tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post7940089005554458198..comments2024-03-29T06:35:45.788-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: Lessons From Being Critiqued: FlawsElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-28755326841036028702013-01-12T19:15:29.614-07:002013-01-12T19:15:29.614-07:00This is great news. I'm so glad that my quirky...This is great news. I'm so glad that my quirky goof up characters have a future!Beth MacKinneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14510201092365855223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-37960440566707894422013-01-11T05:17:13.055-07:002013-01-11T05:17:13.055-07:00Yes! This is key.Yes! This is key.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-7201594949989752042013-01-09T11:36:38.762-07:002013-01-09T11:36:38.762-07:00Good point Elana,
NO ONE is PERFECT so why write ...Good point Elana,<br /><br />NO ONE is PERFECT so why write about a character who is?<br /><br />I NEVER write about perfect people... way TOO BORING!!!!<br /><br />Happy 2013 dude!Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-51124981963465934022013-01-09T10:47:52.119-07:002013-01-09T10:47:52.119-07:00I had to laugh at the title of this post! I though...I had to laugh at the title of this post! I thought, OH GREAT, I SUCK AT THIS! But my skin is getting tougher. Growing some callouses. I'm going to be a pro like you one day. :)Jessie Humphrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11096043821002254348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-33717919144744355002013-01-09T09:40:38.163-07:002013-01-09T09:40:38.163-07:00What's interesting is when you write in flaws ...What's interesting is when you write in flaws that some people don't see. GrrrDonna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-49703598020711123862013-01-08T12:14:13.355-07:002013-01-08T12:14:13.355-07:00Flawed means interesting too. Perfection is boring...Flawed means interesting too. Perfection is boring.<br />Kelly Polarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968381456100611120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-42129612155474148692013-01-08T11:30:08.840-07:002013-01-08T11:30:08.840-07:00Flawed characters are more relateable, aren't ...Flawed characters are more relateable, aren't they? I'm bad about giving my characters flaws, even though I know it is necessary. Great post.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-71946339793145957822013-01-08T10:28:45.541-07:002013-01-08T10:28:45.541-07:00I really struggle with this one too. I'm const...I really struggle with this one too. I'm constantly reminding myself to add fatal flaws to my characters. I think the problem is we ourselves are striving for perfection, and our characters, no matter how different from us, are an extension of ourselves. Or at least that's my problem, I think.Brennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-1465833821507973002013-01-07T23:32:16.748-07:002013-01-07T23:32:16.748-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Adam Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08177321589676551378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-66705653540091542452013-01-07T22:41:26.117-07:002013-01-07T22:41:26.117-07:00I'll admit to writing a perfect love interest ...I'll admit to writing a perfect love interest in my first book, but I tried to make his perfection his flaw--like it annoyed other people so much, it actually led to their betrayal of him. So he's a character that appears to be perfect in the beginning, but you realize he isn't as the novel progresses.<br /><br />Yeah, I won't try this perfection/flawed tactic for characters again. It was super hard to try and pull off!Kathryn Purdiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18337488365098780737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-11397254152768034132013-01-07T22:31:46.631-07:002013-01-07T22:31:46.631-07:00I do have a soft spot for flawed characters, altho...I do have a soft spot for flawed characters, although I've noticed that readers and critters always notice different sets of flaws based on their own circumstances. I love making characters relatable.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-41680990868629432362013-01-07T19:45:04.917-07:002013-01-07T19:45:04.917-07:00I don't think I've fallen into this trap.....I don't think I've fallen into this trap...yet. I love to torture and drown my characters with their flaws. LOL.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-25264550723305788732013-01-07T16:38:56.960-07:002013-01-07T16:38:56.960-07:00I haven't created any perfect characters. I...I haven't created any perfect characters. I'm not sure I'd know how - I'm one of those people who tends to mess up in life here and there, so frustration at that comes out in writing! It's tricky because we like to see problems thrown at characters and have them overcome them, but in a human way, not perfectly.Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-9976241736718054282013-01-07T15:43:53.805-07:002013-01-07T15:43:53.805-07:00Love your new look. It's great to change. Yes,...Love your new look. It's great to change. Yes, when I first started writing, my mc was always pretty perfect, but you soon learn that that's not the way to capture an audience.Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-8295623957714399112013-01-07T15:43:52.855-07:002013-01-07T15:43:52.855-07:00Love your new look. It's great to change. Yes,...Love your new look. It's great to change. Yes, when I first started writing, my mc was always pretty perfect, but you soon learn that that's not the way to capture an audience.Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-89083567900584792852013-01-07T14:12:49.891-07:002013-01-07T14:12:49.891-07:00This is an excellent post -- especially regarding ...This is an excellent post -- especially regarding the secondary characters. I *think* most writers know the MC should be flawed, but it's easy to fall into the trap of writing the love interest as perfect, or the best friend, or the guardian/wise teacher, etc.<br /><br />I actually had to fight a critique partner on this during revisions of my last manuscript. There was this one guy who was heroic and noble at the end of the story, and my CP kept picking at mistakes he made earlier in the book: Why did he keep that a secret from the MC? Why was he so careless with (insert detail from story here)? Why is he such a slob? My answer was: He's 18. He screws up sometimes. <br /><br />Just because this guy was ultimately a hero didn't mean he wasn't also immature in some areas.<br /><br />He's going to mess up in Book 2, too. ;)Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-70607735814077187222013-01-07T13:19:36.256-07:002013-01-07T13:19:36.256-07:00In the past, I've definitely been guilty of ma...In the past, I've definitely been guilty of making characters perfect. It was usually my main character and I had to do a lot of studying of the craft and learning about character arcs. Now I try to plan at least one or two flaws for my character beforehand, and then a few others sometimes pop up as I'm writing. Now it's fun to give my characters issues :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-20949653613358664242013-01-07T11:57:32.394-07:002013-01-07T11:57:32.394-07:00This is a tricky one, but so important and such a ...This is a tricky one, but so important and such a common mistake. I see it all the time and have make a conscious effort not to do it. Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09210398194494998143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-24390018518958945172013-01-07T10:43:04.427-07:002013-01-07T10:43:04.427-07:00Yes, I agree, characters need to be flawed...perfe...Yes, I agree, characters need to be flawed...perfectly, to create tension and be relate-able. No one's perfect so therefore we can not relate to perfect characters and only find them annoying. Great post- thanks for sharing.Rebecca Green Gasperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14487755367578898689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-78433410585790817052013-01-07T10:26:57.834-07:002013-01-07T10:26:57.834-07:00My guys usually are too perfect. You want them to ...My guys usually are too perfect. You want them to be swoon worthy, right? So they come off too good. But I'm working on it. My secondary charters are usually the ones that have lots of flaws. Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-41287388141047546822013-01-07T09:59:38.618-07:002013-01-07T09:59:38.618-07:00um... I have a hard time imagining you struggling ...um... I have a hard time imagining you struggling with this. Your characters are so mulch-dimensional, Seriously, I love them. But I'm also glad to know that I'm not the only one who has to go back and add flaws later. Totally guilty of this.Jennie Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17331827076858223497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-65841862109613617092013-01-07T09:41:25.467-07:002013-01-07T09:41:25.467-07:00I'm glad others like flawed characters as well...I'm glad others like flawed characters as well. It really does make them more relatable.<br /><br />And I agree that there is no such thing as a perfect boyfriend! I need to work on that too...Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-40030509852363707962013-01-07T09:37:57.063-07:002013-01-07T09:37:57.063-07:00Characterization is my favorite part of writing. I...Characterization is my favorite part of writing. I love complex characters. Heroes with flaws, villians you love, heroines you want to slap yet love at the same time. I love being confused at who to cheer for. <br /><br />Flaws are important. The boy can't have the perfect looks, the perfect answers, and be the perfect boyfriend. That only works if he is in fact a serial murderer and the lady friend is in danger of being next. Mmmm, I'll be right back. haha :-)<br /><br />Great post.A.J. Freyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15490138130935376612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-64461982499635240322013-01-07T09:36:00.219-07:002013-01-07T09:36:00.219-07:00It's so hard to hurt the characters, but it mu...It's so hard to hurt the characters, but it must be done. :)<br /><br />TT. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-71754971216528247982013-01-07T09:35:39.747-07:002013-01-07T09:35:39.747-07:00I have the opposite problem and get warned not to ...I have the opposite problem and get warned not to show my characters at their worst! Going in the opposite direction of perfect has its pitfalls.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16028635002644119824noreply@blogger.com