Don't Make Your Protagonist Perfect, Perfect, Perfect. Employ Character Flaws!!!

When writing...

If you have a solid idea of the bare bones of your story and are ready to flesh them out, try to remember this: Make your characters as fallible as you can. After all, nobody is perfect--we all have flaws.

The reason I raise this issue is not only because it's true, but because I knew a girl who aspires to be a writer. She's in her mid to late 20s, and she had put me on the spot and had me read what she had written so far.

From what I read, the dialogue wasn't up to par, and more than that, her protagonist and subsequently the "good guys" relating to the protagonist were all described as good-looking and otherwise perfect, whereas her antagonist(s) sported seriously flawed looks and behavior. What utter triteness! The good guys are beautiful, the bad guys are ugly. Check please!

I pointed this out to her and suggested that she use every chance she could in order to create a much more realistic, and therefore profound story, and that included putting a blemish on her faultless protagonist, et al. The more imperfect your characters are, especially those in the protagonist role, the more you have to work with (not to mention the realism you'll garner within your pages). Creating imperfect characters who are subject to the moral code and confused when confronted with it is not only much more fun but makes for an interesting read. Tormenting your protagonist with a dilemma enables you add depth and character as well as interesting scenarios.

At any rate I don't think she agreed with me, and that among other things told me she wasn't mature yet enough to write a novel. That being said, she had abandoned her "novel" which only stated further that she wasn't a true writer, at least at present. Writer's don't abandon their work for new boyfriends. And though I knew this, as a writer, I still felt obligated to be truthful to her while reading her shaky, unfinished manuscript.

I am not fair to any of my characters. They all have good in them, they all have bad in them. The only intervening factor regarding both aspects is the degree to which they are good and bad. Employing these characteristics to all of my main characters allows me to have something to work with, to perform character arcs and quite possibly allow them a form of redemption if their character is found wanting. You'll have the ability to allow your characters to grow.

You want to make sure your characters have to face adversity, and by causing them to face moral and ethical situations will allow you to push the story in different directions all while keeping your readers on their toes. Don't make it too easy for your audience to know what your character will do based on the personality you have created for him/her. A character that does not make any mistakes and, therefore, cannot grow and learn, is boring. Making your characters imperfect will also help your readers relate to your work which, I might add, opens the door to their becoming attached to your story.

In my case, my characters have the potential to surprise my audience (and even myself) by possibly doing the opposite of what they and the readers would think. There is no telling what either my protagonists or antagonists will do in any given situation, and this helps keep the suspense going.

If you keep everything on the straight and narrow you won't have much of a story. You certainly wouldn't have an interesting story (in most cases) to say the least!

Don't Make Your Protagonist Perfect, Perfect, Perfect. Employ Character Flaws!!!

When writing...

If you have a solid idea of the bare bones of your story and are ready to flesh them out, try to remember this: Make your characters as fallible as you can. After all, nobody is perfect--we all have flaws.

The reason I raise this issue is not only because it's true, but because I knew a girl who aspires to be a writer. She's in her mid to late 20s, and she had put me on the spot and had me read what she had written so far.

From what I read, the dialogue wasn't up to par, and more than that, her protagonist and subsequently the "good guys" relating to the protagonist were all described as good-looking and otherwise perfect, whereas her antagonist(s) sported seriously flawed looks and behavior. What utter triteness! The good guys are beautiful, the bad guys are ugly. Check please!

I pointed this out to her and suggested that she use every chance she could in order to create a much more realistic, and therefore profound story, and that included putting a blemish on her faultless protagonist, et al. The more imperfect your characters are, especially those in the protagonist role, the more you have to work with (not to mention the realism you'll garner within your pages). Creating imperfect characters who are subject to the moral code and confused when confronted with it is not only much more fun but makes for an interesting read. Tormenting your protagonist with a dilemma enables you add depth and character as well as interesting scenarios.

At any rate I don't think she agreed with me, and that among other things told me she wasn't mature yet enough to write a novel. That being said, she had abandoned her "novel" which only stated further that she wasn't a true writer, at least at present. Writer's don't abandon their work for new boyfriends. And though I knew this, as a writer, I still felt obligated to be truthful to her while reading her shaky, unfinished manuscript.

I am not fair to any of my characters. They all have good in them, they all have bad in them. The only intervening factor regarding both aspects is the degree to which they are good and bad. Employing these characteristics to all of my main characters allows me to have something to work with, to perform character arcs and quite possibly allow them a form of redemption if their character is found wanting. You'll have the ability to allow your characters to grow.

You want to make sure your characters have to face adversity, and by causing them to face moral and ethical situations will allow you to push the story in different directions all while keeping your readers on their toes. Don't make it too easy for your audience to know what your character will do based on the personality you have created for him/her. A character that does not make any mistakes and, therefore, cannot grow and learn, is boring. Making your characters imperfect will also help your readers relate to your work which, I might add, opens the door to their becoming attached to your story.

In my case, my characters have the potential to surprise my audience (and even myself) by possibly doing the opposite of what they and the readers would think. There is no telling what either my protagonists or antagonists will do in any given situation, and this helps keep the suspense going.

If you keep everything on the straight and narrow you won't have much of a story. You certainly wouldn't have an interesting story (in most cases) to say the least!

Blog Hop Interview

            I want to thank Reece (@Reece_Bridger ) for the opportunity to be a part of this by selecting me and pinging me to take part in a blog-hop, prompting me to discuss my work.

            I think it’s wonderful that she has taken the time to initiate this interview as a way to encourage writers to discuss and promote their writing—I think we all (those of us who are fortunate to be published authors) want to help others who are aspiring to achieve their own literary dream, and I am more than happy to participate. Any considerate offering such as this ought not to be squandered!

            So thank you kindly, Reece, for selecting me as one of your three picks and boosting me to discuss my novel!

1)      What are you working on right now?

            Presently, I am in the final proofing stages of my first novel (with the sequel itself halfway written) which I had gotten the idea for about 25 years ago when I was thirteen—I wasn’t mature enough back then to tell the story in the profound way it deserves, but little more than four years ago that old idea began to surface in my mind again and so I decided, “Why not?” After all, I had invested so much time in learning about all of the facts and details concerning what had happened under recreational circumstances which could only mean I’d be able to put my story together appropriately.

            Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid is a story that details the account of the New Mexican Lincoln County War (1878), the small war that was responsible for initially catapulting William H. Bonney, aka, Billy the Kid, into the legend he became in those days and still is today. The story deals with Elucia Howard, an eastern socialite who crosses paths with the Kid and, through unfortunate circumstances, finds herself caught up in the whirlwind along with Billy and the gang of men who fought with the Regulators. She describes the account of the war from a first person perspective, as well as giving the audience a look into Billy’s personality which I was able to put together based on the countless, detailed information and interviews taken from those who knew him during those volatile days.

 

2)      How does it differ from other work in its genre?

            I suppose I couldn’t say for sure, but though I had to tell this story in an unconventional manner, creating a fictitious female protagonist whom did not exist, let alone ride with the Regulators and fight alongside of them, I had an initial goal of using my protagonist to tell the details as we know them today, and so the story sticks very closely to the facts. I did not take liberties and bend the facts to fiction, but rather I made sure to bend fiction to fact, making sure the two melded nicely and justly. So it’s half fiction/fantasy and historical fact.

 

3)      Why do you write what you do?

            Because over the years I had not only become extremely fascinated with Billy—this boy who not only had to learn to survive on his own from the tender age of 14—but began to hold a considerable amount of affection for him as he is one of my three favorite historical figures. The maternal instinct in me developed the desire to want to nurture his memory and try to offer my own perspective on who I believe this boy was based on the numerous accounts told of him, and to have my book serve as a highlight to the biographies written by the countless numbers of men—the veritable “Boys Club” of Billy Bonney. I wanted to create a character study, but I did not want to write yet another biography. I wanted to tell a story that paints Billy as a three-dimensional literary being, and for the most part, I think I have a pretty good handle on him.

4)      How does your writing process work?

            I spend a lot of time thinking up a story before laying it down. It took me three years of mentally considering this account before finally sitting down to write it about a year and a half ago.

            My writing process consists of driving around endlessly while listening to my music (especially music that I can make relate to the tale I want to tell) and thinking about what it is I want to say. It often works like a charm, and though I’m extremely fortunate in that I can come up with fun scenarios or dialogue without too much effort thanks to all of that time spent sussing things out and smoothing out the lines before even beginning my project, there are some occasions when I hit a wall. I can’t rightly consider it writer’s block because I’m far too involved in this story to truly have any problems such as that (this story now unfolds in my mind as though it is second nature), but sometimes I have a new idea that I want to insert and so I head out in my car, drive for however long it takes, and when I arrive back home I’ve got the answer!

 

I hope the three I select will also take the time to complete this short interview as it does serve an incredible purpose. That is…it serves a purpose if you truly believe in your work and have every intention of taking advantage of any opportunities that come your way to get it out there and share it with others.

 

I would like to select these three in the hopes that they, too, will take this opportunity and run with it. Publicity is publicity—don’t waste it!

 

** Please take these questions and apply them and their answers to your blog/website.

 

@Gary_C_King

 

@GiselleMarks1

 

@KMWeiland

 

Blog Hop Interview

            I want to thank Reece (@Reece_Bridger ) for the opportunity to be a part of this by selecting me and pinging me to take part in a blog-hop, prompting me to discuss my work.

            I think it’s wonderful that she has taken the time to initiate this interview as a way to encourage writers to discuss and promote their writing—I think we all (those of us who are fortunate to be published authors) want to help others who are aspiring to achieve their own literary dream, and I am more than happy to participate. Any considerate offering such as this ought not to be squandered!

            So thank you kindly, Reece, for selecting me as one of your three picks and boosting me to discuss my novel!

1)      What are you working on right now?

            Presently, I am in the final proofing stages of my first novel (with the sequel itself halfway written) which I had gotten the idea for about 25 years ago when I was thirteen—I wasn’t mature enough back then to tell the story in the profound way it deserves, but little more than four years ago that old idea began to surface in my mind again and so I decided, “Why not?” After all, I had invested so much time in learning about all of the facts and details concerning what had happened under recreational circumstances which could only mean I’d be able to put my story together appropriately.

            Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid is a story that details the account of the New Mexican Lincoln County War (1878), the small war that was responsible for initially catapulting William H. Bonney, aka, Billy the Kid, into the legend he became in those days and still is today. The story deals with Elucia Howard, an eastern socialite who crosses paths with the Kid and, through unfortunate circumstances, finds herself caught up in the whirlwind along with Billy and the gang of men who fought with the Regulators. She describes the account of the war from a first person perspective, as well as giving the audience a look into Billy’s personality which I was able to put together based on the countless, detailed information and interviews taken from those who knew him during those volatile days.

 

2)      How does it differ from other work in its genre?

            I suppose I couldn’t say for sure, but though I had to tell this story in an unconventional manner, creating a fictitious female protagonist whom did not exist, let alone ride with the Regulators and fight alongside of them, I had an initial goal of using my protagonist to tell the details as we know them today, and so the story sticks very closely to the facts. I did not take liberties and bend the facts to fiction, but rather I made sure to bend fiction to fact, making sure the two melded nicely and justly. So it’s half fiction/fantasy and historical fact.

 

3)      Why do you write what you do?

            Because over the years I had not only become extremely fascinated with Billy—this boy who not only had to learn to survive on his own from the tender age of 14—but began to hold a considerable amount of affection for him as he is one of my three favorite historical figures. The maternal instinct in me developed the desire to want to nurture his memory and try to offer my own perspective on who I believe this boy was based on the numerous accounts told of him, and to have my book serve as a highlight to the biographies written by the countless numbers of men—the veritable “Boys Club” of Billy Bonney. I wanted to create a character study, but I did not want to write yet another biography. I wanted to tell a story that paints Billy as a three-dimensional literary being, and for the most part, I think I have a pretty good handle on him.

4)      How does your writing process work?

            I spend a lot of time thinking up a story before laying it down. It took me three years of mentally considering this account before finally sitting down to write it about a year and a half ago.

            My writing process consists of driving around endlessly while listening to my music (especially music that I can make relate to the tale I want to tell) and thinking about what it is I want to say. It often works like a charm, and though I’m extremely fortunate in that I can come up with fun scenarios or dialogue without too much effort thanks to all of that time spent sussing things out and smoothing out the lines before even beginning my project, there are some occasions when I hit a wall. I can’t rightly consider it writer’s block because I’m far too involved in this story to truly have any problems such as that (this story now unfolds in my mind as though it is second nature), but sometimes I have a new idea that I want to insert and so I head out in my car, drive for however long it takes, and when I arrive back home I’ve got the answer!

 

I hope the three I select will also take the time to complete this short interview as it does serve an incredible purpose. That is…it serves a purpose if you truly believe in your work and have every intention of taking advantage of any opportunities that come your way to get it out there and share it with others.

 

I would like to select these three in the hopes that they, too, will take this opportunity and run with it. Publicity is publicity—don’t waste it!

 

** Please take these questions and apply them and their answers to your blog/website.

 

@Gary_C_King

 

@GiselleMarks1

 

@KMWeiland

 

The Writing Process

This is another short blog, so hopefully your ADHD keeps itself in check. How do I know you have ADHD? Because all writers do.

Every writer has/needs a process.

My process consists of driving my car with my music blaring loudly. When I find myself stuck (and not due to writer's block, mind you-that's completely different), I take to my car, blare my music, and by the time I come home, hours later, I have the answer.

One of the most important habits you can have as a writer is, no...not drinking or drugs, but a process!! You need something in your life that allows you to tune all else out (or even if it doesn't tune all else out, it's simply just some time for you and yourself) so you can contribute important ideas to yourself.

When I'm driving other things have a tendency to get in there: Work, marriage, family, friends, life in general, yada yada....but ultimately, when I get home, I've got the answer to the riddle I was trying to solve in my writing--when I left my house in the first place.

EVERY WRITER NEEDS A PROCESS!!!!