It seems sort of ironic to put this up on a post about flaws but I am totally honored to receive this award from one of my new writing friends, Cassie, over at Reading, Writing and Lovin' It!Thank you Cassie!
And I promise I'll post the other blogs to receive this award soon!
Okay, flaws.
A few weeks ago my wonderful critique partner Theresa sent back my third manuscript. She had numerous suggestions/corrections and as per my usual I went with most of them.
One of the biggest and most important critiques she gave me was about the love interest of my Main Character...and I quote:
"Sam is perfect. But almost too perfect. I wouldn’t necessarily change anything about him ( I love him) but maybe give him a flaw or two. When people relate to characters they usually relate to their flaws. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy just a little something to keep him from seeming like the guy every girl wants but knows doesn’t actually exist."
Isn't she brilliant?
And she was right. 100% right. Sam was pretty much perfect.
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| Source: Gallivanter |
But I couldn't just go back in there and throw in a few flaws. The meaning behind Sam's 'perfectness' is two fold.
- I wanted those reading it to want to be like him. Because he is a great guy.
- There is no way my Main Character, Emma, would be with anyone who wasn't a great guy. She doesn't believe in love to begin with. She would take any reason she could to stop liking him. It had to be hard for her to find that reason.
So after many hours of pondering I decided on two flaws for Sam:
- He wants to be friends with everyone, to be accepted by everyone, even if they're people he's better off not interacting with.
- He wasn't too serious about anything when he started high school, including his grades. He's changed his tune now but for somethings it is too late. Those past choices still affect him.
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| Source: favim.com |
Why did I choose these? Because they are flaws that many great people have. That many of us can relate to. That make him real.
What flaws make you...you? If you're a writer, what flaws make your characters? What flaws do you like reading about?
I'll go first, since that's only fair. :) One of the flaws for Sam I got from myself. I want to see everyone happy, make everyone happy. Maybe some people I shouldn't bother with but I try anyway.
The second kind of goes along with that. I have issues saying 'no' when someone asks me to do something. If it's morally wrong than it's a no brainer. But I end up saying yes so many times I have my calender full all the time. Many of the things I enjoy, in fact most. But it's also good to have some downtime. So I need to start fitting that in on my calender too.
I have those same flaws! I'm such a 'people pleaser' and my calendar constantly overflows with things I feel obligated to do.
ReplyDeleteOne of my characters' flaws is she is so stony, and never smiles. She keeps herself at arms' length from everyone. So those moments when her icy demeanor gets chipped away at by my mc, you catch a glimmer that there may be a real person underneath it all. And haven't we all met someone like that?
Ooo, that is a good flaw. And it makes you drawn to her because you want to see what's under there.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
I'm sooo impatient. My poor kids they are usually the ones who get it worst.
ReplyDeleteI have a character who is always joking around. He uses humor to defuse situations, but he doesn't know when he's being inappropriate. It makes for some cringe worthy moments.
Haha. I'm sure you're kids still love you ;)
ReplyDeleteThose cringe worthy moments sound like they'd be pretty entertaining to read.
My MC is a habitual liar--and it definitely makes for some interesting moments. He also has some quirks that can lead to trouble.
ReplyDeleteNot every flaw has to be a negative thing. Being a people-pleaser, as you are, has both a negative and a positive side: trying too hard to please people who just want you to leave them alone, but also making friends or helping others in ways that most of us just can't do.
Thanks for sharing!
Ooo, a habitual liar. That's not a good flaw but I can imagine that creates a lot of interesting moments!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
I have one major flaw that causes serious problems for me: procrastination. Yep, it's a habit, an ugly one, that I try and fail to break almost every day. Another one of my flaws is the mediocre job I do on jobs I don't want to do. That can cause problems too!
ReplyDeleteMy characters. Well, they're riddled with flaws and mistakes. A lot. Some of my characters are stupid, so I guess that's a flaw.
-Jackson
I must admit, procrastination has never been a flaw of mine. I do find it very amusing the way people with that flaw deal with it though.
ReplyDeleteLike pulling all nighters in college. Never had to do that one. But I knew so many people who did! Good for them I say :)
Thanks for stopping by!
I have a big ol' Kool Aid smile on right now. lol.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post.
You know all of my characters and their flaws but I think my favorite is Luke from Prove Me Wrong. He spent so much time with his head up his ass thinking that he wasn't meant for bigger and better things when in reality he was the one controlling his future. The only one holding him back was himself. He just couldn't see it.
As for my flaws, I have many. But like Jackson I am a huge procrastinator. I was the one blow drying my hair, trying not to blow my index cards off the sink while I studied an hour before a test.
Haha! That is a great visual. Blow drying your hair with index cards.
ReplyDeleteThat could totally be used in a story!
I am not EVEN going to go there with my own flaws. :) My MC, Hope, though. Her I can talk about. She's impulsive. Daring. Reckless. And can't make things with her hands to save her. Um... she's maybe my opposite. :)
ReplyDelete