Tips on writing an interesting AKA flawed main character.
my introduction to fiction writing classes with Closing Credits
. One of the hardest parts of writing a compelling work is crafting a main character to stumble through it. Today, we’re going to look at some basic tools to round them out and make sure they are more than a cardboard cutout being dragged through a story.A perfect protagonist is the most dull and pointless creature in all of art.
The trick I tell students is to imagine the person they love and respect the most in the world, like a romantic partner, parent, or best friend. Now, think about the thing that person does which annoys you the most, the aspect of their personality that has thwarted them from achieving something great. Boom, now you know how a good main character works.I’ve had students try to cheat on the flaw before.
Throw that kind of nonsense in the trash. In the hands of a master, those sorts of flaws can soar, but if you’re reading this article, you aren’t a master yet. Stick with something concrete that you can easily refer back to and use to write scenes. There’s a reason so many pulp heroes are alcoholics. It’s not because all their creators were drunk , but because that’s a really simple flaw to work with. The same is true with young adult protagonists who fixate on their parents’ expectations.
These relationships come in all forms in writing, from partners to lovers to rivals. What is important is having someone that can call attention to your character’s flaw, help them overcome it somehow , and acknowledge that it was done. Whether it’s a spouse applauding a triumph or a villain cursing that the character was able to defeat them, there is someone else in the world that serves as a second reporting source on how far your main character has come with their impediment.
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