Character Flaws to Use In Your Fiction Writing
We've also included 128 flaws to inspire you as you develop your characters.
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Characters are the heart and soul of every fiction story. They captivate readers, evoke emotions, and steer the plot forward. What makes a character truly compelling though? Their flaws.
Flaws humanize characters. As humans, we aren’t perfect. So, the characters we write should not be perfect. Flaws make characters relatable and multi-dimensional. Without flaws, characters come across as unlikeable, flat, and uninteresting. The character flaws you choose to use in your writing also help you:
Create internal conflicts
Drive character development
Provide opportunities for growth and change throughout the story
How to Introduce A Protagonist's Flaw?
Introducing a protagonist's flaw requires some consideration. Weave it into the narrative, so readers can discover it organically. You don’t have to specifically call out that a character is a thief—show them in the act of stealing. It’s also important to show how a character’s flaw influences their choices and impacts their relationships with others.
4 Types of Character Flaws
There are several types of character flaws you can use in your writing. Let's take a look at four common types of character flaws:
Moral Flaws: These flaws involve a character’s ethical or moral compass. They may struggle with issues like honesty, selfishness, or impulsiveness.
Psychological Flaws: These flaws are related to a character’s mental or emotional state. They may have deeply rooted fears, unresolved traumas, or mental health struggles.
Physical Flaws: These flaws are related to a character’s physical appearance or abilities. They may have a physical disability, an illness, or another physical limitation that affects their daily life.
Social Flaws: These flaws involve a character’s interactions with others. They may have difficulties maintaining relationships, lack empathy, or struggle with communication skills.
128 Character Flaws to Inspire Your Writing
We compiled a list of tons of character flaws that can be used in fiction writing:
Absent-minded
Abusive
Addicted
Aggressive
Aimless
Alcoholic
Anxious
Arrogant
Attention-seeking
Bad-tempered
Belligerent
Bigmouth
Bigot
Blunt
Boastful
Callous
Catty
Childish
Closed-minded
Clumsy
Combative
Condescending
Confrontational
Cowardly
Cruel
Cynical
Deceitful
Dependent
Devious
Dishonest
Disloyal
Disorganized
Disrespectful
Egotistical
Envious
Fickle
Fixated
Flirty
Frivolous
Fussy
Greedy
Gruff
Gullible
Hoity-toity
Hostile
Hot-tempered
Hypocritical
Idealist
Immature
Impatient
Impersonal
Impressionable
Impulsive
Inattentive
Inconsiderate
Inconsistent
Indecisive
Indifferent
Inflexible
Insecure
Insensitive
Intolerant
Irresponsible
Jealous
Judgmental
Lazy
Lethargic
Liar
Manipulative
Materialistic
Melodramatic
Moody
Naïve
Needy
Negative
Neurotic
Obsessive
Overbearing
Overconfident
Overly critical
Overly dramatic
Oversensitive
Overthinker
Paranoid
Passive-aggressive
Perfectionist
Pessimistic
Picky
Pompous
Practical
Predictable
Prejudiced
Prideful
Rebellious
Reckless
Resentful
Rude
Sanctimonious
Sarcastic
Self-absorbed
Self-centered
Self-destructive
Self-martyr
Self-pitying
Selfish
Shallow
Spineless
Spiteful
Stubborn
Superstitious
Temperamental
Timid
Troublemaker
Unambitious
Unassertive
Uncooperative
Uncouth
Undisciplined
Unemotional
Unforgiving
Ungrateful
Unmotivated
Unpredictable
Unreliable
Untrustworthy
Vain
Vengeful
Withdrawn
8 Tips for Writing Character Flaws
Allow flaws to evolve: Flaws can change or manifest differently as the character undergoes transformations during the story.
Allow room for growth and redemption: Characters should have opportunities to learn from their flaws and grow as the story progresses.
Avoid stereotypes: Strive for originality and steer clear of clichéd or overused flaws.
Balance flaws with strengths: Characters need to have both flaws and strengths for a well-rounded and dynamic persona.
Develop flaws that are relevant to the story: The flaws you choose should be meaningful and contribute to the character’s journey.
Make flaws believable and realistic: Flaws should be consistent with the character’s background, personality, and experiences.
Show the consequences of the flaws: Demonstrate how a character’s flaws impact their decisions, relationships, and the overall story arc.
Use flaws to create conflict and tension: Flaws should drive your plot forward and create conflicts your character can overcome.
Don’t Judge Your Character’s Flaw
I know this sounds weird, but it’s important not to judge your character’s flaws as you write. Embrace their imperfections and allow them to be fully human.
Don’t Be Scared to Write Unlikeable Characters
Unlikeable characters can be just as compelling as your likable ones. Don’t shy away from exploring the darker aspects of human nature. Embrace the challenge of creating complex characters who have flaws that challenge readers’ expectations and provoke thought.
2 Examples of Strong Character Flaws
Hamlet’s indecisiveness in Shakespeare's Hamlet: Hamlet has an inability to take decisive action, which leads to tragic consequences and drives the plot of this Shakespearean play.
Scarlett O’Hara's selfishness in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind: Scarlett's constant pursuit of her own desires typically comes at the expense of others around her. This selfishness creates conflict and tension throughout the novel.
Upcoming article: Sunday Reflections 04
Have a productive writing week 🖊️
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