Showing posts with label Character Trait vs. Character Flaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Character Trait vs. Character Flaw. Show all posts

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Not Every Quirk Is a Flaw: How to Identify a True Character Flaw in Storytelling


by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

Writers are often told their protagonist needs a “fatal flaw”—something that must be overcome for growth to happen. But what many don’t realize is this: Not every character trait that causes problems is a flaw that must be fixed.

In fact, mislabeling quirks, wounds, or virtues as flaws can weaken your story. To build authentic, compelling characters and arcs, we need to learn how to tell the difference.