I finally started listening to Writing Excuses. In season 1, episode 6 Brandon, Howard, and Dan discussed character flaws and handicaps. I loved the episode and thought of a few comments that I'd like to share here.
The hosts of Writing Excuses defined a flaw as an internal fault that a character must overcome. They cited Han Solo's initial greed and selfishness from Star Wars Episode IV. In contrast they defined a handicap as external circumstances that impede a character's progress, e.g. Luke Skywalker's overprotective uncle and remote desert upbringing.
I can't take issue with either definition, except for one host's assertion that handicaps can't be overcome by the character (Luke in fact does when he leaves Tattooine with Han, Chewie, and Ben). In fairness, I think he was trying to differentiate between the internal struggle involved in overcoming a flaw and the positive actions needed to remove a handicap.
One fascinating question that came up was how to balance character flaws and likability (i.e. how to give a character flaws without alienating readers). I agree that making the flawed character the protagonist wins half the reader sympathy battle. One powerful tool overlooked by Writing Excuses but recommended by my friend and fellow writer Nick Enlowe is remorse. A character earns a lot of points with readers by expressing sorrow for his sins. Striking the right balance of depravity and virtue is still delicate work (I'm grappling with this process in the book I'm writing now), but at the end of the day most readers want characters to have flaws and want them to overcome those flaws.
Who are your favorite flawed characters? Why do they resonate with you despite (or because of) their faults? What do you think is the ideal balance of virtue to vice?
Monday, June 3, 2013
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