Are character explorations into their flaws/insecurities well received?

[Sylver]

I'm at a point in my story where I am beginning to dive into my characters' flaws and insecurities, but I wanted to ask if that is a common thing among novels here on Scribblehub. Is it usually received well, or is it controversial or not interesting to see?

I'm nearing the end of Act 1 and the tone of my novel has started to change. Things are growing more tense and the characters themselves are maturing, plus background events are in motion, hinting at something bigger coming in.

I'm currently working on the fourth character of the main cast, I've devoted one chapter showing her life when she's not with the other characters. Now I plan to show the difficulties of her life, while also exploring some of her struggles and insecurities. The aim was that she struggles in a different way without any unfortunate background events or tragic story, she's the lone daughter of a wealthy couple. She is privileged, but these come with their own obstacles as she finds it difficult to make new friends because of her background. She is shy and dresses in a very low class way to appeal to others, and she owns a shop selling food products at a decently populated city where travelers pass through often. Being the only child, she feels like she is under a lot of pressure to own up to how her parents see her, and we see that as her shops begin to struggle financially, she starts to really stress out and does her best to hide this from her new friends, the friends being the main cast.

It's a work in progress but the point of this chapter and the post overall is that I want to humanize my characters and make them feel real and relatable to my readers.

I've already written a lot to humanize my other three characters, and I wanted to change it up by diving into someone who doesn't have a tragic background for a change.

So I wanted to ask, are character explorations into their flaws/insecurities a thing you guys do for your stories as well?

Are these kind of topics received well?

I ask because I understand most stories being an escape for a lot of readers, myself included. But I do take my stories seriously, even if they start out as something light hearted.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

They are well received. Most stories I read explore some flaws to a degree. It depends on how it's handled and how the character works through the flaw.

 

[Deleted member 76176]

To be honest, it'd be better if you foreshadowed the struggles beforehand. The sudden tone changes—regardless if the plot demands it—are generally not something readers appreciate for more than valid reasons. It goes against the promise you made at the beginning of the story.

Flaws will always be present, as being flawless is a flaw in itself. And readers do appreciate it, including SH, but not WebNovel (apparently, they don't). The degree of flaw matters, however. Not every reader likes to read heavily flawed characters, even if you manage to keep it interesting.
Go for it, though. Flawed characters are more interesting.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

To be honest, it'd be better if you foreshadowed the struggles beforehand. The sudden tone changes—unless the plot demands it, that is—are generally not something readers appreciate for more than valid reasons. It goes against the promise you made at the beginning of the story.

Flaws will always be present, as being flawless is a flaw in itself. And readers do appreciate it, including SH, but not WebNovel (apparently, they don't). The degree of flaw matters, however. Not every reader likes to read heavily flawed characters, even if you manage to keep it interesting.
Go for it, though. Flawed characters are more interesting.

This is why, even in my fluffiest story, I made it known at the very beginning the character was flawed. It is obvious throughout the story, and even still, readers tell me it is heartwarming and fluffy.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Wait... you explore things other than flaws and insecurities? Is it possible to write such a story? All my characters are nothing BUT bundles of trauma and suffering being thrown into situations where they have to suck up even more pain lest things get even worse.

I also got about 12 readers, so...

 

[prognastat]

The big thing to keep in mind is character growth takes time too not just sudden events completely changing a character. They need time to reflect and grow.

A lot of writers tend to throw a serious event at the character and bam the changes they wanted the character to go through are suddenly happening and done. It's a lot more work, but the pay off is way better to take the time to set up the flaw then take give them an inciting incident for growth, show some growth, but also some setbacks before they finally overcome the flaw and all of this should probably be done somewhat in the background while the main plot goes on.

 

[hippoman]

As a reader. Its nice to see characters confront their flaws, recognize their weaknesses, and grow, or accept their inadequacies.

 

[Sylver]

To be honest, it'd be better if you foreshadowed the struggles beforehand. The sudden tone changes—regardless if the plot demands it—are generally not something readers appreciate for more than valid reasons. It goes against the promise you made at the beginning of the story.

Flaws will always be present, as being flawless is a flaw in itself. And readers do appreciate it, including SH, but not WebNovel (apparently, they don't). The degree of flaw matters, however. Not every reader likes to read heavily flawed characters, even if you manage to keep it interesting.
Go for it, though. Flawed characters are more interesting.

How would you recommend it to be foreshadowed?

I don't plan on this chapter showing the character in question to completely break down for example. But it shows the flaws in her character in a noticeable manner, small things go wrong and she puts on a facade, confident that things will go well. But in her mind, she can't stop thinking about it, as the thought is repeated twice times in the chapter.

I plan to write 2 separate chapters that focus on her more, each one showing her flaw as things go a little harder for her. But it's not all depressing either, as her friendship with the other characters really helps her in the long run.

Do you think that could work, or would that idea need to change?

The big thing to keep in mind is character growth takes time too not just sudden events completely changing a character. They need time to reflect and grow.

A lot of writers tend to throw a serious event at the character and bam the changes they wanted the character to go through are suddenly happening and done. It's a lot more work, but the pay off is way better to take the time to set up the flaw then take give them an inciting incident for growth, show some growth, but also some setbacks before they finally overcome the flaw and all of this should probably be done somewhat in the background while the main plot goes on.

I'm hoping I've been doing well with character growth so far, but the lack of feedback makes it hard to tell x)

I try to take my time as well, I feel the same way about rushing character growth feeling off or jarring.

 

[J_Chemist]

Exploring one's flaws and working on one's weaknesses to better oneself as a person is hot.

 

[Deleted member 76176]

Do you think that could work, or would that idea need to change?

It's perfectly fine. The best way to go about it is to establish a theme beforehand—that the characters have problems in need of solving. So it doesn't surprise readers when the author dives into it. If this is your fourth character, I'd assume the theme is already established. I don't see any problems.

 

[Deleted member 68927]

I do it all the time. I think that is the only saving grace for my stories.

 

[Baiser]

I write my characters without flaws to make them as relatable as possible.

But really, I don't write flaws per se, it's more like I write character traits that can be really good in one situation but really bad in another.
Or is that the definition of a flaw...?

 

[Garon]

Flaws are what make a character real to the reader/viewer. An example of a bad character Tanjiro, I don’t remember spelling it correctly. The character is beloved by audiences for the same reason I hate him. He is perfect, with no flaws (incest if that's a flaw for you.) the only problems he faces are only demons( in fight) . His kindness does not serve as a conflict with others. And even if this happens, it is quickly forgotten. Therefore, yes, for me it’s interesting to look at mentally unstable people with their cockroaches in their heads. They are the only ones I can relate to.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

No. People only like flaws that are not really flaws.

 

[Sylver]

I write my characters without flaws to make them as relatable as possible.

But really, I don't write flaws per se, it's more like I write character traits that can be really good in one situation but really bad in another.
Or is that the definition of a flaw...?

In a way, yes.

At least for me, I don't introduce flaws, I introduce the character. Any flaws (in theory and if written well) should be natural to the character depending on their personality, background, or actions.

For example, a confident, charismatic, and talented hero can have the flaws of overconfidence, selfish, and the insecurity of someone else proving better than they are.

Flaws can be added in later on as well, as long as it is done in a fluent nature that doesn't seem forced. But this is all in my opinion, I'm sharing my thoughts on this as an amateur writer haha

 

[TsumiHokiro]

Some people like it, others abhor it. Which type of story are you trying to write? Is it a very light-hearted kind of story? Where people are going to get somewhat of a fix and not have to develop any brain synapses while reading it? Or are you trying to write something that actually makes your readers emotionally involved with it?

If you answered the yes to the second, flawed characters, or circular characters, are greatly appreciated for their capability of delivering more than a simple story. They develop conflicts all on their own. With a character that actually has, well, character, you can write character-driven stories instead of plot-driven ones, as they, your protagonists, will be the main driving force of the events behind the plot instead of some concept that you'd have to spend your energy developing. This does not mean you can not have both in the story, however. A complete character just gives more juice for the story to continue running, as they are capable of growing apart from whatever plot is running in the story, which makes it much more rich in content.

So if you want to write characters with both virtues and flaws, it's always a good idea to know you're going to make your story much more complex, and some people are going to not like it, whereas others are going to enjoy it. You can never please everyone.

 

[Deleted member 76176]

mean you can not have both in the story, however. A complete character just gives more juice for the story to continue running, as they are capable of growing apart from whatever plot is running in the story, which makes it much more rich in content.

It's a problem when characters take over the story, however. They leave the confines of the plot and the author, who by extension is manipulating things to his liking behind the scenes. He wants to his character do something, yet the character does something else, forgoing the set-up and sometimes the setting.

At no point should this happen. The characters are the author's creation, and it is his job to do the worst of everything to bring out the best in them. It is to become a therapist and diagnose his character's needs and flaws, pulling nudges to solve them without intervening directly.

 

[TsumiHokiro]

It's a problem when characters take over the story, however. They leave the confines of the plot and the author, who by extension is manipulating things to his liking behind the scenes. He wants to do something with the characters, but the characters do something else, forgoing the set-up and sometimes the setting.

At no point should this happen. The characters are the author's creation, and it is his job to do the worst of everything to bring out the best in them. It is to become a therapist and diagnose his character's needs and flaws, pulling nudges for him to solve them without intervening directly.

Of course, it is a problem when you have characters which are beyond your own grasp, yet I have read that characters also become something interesting when they grow beyond that which the author initially intended them to. Not to mean they grew out of control of your own understanding. No character should ever be more than you can understand. That would be a complete disaster; afterall, if you, the author, cannot understand them, how can you write more of it?

Not my intention at all to incentivise people to write things that are uncontrollable, but to challenge themselves. Calm seas a skilled sailor never make. Of course, also do not put yourselves beyond your own capabilities by going straight toward a storm if you have never been through one before! You, the author and creator, should always be the one in ultimate control in the end.

 

[Deleted member 76176]

Of course, it is a problem when you have characters which are beyond your own grasp, yet I have read that characters also become something interesting when they grow beyond that which the author initially intended them to. Not to mean they grew out of control of your own understanding. No character should ever be more than you can understand. That would be a complete disaster; afterall, if you, the author, cannot understand them, how can you write more of it?

Not my intention at all to incentivise people to write things that are uncontrollable, but to challenge themselves. Calm seas a skilled sailor never make. Of course, also do not put yourselves beyond your own capabilities by going straight toward a storm if you have never been through one before! You, the author and creator, should always be the one in ultimate control in the end.

This was just meant to mention one of the several pitfalls. Anyhow, growing out of understanding isn't the only way this could turn out. The more common and exact opposite manner—when the author understands his character too much that they become real, their own person who could resist the author's pulls.

For example, the author wants X to date a girl to romance, but they, as a fleshed character, just want to take care of their sick sister, and so the author exactly does that: he writes a few scenes taking care of their sister in a different city. But midway, the author realizes he can't do anything to bring the girl and X together—at least, not in a way that is not roundabout, long, or unnatural.

Depending on the story, this could be an easy fix or not, and it might need an entire rewrite of the concept and the book. Of course, it is possible that the rewrite could lead to an even better book; however, the author should at least be aware of it.

 

[prognastat]

Either can be a problem. Sometimes you have an author forcing the plot so much that characters don't seem like being living in the fictional world, but just props to make the plot the author intended happen and they bend in ways they shouldn't which can be just as bad. The best authors in my opinion tend to find a balance where they allow their characters to dictate how the plot progresses a little rather than just adhering 100% to the plot they intended, but also don't let the character go off and do something completely unrelated.

Part of writing good characters is also writing a character with their own personality and ways of thinking and then letting them behave as they actually would and exploring it.

Kind of like having a dog on a leash. You want to let it go around and sniff things as it wants. However you don't want it to be pulling on the leash constantly and dragging you off the path you were intending to walk or into the middle of the road.