Finding the Flaws: Writing Dimensional, Dynamic Characters
As a writer, one of the biggest temptations is to paint the perfect hero or heroine in our stories. This tends to happen naturally for so many of us because we want to create protagonists who are aspirational and awe-inspiring. We spend so much time dialing in all of these amazing qualities that we forget something profoundly important.
Life is messy and filled with messy people.
If our stories are populated with perfect characters who get everything handed to them, they’ll make for rather boring reads. Because audiences want—no, need—flawed characters. Readers crave the imperfect, complicated protagonists who experience real growth and development across the span of a narrative.
Yes, we read to escape the chaos of our world. But a complex, flawed protagonist and cast of characters are what ground and anchor any narrative worth reading.
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Join Us For the Novel Writing Virtual Conference!
Writer’s Digest University is pleased to present an exclusive virtual conference for novel writers! On January 24-26, our Novel Writing Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from seven award-winning and bestselling authors on the finer points of how to write a novel. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft skills, refining your characters, exploring the future of publishing, and getting the tools you need to advance your career as a writer from seven different published authors, then (if you choose) pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent. The agent will provide you with a personalized critique of your query—and maybe ask to see more.
Enter Your Story #134
Write a short story of 650 words or fewer based on the photo prompt. You can be poignant, funny, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story.
Join Writer’s Digest in Italy in 2025!
Writers from around the world and throughout the centuries have found inspiration from the beauty of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Now, you can be one of them! Join Writer’s Digest in Florence and Tuscany this fall for the most awe-inspiring writing retreat available!
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With a growing catalog of instructional writing videos available instantly, we have writing instruction on everything from improving your craft to getting published and finding an audience. New videos are added every month!