through problems, but I don’t think I’ve ever thought about that when developing/helping characters! Thanks for your unique spin on this.

By: DEZMOND

DEZMOND — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:27:28 +0000

oh, I didn’t mean kicking puppies either, God forbid I know, that by flaws you meant some kind of weakness, a vice, a weak point ….
I also understand the thing about some people feeling bad while watching someone who is too perfect. I don’t feel it myself, but I understand it. This is why the best among actors or singers aren’t usually the most popular ones because most people are threaten or intimidated by them personally. Again, I understand that as a psychologist. Rihanna will be more popular than Leona Lewis because she has obvious flaws, and Leona doesn’t. Sandra Bulllock will be more popular than Cate Blanchett because she is normal and flawed while Cate is an epitome of perfection and ethereal talent. That’s how the world works.
But again, I’d still strive towards total perfection in my work, books, songs …

So, I think we both agree on the flaws we have in mind, you described it well in Skywalker

What I generally have problem with (not in your case, off course but generally) is when people are afraid of perfection because it intimidates them. When they do not believe in people who are too calm, too nice, too moral, too wise, too clean, too perfect.

By: Karen Lange

Karen Lange — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:16:52 +0000

Good post. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog, too. It has been really interesting to see what everyone has to say. Lots of good stuff. Have a great weekend!

By: Faith

Faith — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:38:25 +0000

Dezmond, when I say ‘give a character flaws’, I don’t tend to mean giving them things like a desire to kick puppies or a drug problem… though I have seen that in books and it often works, because the character/hero strives to overcome that through a desire to be a better person. I can relate to wanting to be a better person! I think that’s what your friend Alex was trying to get across (and what I try to write for my own characters): heroes who aren’t perfect, but who aspire to become better, to overcome their flaws, and thus become better people in the end.

But I understand what you mean. The problem for me is when a character is so perfect that they become condescending to the reader, rather than a role model that one can look up to. For example, the “too-perfect” character I mentioned in my post actually made me feel bad about myself, rather than aspiring to be more like her.

On the other hand, take a character like Luke Skywalker. He’s strong, capable, a ‘pure soul’ right from the beginning… and we all like him! His flaw, however, is anger (and I might argue it’s righteous anger). Even though he wants revenge, the anger becomes a stumbling block — a fatal flaw — that stops him from accomplishing his goals as quickly as he might have otherwise done so. We watch him struggle to overcome this flaw, to fight to become better, and ultimately become a better human being in the end… his anger transforms and he is able to forgive.

That, to me, is the flawed character at its best.