Creating characters from the beginning
When creating characters, understanding how flaws form and their role in the story is essential.
The next step is to decide which weaknesses will plague your protagonist. As with any aspect of writing, there are many possible techniques for determining the flaws that will work best.
Be Mean
To put it another way, figure out what your character wants, then add flaws that will make that desire virtually impossible to achieve.
If they crave love, a coldhearted or uncommunicative veneer would make it difficult for them to get what they want.
Similarly, someone who desires acceptance would have a hard time gaining it if they were a busybody with a taste for gossip.
It sounds heartless, but remember that a great story can’t exist without conflict.
If tension is what you’re going for, use this technique to discover the flaws that will make your characters’ lives the most difficult.
Sabotage Goal-Friendly Attributes
Unlike the “Be Mean” technique, which uses a character’s desires against him, this method exploits the character’s positive attributes.
Start by identifying the positive traits that would be the most beneficial in helping the character reach his goal.
Then give him flaws that do the opposite.
For example, let’s say that your hero wants to get his GED certification fifteen years after dropping out of school. Attributes that would help him achieve this goal include intelligence, persistence, and sincerity.
So making the journey difficult, pick a flaw that’s the opposite of one of these traits. Maybe he’s a bit of a flake; he decides but has a tough time sticking to them and gives up at the first sign of trouble.
Your supporting characters know this about him and doubt his dedication and ability to succeed, adding another roadblock for your hero.
By thinking of which traits would work, then choosing the opposite, you’re sure to find flaws that will undermine your character and give them even more to overcome.
Choose Flaws that Contrast with the Traits of Other Character’s
Conflicting traits, by definition, create conflict. It’s the classic Odd Couple scenario, and it works well to build tension and complicate matters for the hero. If your character has controlling tendencies, pairing him with a rebellious partner who resists any kind of authority will cause serious problems. Is your hero humorless and overly serious? Then bring on the mischievous sidekick. If you’re judicious about choosing flaws for all the players in your story, the characters will create tension just by interacting, making the hero’s journey more difficult than it has to be.
Below is a List of Character Flaws
My main character, Vanessa Barella, in When Love Ends, Lies Begin has some of these flaws.
1. Distrustful
- Vanessa questions everyone’s motives, making it difficult to accept help or form alliances—even with those who are trying to protect her.
2. Perfectionist
- Her obsession with control and doing things “the right way” prevents her from adapting quickly or taking emotional risks.
3. Emotionally Guarded
- She suppresses vulnerability, believing that showing emotion is a weakness, which isolates her from potential allies.
4. Obsessive
- Once she locks onto a goal or a lead, she becomes consumed, ignoring personal well-being or broader consequences.
5. Resentful
- She holds onto past betrayals, particularly from her mother and father, blinding her to the present and feeding her pain.
6. Stubborn
- Vanessa refuses to change her mind even when evidence suggests she should, slowing her progress or leading her into traps.
7. Self-Sacrificing
- She takes on more than she should, believing she must “fix everything” alone—this martyr complex can be exploited.
8. Judgmental
- Her black-and-white thinking about right and wrong clouds her ability to see nuance, which is dangerous in a world of secrets and deception.
9. Impulsive
- When emotionally triggered, especially by betrayal or perceived injustice, she acts without thinking, causing setbacks.
10. Insecure
- Deep down, she believes she’s unworthy of love (especially maternal), which feeds self-doubt and may sabotage her relationships.
11. Controlling
- She tries to manage every variable—people, information, outcomes—because unpredictability feels like danger.
12. Cynical
- Her experiences have made her assume the worst, which creates conflict with more hopeful or trusting characters.
13. Avoidant
- When emotions or memories get too intense, she shuts down or distracts herself rather than face the truth head-on.
14. Vengeful
- She may be driven by a need to “even the score” rather than seek justice, which could put her at moral or legal risk.
15. Reluctant to Forgive
- Her inability or unwillingness to forgive keeps her emotionally stuck and blinds her to redemption arcs in others.