The thought of the “excellent” particular person is intriguing. The right hair, job, household — the checklist goes on!
Nonetheless, studying about excellent characters is boring! Characters are usually far more attention-grabbing once they have that one (or multiple!) deadly flaw that provides to their enchantment.
However what’s a personality flaw and what are a few of the widespread character flaws you may add to your subsequent novel? Try our character flaws checklist that will help you decide what flaws work greatest on your characters.
What’s a Character Flaw?
In response to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a personality flaw is outlined as “an imperfection or weak point and particularly one which detracts from the entire or hinders effectiveness.”
Flaws are what make a personality attention-grabbing. They assist us relate extra deeply to characters (as a result of we’re all flawed, proper?) and might even make characters extra enticing to the reader.
Clearly, we anticipate our antagonists to have notable flaws, however our heroes ought to have a couple of too simply to make them appear extra human. Growing flaws is a giant a part of learn how to make a singular character.
Flaws for characters are additionally key to creating the battle that drama is product of, so it is best to dedicate numerous time and care when figuring out what these flaws are going to be.
That can assist you in your brainstorming course of, here’s a character flaws checklist so that you can contemplate as you’re employed on crafting the characters that can star in your subsequent work of fiction.
How To Make a Distinctive Character for Your E-book
To craft an enchanting unique character, you will want to create the suitable stability between their strengths and their flaws. A powerful heroic character has constructive character traits, skills, and objectives that make us like and root for them — however additionally they have flaws that jeopardize their success.
Good “villains,” however, are sometimes the inverse, possessing deep flaws and egocentric goals which can be then balanced by a couple of good traits or motives, in order that the reader maintains some sympathy and curiosity within the character.
Full Checklist of Character Flaws
Check out our checklist of widespread character flaws, which covers a number of several types of flaws for characters, to get some inspiration on your writing.
Bodily Flaws
What counts as a bodily flaw is commonly very a lot within the eye of the beholder. This character flaws checklist covers appears, accidents, abnormalities, and circumstances that many would contemplate to be bodily flaws and imperfections, however views could range.
- Hygiene. And we imply actually horrible hygiene. Image greasy hair and the physique odor from a highschool locker room.
- Scars. Third-degree burns can go away a mark on the face and neck. Lengthy scars throughout the cheek are a mysterious addition to your character’s backstory.
- Lacking limbs. Your character could also be lacking two fingers from the suitable hand due to a piece harm.
- Eyesight. Extraordinarily poor eyesight is usually a main flaw, particularly in the event that they’re caught driving at evening or sitting at the back of a classroom.
- Weight. Your character might be morbidly overweight.
- Harm. Your character might be paraplegic attributable to conflict harm.
- Posture. Go away the hunched again of your character a secret or talk about what brought on this arch.
- Tremors. Possibly your character has extreme tremors of their left hand from a current traumatic mind harm.
- Amputation. An amputated arm from a childhood sickness is a good way to introduce backstory.
- Zits. Your highschool character could also be coping with cystic zits throughout their face on high of that damaged coronary heart.
- Furry. A bushy again or chest can add to the picture your readers are conjuring of their minds.
- Warts. Facial warts add a touch of images to your character.
- Enamel. A number of brown and rotting enamel are a transparent indicator of hygiene too.
- Mouth. A cleft palate is usually a distinctive function on your character.
- Ears. One ear could also be considerably bigger than the opposite.
- Eyes. A glass eye that could be a completely different shade than the opposite eye is a singular character flaw for a mysterious character.
- Legs. Bowed legs have gotten a extra widespread approach of depicting the stroll of a personality too!
- Beard. Describe your character’s age utilizing their skinny, patchy beard with grey streaks.
- Nostril. Possibly your character has developed a crooked nostril from that point they broke their nostril in school.
- Eyebrows. A thick, black unibrow is a really distinct function.
- Birthmark. Think about a pink birthmark on the brow within the form of Alaska.
- Ft. A clubbed foot is a start defect that may set your character aside.
- Limp. A pronounced limp attributable to one leg being longer than the opposite is usually a staple descriptor.
- Moles. Your character might need a number of giant, bushy moles on their again.
- Fingernails. Chewed fingernails can be a sign of the nervousness effervescent beneath the floor of your character.
Professional Tip: Pair your distinctive character flaws with a artistic plot thought that can wow readers and a in style guide style that impresses critics!
Persona Flaws
Essentially the most attention-grabbing character flaws are normally those that pertain to character. In some instances, they would be the product of genetics or upbringing, however finally these are traits that the reader will contemplate to be the character’s accountability. This character flaws checklist highlights the sorts of flaws that the majority significantly have an effect on the character’s attitudes and actions.
- Belittling. Your character could belittle anybody they view as intellectually inferior.
- Conceited. Draco Malfoy is a primary instance of an conceited character. He by no means admits his errors and sometimes acts holier-than-thou.
- Narcissistic. Generally characters are overly obsessive about their appears. You’ll discover them staring into each reflective floor they will discover.
- Workaholic. This can be somebody with no social life on account of work or a workaholic who doesn’t make sufficient time for household.
- Materialistic. The Nice Gatsby has a personality that has a selected style for costly materials possessions — Daisy Buchanan.
- Humorous. Your character may suppose their jokes are hilarious (and they’re positively not).
- Controlling. Some characters could also be very controlling of their partner and kids. This may be something from the place they go to what they put on day by day.
- Racist. Your character could show gross racial prejudices.
- Simply-Angered. Ever met somebody who has gotten offended on the slightest provocation?
- Impulsive. That one character you’ve could also be all too wanting to take pointless dangers and lead the opposite characters proper into hazard.
- Aggressive. All they do is “win, win, win it doesn’t matter what!” Aggressive people all the time must win at all the things.
- Complainer. These characters discover a technique to complain excessively about each minor inconvenience.
- Harasser. Your worst character could sexually harass folks.
- Unsupportive. Emotional help for family and friends just isn’t this character’s sturdy go well with.
- Pathological Liar. Your fundamental character may be liable to mendacity on a regular basis.
- Thoughtless. Generally characters benefit from the sound of their very own voice. They’ll sometimes speak over folks and barely pay attention.
- Essential. A personality could also be fast to criticize others however can’t take criticism. That is borderline hypocritical as nicely.
- Adulterous. This character would continually cheat on their partner. Assume Anna Karenina.
- Vindictive. Some characters focus on holding a grudge over even the smallest slights.
- Grasping. You’d be shocked what number of tight-fisted and ungenerous characters are literally very rich.
- Self-righteous. Combine this with a judgemental mindset and also you’ve received a recipe for catastrophe.
- Bully. This character picks on the weakest and most susceptible folks.
- Impetuous. That character who makes rash selections with little info may save the day (or not!).
- Negligent. There’s one thing so irritating a couple of willfully ignorant character.
- Offensive. Your character could make offensive “jokes” about anybody completely different than them.
- Threatening. Resorting to violently threatening individuals who get on their nerves may add a little bit of intrigue to an in any other case calm character.
- Misleading. Exhausting work is pushed to the aspect for the character who cheats to get forward of each alternative they get.
- Sycophant. Characters could act like a suck-up to anybody with affect or energy.
- Inhumane. Characters who behave cruelly in direction of animals could rapidly turn into the villain of your story.
- Paranoid. Round each nook, your character is paranoid that everybody is out to get them.
- Exploiter. In case your story is stuffed with form characters, one who takes benefit of others’ kindness is a perfect distinction.
- Hypocrite. Add in a spiritual hypocrite who doesn’t apply what they preach.
- Renege. Your character could maintain breaking guarantees to family members.
- Gullible. These characters are able to imagine something.
- Flake. Possibly your character repeatedly lets mates down by all the time being late.
- Unethical. In an workplace setting, it may possibly add to the storyline to have a personality missing in skilled ethics.
- Reckless. Reckless drivers are infamous for rising motion in a plot that results in a tragedy.
- Suspicious. Characters could also be suspicious of others for no purpose.
- Unforgiving. Refusing to forgive folks’s errors can result in a whole lot of baggage.
- Irrational. Not each character has to suppose rationally.
- Slacker. Whether or not you’re writing about a youngster or an unambitious aspect character within the workspace, being lazy and unhelpful is a highly-rated character flaw.
- Indomitable. That one infuriating character could also be satisfied they’re all the time proper.
- Addict. This character could abuse medication or alcohol.
- Explosive. Your fundamental character could get bodily harmful when upset.
- Disrespectful. That one character within the buddy group could behave rudely towards service and retail staff.
- Squander. Not each character needs to be financially steady. Some could also be financially irresponsible and in debt however nonetheless making an attempt to make it work.
- Possessive. As they watch their vital different greet a buddy, your character could turn into unreasonably jealous of mentioned vital different.
- Dolt. The senseless airhead act could also be simply that — an act.
- Immoral. Not each character has an ethical compass.
- Pretentious. This character could stick their nostril up at different characters they really feel are beneath them.
- Passive-Aggressive. Passive-aggressive insults could generally spout out of your fundamental character’s mouth.
- Pessimist. This detrimental character is fast to guage and all the time believes the worst in folks.
- Nagging. Wanting issues achieved their approach, your character could continually nag folks.
- Sadistic. This character enjoys embarrassing others just a bit an excessive amount of.
- Prideful. Pleasure and Prejudice’s very personal Mr. Darcy had fairly the prideful streak.
- Rebellious. With or with no trigger, a rebellious character could get the protagonist in a little bit of bother once in a while.
- Disloyal. Your character could flip their again on the folks they as soon as referred to as mates.
- Unfriendly. Typically disagreeable to be round, an unfriendly character is a standard prevalence.
- Perfectionist. To an excessive quantity, a perfectionist character flaw could trigger a couple of issues for different characters.
- Argumentative. Your character could love to select a combat merely for the fun of a combat.
- Infantile. Immaturity in older age occurs, and it might simply be the proper character flaw of your fundamental character.
- Manipulative. Manipulative characters will go to no finish to get what they need.
- Cussed. Standing your floor can typically stem from pure stubbornness. Little Girls’s Jo March understands this.
Good Character Flaws
Not all flaws are created equal, in fact. Some character flaws are extra like lovable imperfections. Technically what the character is doing could also be improper or inappropriate, however it’s typically with a well-meaning motive. Or it might simply be a character trait that appears inconsequential sufficient that finally ends up being extra endearing than enraging. On this character flaws checklist, listed below are some examples of excellent character flaws to contemplate:
- Tease. That one uncle within the story about household could poke enjoyable at everyone however is an equal alternative offender.
- Storyteller. Inventive characters could also be expert at telling entertaining however largely invented tales about their previous.
- Spender. Your financially irresponsible character could max out bank cards shopping for dinner and drinks for mates. It’s out of the goodness of their coronary heart, however it doesn’t assist pay hire.
- Variety-Hearted. How can your character say no to the pet canine eyes? They only maintain taking in stray animals regardless of their partner’s fixed objections.
- Useless. Your character could spend a big time primping and searching within the mirror an excessive amount of.
- Cusser. Swearing like a sailor involves life in your character that swears excessively.
- Smoker. A aspect character that smokes however is all the time making an attempt to give up could also be a relentless companion to your fundamental character. Or perhaps you’ll write a state of affairs like Augustus and his unlit cigarettes in John Inexperienced’s The Fault in Our Stars.
- Tenacious. Synonym for “hero,” this character flies off the deal with in the event that they see somebody bullying one other particular person.
- Drunkard. This character drinks an excessive amount of however is one way or the other all the time the lifetime of the get together anyway.
- Inconsiderate. Your tactless character could not suppose twice when sharing criticism or dangerous information.
- Nosy. This character could stick their nostril in different folks’s enterprise however out of concern.
- Dimwit. Not each character needs to be the completely excellent 4.0 scholar.
- Directionally-Challenged. Ever confused left from proper? Your character possible does this on a regular basis with their actually dangerous sense of course.
- Indecisive. The smallest issues can typically be the toughest to select from.
- Candy-Tooth. Don’t be afraid to let your character indulge of their weak point for consuming actually unhealthy meals.
- Connected. Transferring on from an ex will be difficult. Your character should be obsessed over an ex who nonetheless has their coronary heart.
- Steadfast. Characters could have actually eccentric spiritual or political opinions. This may increasingly even be the entire purpose this character befriends one other.
- Robin Hood. A Robin Hood (or the Robin Hood!) steals from the wealthy however makes use of it to assist somebody much less lucky.
- Anxious. Your character could take care of excessive social nervousness and is actually nervous round folks. Cue the love curiosity who helps introduce them to new folks.
- Clumsy. A clutz provides a little bit little bit of humor within the combine, so long as they don’t get too harm!
- Superstitious. Superstition has a approach of saving characters now and again.
Keep away from a Flawed Publishing Course of
Your characters could have some critical flaws, however your guide shouldn’t! Let your characters and all their flaws shine by with out the distraction of typos or misprints.
When you’ve accomplished your guide, it’s time to contact the professionals. Let Gatekeeper Press aid you by the numerous completely different features of the modifying, publishing, and distribution course of in order that all the things goes easily. Your developed characters are well worth the funding! Study all of the companies out there that will help you get an amazing completed product out into the world.
