Why Fatal Flaws Rarely Are

by guest Laurie Schnebly Campbell

It's pretty rare that someone's inborn flaw is actually fatal. After all, in real life God gives all kinds of second chances -- and even in fiction, we don't generally want our characters dropping dead in Chapter Two.

Well, unless somebody needs to get killed early on for the sake of the plot. For a minor character, as well as for a villain, it's perfectly all right to inflict them with some genuinely fatal flaw.

But we can’t stop there.

We also need to give some flaws to our MAIN characters…and then watch ’em struggle.

If that prospect delights you, skip the next few paragraphs. If you cringe at the thought of your beloved hero and/or heroine suffering, here’s some advice:

As pleasurable as it may be to envision perfect people whose lives are full of happiness, that doesn’t add up to a very compelling book. Most of us, just like most of our readers, know that life can be painful and difficult at times…and that every once in a while, we behave in some less-than-heroic way.

A character who lacks the self-confidence to speak up about some uncomfortable issue?

A character who knows there’s no reason to envy Big Sister but does so anyway?

A character who wants to lose ten pounds but can’t resist the post-workout snack?

We can relate to people like them.

So watching their fatal flaws (such as fear, or envy, or gluttony) get them in trouble confirms what we know about life.

And that makes it all the more rewarding, all the more uplifting and thrilling and just plain satisfying, to see them overcome those traits in time to bring about their happy ending.

WHAT FLAW SHOULD THEY HAVE?

Those of you who already know about Enneagram theory (ennea, pronounced ANY-uh, is the Greek word for nine) will remember how each personality type has its own unique strength…which, taken to excess, can also be a weakness.

And here’s what those are for each of the nine types. I'm giving examples for male characters, but they work equally well for women:

ONE: ANGER

The righteous Reformer wants to do right, think right and BE right at all times. Setting very high standards for the world (and for himself) earns him a white hat. However, he gets angry whenever anyone (including himself) doesn’t live up to those high standards...so you can see the problem.

TWO: PRIDE

The helpful Nurturer does a fabulous job of looking out for loved ones and anyone else who crosses his path, so he’s great to have on your side. However, he takes such pride in being needed that he might work to make people dependent rather than independent, creating room for conflict.

THREE: DECEPTION

The golden-boy Achiever always looks fabulous / successful / brilliant, and can light up a room just by walking in. (Think movie star or handsome prince.) Thing is, that glittering facade might not be totally accurate in every respect, and he doesn’t know how to reveal anything else.

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FOUR: ENVY

The never-afraid-of-emotions Romantic sees great, sweeping visions of how life could be, and his creative passion gives the rest of us something to dream about. But since everyday life rarely measures up to those great visions, he’ll feel envious every time he compares reality to the ideal.

FIVE: AVARICE

The analytical Observer puts thoughts ahead of feelings, focusing on whatever most interests him and staying detached from petty concerns about popularity or money or fame. He’s greedy for privacy to pursue his studies, and that detachment frustrates anyone who wants his attention.

SIX: FEAR

The skeptical Guardian resolutely does his job, but he’s constantly aware of potential dangers and ready for fight or flight (usually bouncing between both options). Keeping security as his top priority can be useful, but such vigilant caution can be taken too far…in either the fight or flight direction.

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SEVEN: GLUTTONY

The ready-for-anything Adventurer embraces life in its greatest variety, keeping all his options open in the quest to enjoy every possible new experience, person and place. But since he’d rather not settle for just ONE of anything, anyone expecting some commitment will be in for a long wait.

EIGHT: LUST

The natural Leader has a lust for power, which keeps him in control of every situation he encounters — if he can’t control it, he won’t go there. Whether out in front or behind the scenes, he wants to protect his inner core at all times, which leaves him unable to risk any (yep) vulnerability.

NINE: SLOTH

The easygoing Peacemaker is great at building a consensus, making everyone feel appreciated, keeping the group happy, and going along to get along. He minimizes any potential conflict by never expressing his own wishes, instead relying on whatever’s comfortable — TV, food, you name it.

 

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Keep in mind that most real-life people have already done a pretty good job of overcoming their flaws. It’s only the fictional characters who need to grow & learn & change…so they’ll come up against all kinds of conflict on their way to the happy ending!

WHAT COMES NEXT?

If you'd like more information along these lines, you can get it next month in my email class (with always-optional homework) on “Nine Flaws, Nine Triumphs” at rwamysterysuspense.org/node/112  OR anytime (with 90% different information than the class) in my “Believable Characters: Creating with Enneagrams” book.

THAT'S THE PRIZE…

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41c96f9fAkL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

...for whoever’s comment wins the Seekerville drawing tonight, and THAT leads us right into the ready-for-comments

QUESTION

In a character you’re reading or writing about now, can you spot some trait with good & bad qualities as two sides of the same coin? Who is this person, and what's their trait?

Laurie, eager to see some characters for books I'll get to enjoy soon or a year from now!

http://joinazima.org/real-people-like-azima/

Laurie Schnebly Campbell loves giving workshops for writer groups about "Psychology for Creating Characters," "Making Rejection WORK For You," "Building A Happy Relationship For Your Characters (And Yourself)" and other issues that draw on her background as a counseling therapist and romance writer. Learn more about writer and speaker Laurie at http://booklaurie.com

Would He Really Do That?

Audra here!

Before I start ruminating on the unique flaws of characters, I have a confession to make. I was without Internet for a whole four days and missed the Seeker Sightings deadline for Seekerville Weekend Edition. Bad me. So I apologize for this random mention of Casey Herringshaw’s 2nd Blogiversary Party, but, I’m part of the party today along with Seeker friends Lisa Jordan and Jessica Nelson!! After your fill of snacks and chit chat here in Seekerville, mozy on over there and say hi!

Now back to our regularly scheduled blog.

As a writer of romantic fiction, my imagination creates worlds I secretly wish I could participate in, even if it’s just as a sideline spectator. I’d much rather watch from a distance and stand in awe at how characters work themselves out of situations I’d rather just step away from.

But we can’t do that and expect to write a book filled with laughter, tears, conflict and resolution, can we? Bummer, isn’t it? So often I wish the psychological makeup of my characters would just roll off my fingertips as I type their POV scene. Or respond with clever, witty retorts that I only think of days later if posed with the same situation.

All I know how to be is me. I don’t even understand my own children and I believe I had a small part in creating them, LOL! How am I supposed to create and breathe life into fictional people who can do, say and live the experiences I only wish I could?
 
I must confess people are a mystery to me. Why do folks gravitate for the hustle and bustle of large cities while others yearn for wide, open spaces? Why would television commercials artfully mislead the buyer into purchasing their product when, upon receipt, the true quality and capabilities will be revealed? Why does one man spend his life amassing a great monetary fortune while another prizes limitless literary wisdom?

Why did the cellular phone representative paint a lovely picture of the utopia I’d experience using their service over my current provider and then offer me nothing more than the offhanded “oops” when I brought to his attention my cell phone is practically DEAD at our house?

Honestly, how do some people sleep at night?

And why do we long to mix this dichotomy of personalities into our books when we haven’t a clue what makes them tick?

Sometimes you have to work at your craft YEARS before the answers to some of your most pressing questions slip into your consciousness.

For me, I needed to go back to Characters 101 to discover the reason my plots - though well thought out in theory - became contrived once I set my characters on the scene. Contrived? What an ugly word. Still, you can’t ignore reality if enough people remark on it. How can I un-contrive my stories when I have a tendency to guide my characters through the motions, finding solutions to their problems the way my own nature tends to solve issues?

I began to research personality types. And in that research I stumbled onto the basic universal truth – characters without problems have no reason to learn, grow and change.

Ewwww. I hate problems. I hate conflict.
Ewwww!

In my distaste for the essence of conflict, I started looking for a research book to guide me through the rabbit warren that is human nature. Something to help me understand and support characters so opposite my own nature. Something that explained to me why people did the things they did.

I found it. Believable Characters: Creating With Enneagrams by Laurie Schnebly.

Using the basic personality concept I had created for my characters, I found it easy to identify which personality types they were. For the most part, I had my hero’s nature nailed, for all the good and noble aspects. What I needed, but couldn’t see, were the obstacles he had to overcome. C'mon, my hero is perfect, right? 

Enter: The Fatal Flaws

Along your character’s journey, they not only have to reach Happily Ever After, but ideally, they reach it a better character than page 1 of the book. I have to admit, this was a key element I was leaving out. Sure my characters changed and grew, but not along any specific route. Identifying the Fatal Flaw in my character’s personality has not only helped me understand other facets of my character, but it helps me to help them overcome obstacles strewn in their path through their own eyes, utilizing every nerve ending that jumps to attention when anxiety/joy/fear/etc buttons are pushed.

My characters are now acting/reacting as THEY should – not as I would or the plot dictates.

I’m feeling rather giddy with the power of knowledge. How about you?

Knowing my character down to the essence in their little toes, I’m finding it quite impossible to write my characters into a corner. I still map out a general plot, but as Cap’n Jack’s wily pirate cohorts would say, the plot map is more like a guideline. How hero and heroine get from point A to Z is completely up to them…with a minute manipulating from me : ) Like any child, your characters need boundaries, what they don’t need are loading chutes.

Give them the majestic mountains of Colorado to explore, or the social chasms of historical peasants vs. nobility to hurdle, or even something as simple as deciding which dress and jewelry will make the right statement. That statement is theirs to make, you just take dictation.

And edit.

When necessary.

I could go on and on about the doors…nay, floodgates…of inspiration this little book has opened for me. I’d like to make it a part of your reference library, too. If you think it might help you, leave a comment and mention you’d like to be in the drawing.
 
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Don’t forget to stop by Casey’s Blogiversary Party and say hi to Jessica, Lisa and me, too!!

Stop by the buffet and help yourself to all dishes apple. You'll find Apple Crisp, Apple Pie, Apple Pizze with almonds and raisins, fruit compote and my favorite, steel cut oatmeal with chunky apples and walnuts on the side. Of course I've got URNS of coffee ready and your choice of Honey Apple tea or Spicy Apple Cider.

Yumbola!