This can be a troubling situation for a writer and worthy of a blog post. I have recently suffered from this literary affliction and it is a tough one to wrestle with, readers.
You will have created an amazing fictional character who lights up your creative world. They are like an angel.
For some strange reason you got carried away with their positive attributes, blessing them with; beauty, kindness, a gentle nature, a passion for old people, small children and animals, an inability to have a cross word about anyone, a vocabulary containing no naughty words, an inability to tell a white lie, a love of punctuality, a talent for giving thoughtful gifts at Christmas, a desire to give generously to the poor, a dislike of drinking, an inability to dance in supermarket aisles when no one is watching, a permanent smile on their face and no physical urges for anyone unsavoury or even better forbidden. *Sigh*
Praise to you writer on creating such a virtuous character! They are perfect in every way.
Other characters giggle and whisper “goody two-shoes” as they glide about.
Once you finish your draft or story something about it won’t feel right. You will have this nagging doubt whenever you read it and will be woken in the small hours by your over-active creative mind.
What is wrong with your story?
Yes, that’s right, you have a dull character with no interesting vices.
Don’t panic because this issue will be picked up by any good beta reader or writing friend, who has agreed to read your work. Their feedback will contain phrases like ‘unrealistic main character’ or ‘couldn’t connect with Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes!’ or even worse ‘your character needs some personal issues’.
As you blink away hot stinging tears you realise your goody two-shoes character needs to change.
Ok, so how do you survive this worrying literary situation with a perfect, angelic main character?
Well, here are a few things to think about:
- Bad habits make a character interesting and memorable.
- None of us are perfect. We all have vices. Writing about a character who is basically an angel in disguise is not realistic.
- Readers want to connect and identify with your characters. How can they connect with a goody two-shoes?
- Flaws can help differentiate a character.
- According to this article, when done right, the character flaw is the most effective way to add depth to your character. This is because once a reader identifies a character’s flaw, there’s an intrinsic need to see that flaw overcome.
- You won’t be able to see this, because you are too close to your story, but your goody two shoes character doesn’t want to be sugary sweet all of the time. They are craving some bad habits and are looking longingly at your other characters who are having the time of their fictional lives being wicked! *Sigh*
- Bad habits can mess with your character’s journey and keep their life from running smoothly.
- Put yourself in the shoes of your fictional character – think about how boring your fictional life is.
So, what you need to do is overhaul your goody two-shoes character.
Get out your magical writer’s tool box full of bad habits, flaws, fears, vices and inner turmoil.
Now, I am not going to list my favourite character bad habits and flaws as I could be here all day – so many delicious ones to choose from!
Here are some links to some stuff on character flaws which you might find useful:
- Angela Ackerman’s ‘The Negative Trait Thesaurus – A Writer’s Guide to Character Flaws.’ This is fab!
- This article on ‘The Creative Comma’ – 62 Character Flaws.
- This screenwriting article about how to add depth to your characters.
Come on, wipe away those writer tears, put that goody two-shoes character down and go do some bad habit research.
Yes you have written 50k on this weird angel like being but we all make literary mistakes.
I guarantee your main character and your story will be eternally grateful.
Take care out there writers and stay wicked!
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
Taking interview of a character from your own series, that’s an awesome idea to know a character better! Even I am running a fantasy thriller series, I will also try taking an interview of my protagonist! 🙂
Have a great day!
Hey thx – hope you can catch tomorrow’s interview 🤗
Sure thing! 🙂
Thanks for sharing! I don’t want to write goody-two-shoes characters, but I’m struggling with character flaws. I’ll give the articles you linked up a read.
Now I have that old Adam Ant ‘Goody Two Shoes’ song going through my head! 🙂 You’re right – goody-good characters aren’t interesting.
Now I have Adam Ant’s classic hit going through my head too lol! Thx & happy Sunday 🤗
I gotta write my angel some flaws up, man!!!
Ha this is great. I love a character that seems like an angel on the surface, but is deeply flawed behind closed doors. I’m sure I know quite a few Mums in the school playground like this ha x
Mmmmm yes me too!
Love this idea of a character though. Will give it some thought.
Good to find some flaws to chew over, sharing to my Facebook group, Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Group. 🙂
Thanking you kindly Marje 🙂
Happy Sunday!
Welcome, Lucy. Happy Sunday to you too. 🙂
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
Readers said they didn’t like my ‘goody two shoes ‘ character in “A lesson for the Teacher” but, luckily, I had two other main characters and one of those was a sexy daredevil type so it made a contrast. My ‘goody’ girl did let a man into her bed eventually, but there were complications. Doesn’t there have to be?
Great comment Julie. Love your example.
Happy Sunday and thx for reading!
Good advice, Lucy! Its a trap we can easily fall into, especially if writing for younger readers. It doesn’t make for a very interesting story, either.
Thank you for reading Ali 🙂
Have you recovered from the Bash yet?
Actually, I was quite demotivated for a week afterwards. I think it was like coming home after a holiday… you can’t quite believe its all over and back to normal. 😊 Roll on Bash 2018!!!
Reblogged this on ENLIGHTENMENT ANGELS.
Thanking you kindly & happy Sunday!
Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog.
Don you are ace! happy Sunday
My pleasure
A lovely post about ensuring your characters are believable. I seem to have the opposite problem at the moment, my Silly Willy character is so naughty he is getting out of hand [smile].
Wow your Silly Willy character sounds fab!
Thanks for reading & happy Sunday!
Great post! I’ve fallen into this trap before! LOL! I’ve bookmarked this post for easy reference! Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for reading Lisa. They are excellent reference points. Happy Sunday!
Happy Sunday to you as well! 🙂
I think it’s fun sometimes to have a goody-good as the thorn in the side of other more flawed characters. There are those people in life who seem to have their acts together fairly well. Maybe this is just a false front but a character with self-loathing and perfectionist tendencies can really suffer a lot with a goody-good around.
Yes great comment Adrienne!
The goody two-shoes characters are singing your praises 🙂
Thanks for reading & happy Sunday!
Bad habits add believability and depth to characters – none of this boring goody two-shoes 😉 Great post!
Yay! Thx for reading Christy – happy Sunday to you 🙋🏼
So much yes! I love flawed characters. Actually…I go as far as to say I don’t like characters who aren’t. They’re very boring. I like my characters extremely flawed. 🙂
Yes extremely flawed is good – thank you Lemon Shark 🐠
They’re fun. 💖
(P.S. Are you on Google Plus? Couldn’t find you…) 🐠
I find it impossible to write a goody two shoes character. No one is that good (or that bad).
Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.
Thank you 🙋🏼