No One's Perfect
We all have flaws, but our characters especially should have some, because what fun is there in reading about someone's perfect life? *grin*
Since our MC's have a defining virtue, should they also have a defining weakness? What if their weakness is what causes some of the main conflict in the story? What if the weakness is in direct opposition to the MC's virtue? The characters must have something to struggle against, a temptation or a sin, as well as an outer conflict.
What's your MC's biggest weakness? How does it define him or her? Does it propell the story? Do your characters ever fight the same kind of vices you do?
After reading the Seekerville post on Moral Premise, I signed up for Natasha Kern's ACFW conference class, Vice and Virtue. Wondering what she'll talk about is turning the wheels in my head and give me some blog fodder.
Since our MC's have a defining virtue, should they also have a defining weakness? What if their weakness is what causes some of the main conflict in the story? What if the weakness is in direct opposition to the MC's virtue? The characters must have something to struggle against, a temptation or a sin, as well as an outer conflict.
What's your MC's biggest weakness? How does it define him or her? Does it propell the story? Do your characters ever fight the same kind of vices you do?
After reading the Seekerville post on Moral Premise, I signed up for Natasha Kern's ACFW conference class, Vice and Virtue. Wondering what she'll talk about is turning the wheels in my head and give me some blog fodder.
Comments
I've also been noticing in my most recent stories that I'm inclined to give them outer/physical flaws as well, which often pose some hardship on their road to happiness.
For example, the historical romance that snagged me an agent has a deaf heroine and a hero with a crippled foot. And each of their flaws play a pivotal role in the storyline, at times posing conflict, but ultimately drawing them together.
In my newest story, my heroine has a horrible scar on her chest that she's very self-conscious of. And my hero, being scarred internally, can see past it in a way other men might not. I've another story which branches off of this one where the hero is recovering from a stroke.
I don't know why those sorts of stories appeal to me, I guess because it gives them so much more to overcome, and ultimately accept about themselves, on their way to finding love. :-)
smooches,
Larie
Doesn't it? I'm so, so, so excited!
That sounds like a really good technique to raise the stakes. I like it!
Your characters have great flaws that usually add to their internal ones. Very unique.
A selfish character is fun to write I think, but not so much fun in "real" life. LOL
If it's me, we really don't have time to go into all my weaknesses. And if it's God, well, He doesn't have any weaknesses!
So I guess the thing that propels my story is the fact that a perfect God would desire to have anything to do with imperfect me. And that He would work throught my weaknesses to make me into the woman He wants me to be.
Mmmm! He is so good!
I think one of my mc's biggest flaws is fear of abandonment. She so desperately doesn't want to be alone that she does some things that are more harmful than helpful.
This is making me think. I think my heroine's major weakness is that she doesn't apply herself. She'd just as soon walk away where others might persevere.
~ Wendy
That sounds like good women's fiction to me! Is this the first one you wrote or the second?
Makes sense to me! LOL It's our weaknesses that will hopefully drive us to God, after they create some conflict. LOL
That's so true of many women. :-( But it sounds like this weakness is propelling the story and it'll be interesting to see how things play out. :-)
It's nice to meet you too! I saw your face in the corner but couldn't click on you for the blog.
I always give my MC's flaws and weaknesses. My latest MC thinks she's driven by conviction, but it's actually fear.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I like them to be imperfect too. Makes me feel better. *snicker*
That sounds very interesting for an inspirational. I bet it adds lots of conflict and emotions.
I didn't realize Myra had a post up over there. I think I'm going to go check it out as it's really intriguing me.
So your heroine gives up easily...hmmm, fear of success? Or she just doesn't care enough?
Thank you for stopping back my place. :-)
That's a great one. I think we've all be afraid of risk and I could definitely relate to that.
Excellent. I'm sure the daughter doesn't like it either. I wouldn't. This fear is so real that I think every woman could understand and sympathize.
When I'm writing, my characters are always flawed!
But she can be manipulative in some degrees, even if it's underlying as her "human" form. And
devotion can turn to obsession and that in turn can lead to jealousy and dangerous behavior.
She's a very passionate and often conflicted character. :P
I like to do this too, and it's very natural to the story. I'd have to wonder at a writer who could create an interesting, perfect character. LOL
I actually think I may have phrased the post wrong because I was thinking about there being one, defining vice of our characters and how it might tangle with their one, defining virtue.
I definitely agree that weaknesses are easier. LOL Maybe because we're so acutely aware of our own?
Yep. It's SO fun to get our characters in trouble. It's a little scary how much we enjoy it. *snicker*
I think it's awesome how you can that your characters strength/virtue could easily become a vice! She sounds very interesting. :-)
Dichotomy is a beautiful word, isn't it? :-)
Some of her flaws surprised me - but they are hers...and she must work through them....
But I am so much fun that I more than make up for my plethora of faults! ahahahaha!
That's a great one! Nice job. :-)
That's so interesting. Well, have fun helping her work through this stuff. LOL
I'm having a hard time believing that list. :-P
PLUS everyone likes drama. whether its reading about it, causing it, or experiencing it. So without the flaws, you might not have any readers! lol
with that said, I usually have phases with my MCs. I phase in and out of giving my MC one particular flaw OR various. When I focus on one particular flaw, sometimes it may be a "good" flaw(things that people might consider a good characteristic) or a "bad" flaw(things that people may find annoying or not intriguing.)
You made me laugh, T. Anne, about the kids' perfection. :-)
That's what I was really thinking about, giving our characters one main vice. Not even really a flaw, but something wrong that they struggle with.
You're right, drama is awesome. LOL