How to Write Realistically Flawed Characters

Readers don’t always want to invest themselves in characters that seem too perfect or have no flaws. Developing characters that are relatable and flawed but well-meaning is important to the crux of every good story. They’re more interesting, more complex, and easier to root for. 

Crafting a character with emotional complexities allows readers to see themselves in the pages of your book. They can identify themselves in certain aspects of that character’s personality or the struggles they’re going through, and form an attachment. 

But, fully developing a realistically flawed character is often easier said than done. How can you create a “human” character that is realistic and flawed, but do so with empathy and understanding? 

The Importance of Flawed Characters

Before you start to develop your characters, it’s important to understand why we love them, in the first place. As stated above, it’s easier for people to see components of themselves in characters who aren’t perfect. 

No matter how the story plays out, readers are more likely to make a connection with someone who doesn’t have it all together. That will keep them interested in the plot itself, but it also gives them someone to root for throughout the story. After all, who doesn’t love an underdog tale?

Imperfect characters also tend to be more interesting. Even if you don’t go into detail about their background or history, you can reveal a lot about a character’s personality by giving them a few quirks or even some major flaws that drive the story. As with TV shows and movies, people want to be able to relate to the characters they’re investing time into, and that means not everyone is going to always do the right thing or make perfect choices. 

Painting a Portrait of History

When you’re creating a flawed character, readers must understand why they are the way they are. For example, if one of your characters is a recovering addict, you can’t go overboard with stereotypes. You might have people reading who are in recovery, themselves, or know others who have struggled. 

Instead, explore your character’s risk factors. What caused their addictions? Some of the most common culprits include

• A poor home life
• Mental health struggles
• Relationship issues
• Financial issues
• The wrong group of friends

If all of those bullet points sound like prompts, your wheels are spinning in the right direction! No matter what your character is dealing with, establishing a “why” for some of their flaws and quirks will make their story more believable and relatable. 

Establishing Quirks and Tics

The beauty of any story is in the details. A fully-formed character needs a background story, of course, but their personality and unique quirks also need to shine through within the pages. Including some of those details will make your character more realistic, and paint a clearer picture for your reader. 

That might include things like unhealthy coping mechanisms due to a traumatic event, such as

• Frequent nausea
• Backaches, or headaches
• An undertone of fear
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Poor concentration abilities

Building these traits into your character will not only deepen how the reader understands them, but it will make them more believable. 

Of course, not everything needs to be heavy. If you want your character to have a more light-hearted personality or not such a dark backstory, you can still develop quirks for them that are relatable and detailed. Maybe they clear their throat when they’re nervous. Maybe they run their fingers through their hair when they’re trying to think about something. By being consistent with certain character traits and actions throughout your story, your readers will have a clearer picture of that person on the page. 

When you let go of the idea that your characters need to be perfect, developed realistically flawed ones can actually be a lot of fun. If you’re not sure how to get started, try drawing some experiences from your own life, or take certain traits of family members and friends and stir them together to create an interesting new character to bring to life. You might be surprised how easy it is to give a flawed character an interesting background and personality once you’re willing to get creative with their quirks. 

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.