Vibrant, Flawed Characters

It's been a week of why characters ought to be flawed. So I wanted to go some place different since piling on the excellent posts already put up this week wouldn't likely change anybody's mind at this late date.

What are we talking about when we say character flaws? For our purpose (creating vibrant, three dimensional characters) we're talking about *internal* negative states of being. Some people think giving a character a limp is enough. Physical disability of any kind is NOT a flaw by any stretch. We're looking for the ways a character's emotional make up hampers him or her. These flaws usually arise from fear - of lack, harm, isolation, - we build defensive constructs designed to protect us. Initially, they may work to some extent, but all too soon, that 'just act confident so you don't look like a victim' defense that fooled the bullies for a few days in grade school has turned into arrogance. And that is hard stuff to shake because most of us don't recognize or address the old, potent terror underlying the flaw.

Do a search on character flaws. Some fascinating posts come up. One lists the ten worst character flaws. Which makes me instantly wonder the ten worst decided by whom? Another post - a long, involved post - delves into flaws as a crucial component of the psyche, developed as a defense mechanism. It links a number of flaws together, grouping them by the inadequacy at their cores. This one goes into incredible detail, describing the anatomy of a flaw (or set thereof) and even talks about how and why we develop them in the first place.

The *really* interesting thing? Both of these sites are religious or spiritual in nature. Mastery of oneself, I suppose - both articles focus on overcoming flaws, something most of us have to do consciously, but which our characters can't do consciously. If a character is going to overcome his flaws by learning to meditate, there's a chance that's going to be one dull story.

Most of us in normal life go for minimal pain. If we're motivated to change, we're going to do it in a way that makes us least queasy. In our fiction, though, ah, in fiction, it's our job to inflict maximum pain upon our characters - to make those flaws so excruciating that changing is the only relief. Think of some of your favorite characters ever. I bet that the reason most of them are so memorable is because they didn't just struggle with whatever conflict presented itself in the story - they struggled with themselves as well. And it's that struggle that made them sympathetic and rich and identifiable to you.

So bring on the flaws. I even found a character flaw index so all of us can plumb the depths of totally messed up characters. Why yes. I am cackling. I do sound unhinged. I do so love causing my characters pain. Is that a character flaw?

Flawed Road Signs

Flaws. Whose idea was it that we’re supposed to obsess over some perceived imperfection? I suspect a conspiracy. Modern society benefits by convincing you of your flaws so someone can make a buck selling you the remedy thereto. Early religious leaders (of all stripes) benefited because salvaging flawed human beings brought more money in the door. And, early in the life of several religions, if you wished to indulge in your flaws without guilt, sanction for such things could be had – for a price.

So really. Are we as flawed as all that? Or are we indulging someone else’s notion of who and what we ought to be? That’s what I decided long ago. I’ve been a much happier human being since I stopped worrying about what everyone else thinks and began paying attention to what matters to me. Oh, sure. There are people in my life whose opinions I value. Some of them even coach me on my shortcomings. It’s just that I no longer equate flaw with failure. I equate it with opportunity. Typically, I prefer not to use the word ‘flaw’ either. Channeling the few years I worked in the business world, I prefer ‘growth opportunity’ or ‘damn, that’s gotta change’.

What are my current growth opportunities? I’m impatient. I have elevated procrastination to an art form (I give lessons). I have the annoying tendency to put everyone else’s happiness and well-being before my own. Oh. Does that last one sound like a virtue? Some Disney-esque Cinderella sort of thing? Bull-pucky. It’s not. It’s a form of self-sabotage, first. Second, it doesn’t actually serve the people you love who’d be better off developing the initiative to learn whatever skill they’re asking you to perform for them. Third and maybe most importantly, it’s deceptive. I’m not putting everyone else first because I’m all sweetness and light. No. This is a subtle remnant of low self-esteem. If you serve everyone else and make them all happy, look at what a good person you are! Except that you’re also exhausted, resentful, and cranky most of the time. And notably, very little writing gets done.

As for physical flaws? Gave those up. I figure I was built the way I was built for a reason. We can talk about ‘gee, I wish I had curly hair’ or ‘wouldn’t it be nice if I were a size four’. But really, no one is a size four forever. No one. We all change shape. That’s life. Ultimately, physical flaws aren’t about the freckles or the bump on your nose. It’s about things like asthma which meant I could not join the military in any capacity. I took that as a message from the Gods. A pretty clear one, I might add. That’s how I classify flaws – as markers, things that say ‘go here, not there’. I can’t be an astronaut in this lifetime. When I wanted to join the military, I couldn’t fly a fighter, and then found out I couldn’t even drive a truck wearing a uniform. But I can sail a boat by feel. I can navigate unfamiliar water based on nothing more than a detailed chart (though a GPS unit for reference checks really ups the confidence factor – so long as you’re aware that a GPS unit will ask you to sail through land to get to a waypoint…). I can unclog my own galley sink. I can repair a drywall crack in such a way that you’d never know it had been there. I can recite Shakespeare and make it comprehensible to most people (who said the acting degree was worthless?).

Cataloging flaws seems like a twisted form of violence against oneself. If you count your flaws, remember to give the other side equal time. Count your fine qualities, too. What can you do? Sing? Design a website? Run a 25 man raid in World of Warcraft without swearing once, even off microphone?

As a last note, I’ll confess one physical thing. All my life, everyone has said I have bird legs. They are pretty bony and skinny. Flaw? Nuh-uh. I’ve always secretly loved my legs, because those skinny little things are *strong*. Maybe they don’t look right to someone else, but they’ve carried me over mountains carrying a 50lb pack. They’ve cycled 40-50 miles in a day on a bike carrying 60lb packs. They’ve danced. They’ve kicked the crap out of that bully in third grade. What’s not to like?