Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/28083
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

 **I mean, what exactly defines a flaw for a character? Diseases or personal problems are considered flaws?**

That's a fun question, isn't it? It's especially amusing when you consider that the answer will not only vary specifically from person to person, within reason, this will also vary from culture to culture. One reader may find your protagonist's swear-word-filled speech offensive while another reader may find it a natural result of the character's difficult past. It's difficult to foresee how people are going interpret every detail of your characters' personalities; I sometimes find it best to write traits, especially _flaws_, as simply genuine qualities of the person you're creating.

**I know that the character's flaws should have at least some impact in the story, instead of being just a mere detail, but what makes flaw X better than flaw Y? Is it how much it impacts the story or how interesting it is?**

Does describing a field of carnage after a massive battle between man-pig and centaur directly impact the story? No- you can describe the scene in a few sentences or a few pages. Just like descriptively conveying the details of a scene, character flaws first and foremost provide _life_ to your characters. Jon's penchant desire to seek out the first brothel in every town may end up in him finding true love, contracting an STI, a subtle response to dealing with loneliness, or have no other meaning than he just likes sex (a lot).

Character flaws can be mentioned briefly in passing and never brought up again. Just like describing the color and health of a lily on a trail, you're just providing material for the reader to become more immersed into your world. With that said, it can also dictate or at least influence the actions of your characters. I don't think one often sees flaws directly impact the story, unless the story is somewhat built around that flaw (Man's lust for power in The Lord of the Rings, the influence of emotions in Star Wars). But for example, if Jessica Jones was stumbling through a fight due to being drunk (which is common given her alcoholism), then her flaws are impacting a scene but it need be the lead navigator for the rest of the story, depending on the significance and result of the fight.

**Can a character have only one main flaw or should they have multiple?**

That depends on your character and how much those flaws impact their decisions, or lack thereof. Ultimately both are up to you.

**What are the characteristics of a good flaw?**

Context really matters when considering this question. As a flaw, being late by 5 minutes to every situation seems a bit humorous but if Xandu Nax hails from a specie called GlorbZorb who finds it criminally offensive to be late... By and large a flaw should be believable, and this will depend on the setting of your story, the genre, and your ability to convey that flaw to the reader.

Original score: 5