Sunday, April 13, 2014

Characters Need Traits and Flaws

Short stories have one main character we call the protagonist. Space restraints stop short story writers from developing protagonists with elaborate back stories that help advance plots in the longer form of fiction we call novels.

A protagonist with flaws is always more interesting. Those flaws are particularly helpful to short story writers. It helps in relating a character while using a minimum amount of words.
Years ago I heard a motivational speaker make a presentation in front of sales people. He said something that stayed with me, “In your weaknesses you will find your strengths.”
The words flaws and traits can be used interchangeably when they are describing a character. Traits help us shape a character, for better or worse.  An example is a basic trait many people have: the fear of failure. This trait can be used to show how a person is careful, prepared and focused on a task to avoid failure. In this way it’s not a flaw at all but a strength.
The reverse trait is the fear of success. Characters can suddenly find them thrust into situations that require them to overcome adversities. Once she succeeds, the responsibility that is suddenly hers can be overwhelming. 
Another trait could be described as a need for independence. Our main character could express this emotion in tension between her and a partner. How about fear of the unknown? This stems from a situation when our character is going into unchartered territory. She can sweat and even tremble as she is confronted with this trait that will carry the readers along her journey. Fear of the unknown can be used in many plot points. It puts the character and the reader into unknown territories.
In general, the hero has fears that give him or her a challenge. She confronts the challenge and fails. She fails the challenge again and then a third time. Eventually our protagonist succeeds or fails completely, it’s your choice. Keep in mind that readers want a definite conclusion, and they prefer a pleasant ending.  Sometimes, however, we have to let the antagonist, our villain, win.
Thank you for reading this blog. Check here in about a week for another subject. See my web page at www. joevlatino.com.

No comments:

Post a Comment