Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By The Bookshelf Muse
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

How Character Attributes and Flaws Work Within Character Arc

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Like real people, characters have good qualities and bad. Flaws are especially interesting as they develop only when a person has experienced a painful life lesson: the world, and the people in it, can be cruel.

How does this happen exactly? Well, just as we have “fight or flight” responses for physical threats, we instinctively act to protect ourselves from emotional hurt.  If something painful happens, it makes us feel vulnerable and weak. The fear that this could happen again drives us to put up a wall, to form a protective shield around our emotions. This barrier is made from something that, by nature, keeps people at arm’s length: personality flaws.

How does that work? Well, an unfriendly character can rebuff someone before they have a chance to lash out. A catty character’s sharp tongue warns people to watch their step. And an inflexible character always ensures things are done exactly the way he wants, no matter what. In each case, flaws ensure the character is in control when interacting with other people and protect his emotions at the same time.

Each character is unique, and so the flaws that develop in their personality will be too. But what always remains the same is the damage factor. On the surface, flaws appear to help the character avoid being hurt, but they actually do the opposite.

Flaws damage relationships, limit self-growth, and create biases that skew the character’s view of his world. 

Flaws only exist because of fear–the worst kind, the deepest fear: that an emotionally traumatic event will happen again, and all that awful vulnerability one felt before will come crashing down. This fear is all-consuming. It steers the character’s actions and choices. He will avoid certain things for fear of being hurt. Dumped by a longtime girlfriend? Stay away from committed relationships. Lost the promotion to another employee? Stop trying to win and avoid all that disappointment.

Fear of being hurt will place limits on your character’s goals and dreams.

Until the character sees how fear is steering his life and how his flaws are sabotaging his ability to achieve meaningful goals, he will never be fully happy or satisfied. In storytelling, flaws give the character something to overcome.

This battle for “a better self”  provides an opportunity to face fears, shed flaws, and achieve self-growth (character arc).

Within the three acts, we want our character to awaken, realize flaws and fears are holding him back, and to move forward, he must change.

Change is possible when a powerful desire grips the character, and suddenly his goal, whatever it may be, becomes more important than anything else.

To win, the character must change and adapt..meaning he must cut loose what’s holding him back: his flaws. Seeing flaws for what they are (a negative quality) creates perspective. The character can take stock, and choose to hone his strengths rather than feed his fears.

While flaws are important, a character’s positive attributes are the key to the hero “winning” the day.

Positive attributes are core beneficial traits that help a protagonist make difficult decisions, face fear or danger, and find the courage to strive for fulfillment. In other words, they are SO important. Choosing the right strengths also provides a “hint” of greatness that promises the reader this hero is someone worth rooting for.

To build a well-rounded protagonist, it’s important to choose attributes that will make him authentic, believable, and allow him to navigate his world. This means choosing a character’s strengths based on these four Attribute Categories:

MORAL ATTRIBUTES: moral beliefs are at the core of each of us, determining our actions and decisions in our world. We naturally assign a moral “weight” to everything we do and see, and so must our characters. Choosing traits that closely align with what a character believes to be right and wrong is the foundation of their personality. Kindness, generosity, responsibility and loyalty are all examples of moral traits. Think about what beliefs your character holds dear and choose a trait or two that specifically line up with his morals.

ACHIEVEMENT ATTRIBUTES:  all characters are driven to meet their own cardinal needs and achieve goals that matter to them. Achievement-based attributes should align with the character’s moral beliefs but their main function is to help the character succeed. Examples might be resourcefulness, focus, efficiency, and perceptiveness. List out the big goals your character has, and then identify which positive traits will help him achieve them.

INTERACTIVE ATTRIBUTES: the way a character interacts with other people and his world is important. Being that humans are social creatures, relationships play a big part, and will matter to your character (whether he wants to admit it or not!) Traits like diplomacy, honesty, courtesy, hospitality or friendliness might be attributes a character would adopt to form healthy interactions. Think about how your character acts towards others and how he ensures the relationships he needs are functional.

IDENTITY ATTRIBUTES: each person (and therefore each character) is on a journey of self-discovery. Identity traits help your protagonist express who he really is, and what he believes in. Patriotism, curiosity, extroversion or introversion, idealism, quirkiness and a sense of adventure are all traits that promote greater individuality and personal expression. Identity attributes are a great way to make your character stand out as unique!

Choosing traits from each of the four categories ensures you will build a complex and interesting character that will resonate with readers.

Think about your character’s flaws and fears, and the attributes that might help him shed these unwanted life companions.

For a tool that will help you explore these attribute categories, try the Character Target Tool. And for an extensive list of positive attributes that digs deep into the behaviors, attitudes, and thoughts associated with each, check out The Positive Trait Thesaurus.

Heads up! Becca and I are running a dual Goodreads giveaway for a print copy of The Urban Setting Thesaurus and a print copy of The Rural Setting Thesaurus. Just click on the links to enter.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The Bookshelf Muse is a hub for writers, educators and anyone with a love for the written word. Featuring Thesaurus Collections that encourage stronger descriptive skills, this award-winning blog will help writers hone their craft and take their writing to the next level.


Source: http://writershelpingwriters.net/2016/11/how-character-attributes-and-flaws-work-within-character-arc/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!


Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST


Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!

HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.

Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.

MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)

Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser!  Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!

Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.

Smart Meter Cover -  Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).

Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.