"When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people, not characters. A character is a caricature."
—Ernest Hemingway

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Your Main Character is an essential part of the process of creating a plot. And no, I'm not talking about the name, age, or appearance. I'm talking about three important factors that make readers care about your Main Character(s) and their journey: the Flaw/Problem, Want/Goal, and Need. They're the roots of your character. It makes them who they are. So, what are the Flaw/Problems, Want/Goal, and Need?

The Flaw/Problems

It's pretty straightforward. No one likes a perfect character. They are often boring and hard to relate to because, let's be honest, no one is perfect. So don't create a Mary Sue or Gary Stu, and give your characters some flaws.

↟ Examples of Flaws

- Someone who's taken for granted might be timid, insecure, cynical, or needy.

- Someone who's hunted could be reckless, foolish, controlling, or impulsive.

- And someone who needs to decide to help or do nothing can be resentful, selfish, judgemental, defensive, or even cruel.

Of course, this doesn't mean you only give a character flaws. To balance things out so readers won't hate your character (unless that's what you're aiming for), give them some positive traits. Like the character who's hunted could be independent, observant, patient, or bold.

But we read a story because the character is facing something. Often a problem. Flaws can lead to problems, or maybe the problem makes them flawed. The character needs to overcome something.

Did you read the examples of the flaws? Someone getting hunted definitely has a problem, and the flaw of recklessness isn't going to help them. So what will they do?

The Want/Goal

Everyone wants something in life, and so do characters. It's what makes them follow a certain path and fix their problems. As I mentioned in the Flaw/Problems, your Main Character is being hunted for some reason. Maybe their flaw got them into it, but how do they want to fix it? Or maybe your Main Character falls in love with her best friend, but they've been friends for so long, and the Main Character doesn't want to ruin it (which could give them the flaw, possessive or uncommunicative). So what does your character want or is their goal? Just keep in mind, if the want is too easy, there isn't much of a story.

↟ Example of Want/Goals

- Someone who's hunted wants to stay out of their hunter's hands. They might be reckless, so their goal could be to become more careful. Or maybe they're impulsive and decide enough is enough. They want to stop the hunter.

- Someone who's in love with their best friend might think they want to hide their true feelings whether that's a good idea or not.

But a bit of a disclaimer. Wants can change during the books. They often do. And not every character gets what they want, just like in real life.

Whatever they want or their goal is, your Main Character might be wrong about it, and it's never the only story the character has, but the reader would like to see where it's going.

The Need

The Need is a bit soul-searching because what does the character actually need? Why are they flawed, and what does the Main Character need to achieve their goal? The Need is what the story is really about. Remember the Main Character who fell in love with their best friend? Well, they might want to bottle their feelings up, but is that what they need? Does the reader want to dive into a book where the Main Character never confesses their love and lives in misery for the whole story because of it? Or do we want to read about the Main Character overcoming their fear and telling their crush they're in love with them?

All three of these factors—the Flaws/Problems, Wants/Goals, and the Need—are what take you to the next important part of your writing. The A and B plot.

- Talle Fey ( @tallefey) 

𓍊𓋼 𓆏 𓋼𓍊

Question:
I know I said no name, age, or appearance, but tell us something about your character? 

𓍊𓋼 𓆏 𓋼𓍊 Up Next ⁀➷ TPT: The Trunk | Plot A and B

(Big thank you to LadyInLostYearn for proofreading this chapter)