Finding the Flaws: Writing Dimensional, Dynamic Characters

Finding the Flaws: Writing Dimensional, Dynamic CharactersAs 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

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.  

What You Will Learn:

• Characterization dos and don’ts
• How to flesh out imperfect characters
• How to create character backstories
• How to develop character mood boards
• Why it’s smart to avoid describing your characters’ appearances
• Tips on writing engaging dialog

Who Should Attend:

• Writers who need a better understanding of the elements of writing, specifically the differences between round and flat characters
• Writers who need help with pacing and characterization
• Writers who need help with seeing their characters objectively
• Writers who need help self-editing their protagonists and antagonists
• Writers who simply want to put forward their best work

Instructors:

Julian R. Vaca is a Daytime Emmy Award–winning writer and the author of two young adult novels: The Memory Index and its sequel The Recall Paradox (HarperCollins). Julian has written for the Nerd Daily, Writer’s Digest, and more. He is a Pen/Faulkner Writers in School Author, and a member of the SCBWI. He lives in Nashville with his family and is hard at work on his next novel.