Flawed Characters

The most memorable characters are those who are likeable, striking a chord with readers, but who are also imperfect, flawed. I think part of the problem with some of the heroes of the 80s' romance novels were, because of the authors' efforts to make the hero flawed, the heroes were turned into harsh, unyielding a-holes. Men who forced the women they supposedly loved into sex because the hero wanted it, or because the hero knew best and "knew" that the heroine really wanted to have sex with him, even though she said no. And then the brainless, bimbo heroines rolled over and let the heroes have their way with them, their hands across their foreheads and bosoms heaving.

And we wonder why romances are still called 'bodice-rippers.' Ack.

Making a character flawed does not mean turning him or her into people no one would like in real life. It means, for one thing, focusing on the character's vulnerabilities. These can be physical or emotional, but they have to be tied to the character. What makes your heroine sad? What frightens her? What wrongs has she done to others that she now regrets?

Also, you must understand what your character wants. What's at stake for him? What pushes him to make the decisions he makes? What does he stand to gain or lose by the end of the story? (And if this sounds familiar, yes, its the M of GMC.)

Your job as a writer is to become your characters. What things will your characters focus on? Of course, you have to listen to your characters, find out about them. Just because you like bleu cheese dressing on your salad doesn't mean your heroine does.

Find out about them, then look at the world through their eyes. And write.