Flaws - what endeared you?

KosseMix · Jan 7, 2009

I've always found this topic very interesting. I'm hoping for some of your input.

What are some of the flaws your favorite characters have, both ones you write and ones you've read in books, and how did they endear the character to you?

RunawayScribe · Jan 8, 2009

I like characters with flaws because flawless people don't exist. The flaws I tend to find 'endearing' - or at least the ones I respond to best - are the ones to which I can relate.

It's hardly a major personality downfall, but the main character in one of my WIPs drinks *way* too much coffee. She knows it, too, and at one point, in the middle of a tense kitchen-table conversation, she silently swears it off for life. Less than a minute later, when the tension skyrockets even more, she pours herself another cup. I like it because that's something I do - I swear to quit the same stupid bad habits over and over, even as I fall into them. I think most everyone can relate to that in one way or another.

Another flaw I particularly enjoy in a character is lying. It's not virtuous, I know, but what a character chooses to lie about speaks volumes about them. Also, I find it entertaining and interesting when a character is a bad liar. This is probably because I'm a terrible liar myself - I can relate to the stammering, the babbling, and the lame justifications. I usually smile to myself when I read or write a moment like that, just because I know *exactly* what it feels like and I feel the pain - and therefore, in many cases, the humor.

Good thread

Teleute · Jan 8, 2009

Oh, word, this is a great thread.

I don't have an attachment to a particular flaw, but it's important to me that a character's flaws directly result in the conflicts and the problems that they face. As in, only this particular character with this particular personality flaw could possibly get in this situation.

The only flaw that sucks is the "too trusting" flaw, just because it's usually a characteristic of Mary Sues. Flaws that are real--like envy, pride, etc.--are so much better.

RunawayScribe · Jan 8, 2009

Teleute said:
The only flaw that sucks is the "too trusting" flaw, just because it's usually a characteristic of Mary Sues.

You said it. I can't *stand* that in a character.

foonting · Jan 8, 2009

My MC in my WIP 'Shadowknight' is impulsive and headstrong.....yet often lacks the inner self confidence to work out his own direction. In fact most of my characters in the book are seriously flawed. One of the supporting characters is close to being an alcoholic while another is drug dependent. One is eaten up with jealousy for the MC's abilities while another is self destructive and suicidal....And that's the good guys! My villains are sadistic with heavy psychopathic overtones.
All the cast mostly lie their socks off at every opportunity.....except, strangely the chief villain, who exaggerates and plays on others prejudices and insecurities.....but usually holds a mirror up to the truth, just a distorted one
I 'm fascinated by lies and those who relate falsehoods...I mean, what are fiction authors if not paid liars? Thousands of years ago some skin clad ancient sat around a camp fire and lied his arse off about some hero or god, becoming in the process a revered tribe member......what's changed?

sunandshadow · Jan 8, 2009

Hmm, I'm not so keen on the word flaws because I tend to see all personality traits as having a positive side and a negative side. But:

- My love interest characters tend to be impatient, quick to sling insults, quick to lose their temper if someone mentions a sore topic, and a bit blinded by preconceptions that they don't stop to rethink. (The exact same traits, though, make them passionate, decisive, courageous, and fighters against injustice.)

- One character is a gullible easily-embarrassed doormat (honest, sensitive, helpful, big-hearted, and loyal).

- Another character is a sly practical joker (a charming diplomat, great at cheering people up, an extremely resourceful creative problem solver, and collected under pressure).

- Another is self-condemning, lacking in confidence, in denial about how badly others treat him, and gruff almost to the point of silence (fiercely defensive of his friends, highly values family, tradition, holidays, painstakingly gentle despite having great strength and would never abuse his power or ignore others' pain).

- Finally my main characters tend to be drifters without a driving goal or passion, a bit slutty, casual liars and manipulators, perfectly happy to mooch, not interested in hard work or getting dirty (calm, wise, easy-going, playful in a gentle way, manipulates people to those people's own benefit, uses their body to comfort others, and finds clever creative solutions or turns work into art or play).

foonting said:
I mean, what are fiction authors if not paid liars? Thousands of years ago some skin clad ancient sat around a camp fire and lied his arse off about some hero or god, becoming in the process a revered tribe member......what's changed?

Love that!

Can I use it as a sig quote?

foonting · Jan 8, 2009

sunandshadow said:
Love that! Can I use it as a sig quote?

Feel free! I seldom charge for a feel......

KosseMix · Jan 8, 2009

foonting said:
I mean, what are fiction authors if not paid liars?

That is the best quote I've seen so far.

qwerty · Jan 8, 2009

sunandshadow said:
Love that!

Adding my applause for that one.

For some reason I can't quite put my finger on, all my books have characters who down a lot of alcohol. Usually they're entertaining drunks; only one turns nasty.

The MC in my latest novel has a lot of probs not of her making, and is a person everyone warms to and tries to help. But she was too damn nice, so I had to create situations where she could occasionally be angry or irritable.

KosseMix · Jan 8, 2009

Modified first post slightly to include characters you've read from other books.

Though characters you've written are good too - but it's a different perspective, one from the inside and another the outside.

Makai_Lightning · Jan 8, 2009

I couldn't tell you what my favorite flaws in characters are. "Flaws" just seems like the wrong word I guess.What I mean is, whenever someone talks about character flaws, it seems like it's a consideration made separate from who the character is. I don't denote them as separate from the character. One character being a drunk isn't necessarily the same as another character being a drunk. I feel like any character fault, so long as it's a part of the character and not tacked on, can be worked well and I'll love it.

What I love most about faults is when a character tries to overcome them or deal with them, or get around them. The character growth that comes from the flaw. If the flaw isn't intrinsic to the story, and ultimate outcome, I could say they were cute, or they defined a character, but it's still in how the trait is dealt with rather than the trait itself.

That's what flaws, or faults, or whatever really are--traits. Some might be habits, some might be personality, but they're just a more specific kind of traits. Different combinations of different traits will make the character for me. There's so many combinations that would work for me with traits I wouldn't otherwise like, or combinations of traits I other wise would like don't work for me, it's hard to pin down my "favorite flaw."

gothicangel · Jan 8, 2009

I've realised that one of my characters always has a drink in his hand (cliche?); but he's a high-flying Lawyer!

Character flaws:

Character #1 - Is so determined to prove his father wrong; it results in him becoming deaf to the danger he will become the centre of.

Character #2 - A workaholic; blots out emotional problems by burying himself in his career - which places his son in danger.

Character #3 - So eaten up by the grief caused by his child's murder; his life has become ruled by his obsession for revenge on the Judge who released a killer.

foonting · Jan 8, 2009

gothicangel said:
I've realised that one of my characters always has a drink in his hand (cliche?); but he's a high-flying Lawyer!

But do you make your character like the same alcoholic beverage as yourself?
One of my favorite characters in my WIP chugs single malt whiskey of the same brand as me.....mind you I do kill him off.....Arggg there's probably something deep and psychological going on there!

gothicangel · Jan 8, 2009

I don't actually drink that much!

He is Irish; so he likes a drink (although he only ever drinks when stressed). He tends to drink malt whiskey too (is that a cliche?)

Oddsocks · Jan 8, 2009

I don't mind 'too trusting' as a character flaw - so long as it really is a character flaw (at least if it's supposed to be considered one. Simply having 'trusting' characters is also fine). I find naive, innocent characters quite endearing, and 'too trusting' can easily stem from that. But if this flaw gets the character, ally, or 'the cause' hurt, then it can be very interesting.

I also like grey morality. Characters whose moral views are perhaps at an extreme end of the kinds of moralities people often hold, and who are prepared to make slightly abhorrent sacrifices to achieve their moral ends (this one's subjective, of course, and there's also a fine line, though I can't articulate exactly what it is). I like characters who are mostly good, but who are just a little bit evil.

foonting · Jan 8, 2009

gothicangel said:
I don't actually drink that much!

He is Irish; so he likes a drink (although he only ever drinks when stressed). He tends to drink malt whiskey too (is that a cliche?)

Don't think it's a cliche......I was born on the Isle of Wight, live in London, and drink Laphoraig malt...as far as I know I don't have a Celtic bone in my body...... it's just that blended whiskey tastes like rancid pregnant otter's urine!

Stunted · Jan 8, 2009

I really like vain, moody, impulsive, selfish liars.

Ken · Jan 8, 2009

antisocial, e.g. the Grandfather in Heidi.

Mr Flibble · Jan 8, 2009

Stunted said:
I really like vain, moody, impulsive, selfish liars.

Lol I love writing them, it's so much more fun. And writing them when they get drunk is even better!

I love snarky characters too, and those that have a tendency to cock everything up.

gothicangel · Jan 8, 2009

I quite like Ryan; he's in a position of power so he can throw tantrums and say exactly what he thinks.

Charlie Horse · Jan 8, 2009

I tend to gravitate toward the conflicted chain smokers.

Exir · Jan 8, 2009

My main character has a snarky personality. He is the type of person who wants to live in an escapist fantasy while simultaneously realizing how silly the whole thing is. A complete dreamer and a bleak realist, all in one.

MetalDog · Jan 8, 2009

One of my MC's is big-mouthed egomaniac, his best friend is a misogynist, they're both criminals with blood on their hands. I don't think I'd want to meet either of them in a dark alley, but they're a hell of a lot of fun to write and I love them both dearly.

Jerry B. Flory · Jan 8, 2009

I don't like the word flaws because attributes are interchangeable. Go through profiles here, how many people have the same attribute listed as best quality and worst quality?
Works hard good quality. works so hard he does absolutely nothing else with his life, bad quality.
Very friendly good quality. So friendly he insists on petting the rabid dog that's chewing his leg off, bad quality.
Has odd odor, bad quality. Odd odor attracts huge herds of migratory reindeer from far off lands and ends starvation making him the hero of his country, good quality.

Exir · Jan 8, 2009

Has odd odor, bad quality. Odd odor attracts huge herds of migratory reindeer from far off lands and ends starvation making him the hero of his country, good quality.

OMG, I so want to write a story about this!

Flaws - what endeared you?

fixing a limp query...

It is what it is.

Skeptic

It is what it is.

Impractical Fantasy Animal

fixing a limp query...

exiled Brit

fixing a limp query...

Love Addict

Toughen up.

Toughen up.

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Toughen up.

Speaking in metaphors

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

Woof!

under the Milky Way

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking