Authors: Your Main Character Needs a Weakness
Are you guilty of writing perfect characters?
As a writer, you need to learn the art of crafting characters. And these characters must be compelling!
Authors need to develop a world where their characters interact, an engrossing plot, and problems that require solutions.
Today, I’m focusing on the importance of writing a quality main character. The most important trait your character needs are weaknesses.
We have the tendency to write characters a certain way. We wish to see our characters succeed where we cannot ourselves. I believe this is simply part of our nature.
Imagine reading a book with an amazing story and interesting characters, only to have the main character who contributes zilch to problem solving.
For one, the book would lose popularity quickly, along with any realism the story introduced. The biggest blunder here would be the lack of conflict. There are no ifs and buts about this. Every book requires conflict!
One-dimensional characters have no place in any story. The characters your write must be relatable.
Every person on the planet struggles with something and succeeds at another. So, it’s only natural to write a main character with both strengths and weaknesses.
The following example applies to non-fiction characters too. I like to use superheroes because they demonstrate my argument perfectly.
Superman is a literal god. He has heat vision, strength, speed, and invincibility. With all that in mind, he is still Clark Kent. Clark has short term goals, aspirations, and love for Lois Lane.
Superman, in a sense, brings Clark to fight alongside him. Thus, every conflict is engaging, and we are eager to know what happens next.
Clark’s heart is his greatest gift.
Again, you need to write a main character that has clear weaknesses. Just take a second to think about some of your favorite characters in novels you read.
I’m sure none of the characters you remembered were perfect.
Like I mentioned earlier, conflict is vital in any story you write. It’s excellent when you plan to write one with multiple characters.
Each character has strengths and weaknesses, and they ping off another character. For example, a survival novel following a group of plane crash survivors.
Maybe there are six survivors, but only two are brave enough to look for food in a location riddled with snakes. They both venture into the forest, and only one makes it back with food.
Enjoy writing your story the way you want, but make it interesting, mixing things up from time to time.
The end of the first chapter could be a sort of 'were not in Kansas anymore’ realization. The main character’s friend dies of dehydration right before she sources water. Or the main character ponders killing a defenseless creature for food.
Before writing anything, you need to compile a plan for what you wish to accomplish.
If you’re writing non-fiction characters, give them realistic advantages and disadvantages. If you are writing fiction, be sure to keep characters grounded in reality.
Whichever story you write, always give your main character weaknesses.
A character that fails and tries again or doesn’t try at all is far more intriguing than a character that’s perfect.
