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Re: Flawed heros

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On 09.08.25, Joy Beeson  <jbeeson@invalid.net.invalid> wrote:

Oh, activity here!

I've been wondering about asking whether anyone's still here, because I  
would like to talk about one of my stories again. Been rereading and  
adding stuff - except I now have most read aloud by Microsoft Edge "Eric  
Online Natural", so much nicer than having to read it myself. While  
writing of course I still reread my own words. :)

> I'm catching up on Partricia's blog, and have gotten to

> https://pcwrede.com/pcw-wp/heroes-protagonists-and-viewpoint-characters-but-mostly-heroes/

Reading that, too, some thoughts...

Seems I don't have protagonists at all, just viewpoint characters (tight  
third), some main characters, others not so main. (Certainly no heroes!)

I'd disagree on "nobody is born with a fundamentally good moral  
code...". Humans certainly are born as a blank slate with just hardware,  
and upbringing adds the software.

But some non-human species (thinking of one I made up here, of course)  
can all be born with the same basic rules of what's right, and what  
things no one would ever think of doing.

> The "make your character complex by sprinkling flaws on like
> parsley" school of thought was mentioned, but barely thought
> worthy of discussion.

> A complex character will have flaws, but adding flaws won't
> make him complex.

> It's rather like those silly signs in restrooms telling
> children to sing "happy birthday" while washing their hands.
> Getting your hangs clean takes time, but taking time while
> holding your hands under the water won't get them clean.

Seems we agree completely!

It's just that my characters come as they are written, and I don't like  
the word 'flaw'. Would you call someone who's good at playing the  
guitar, but terrible at hammering a nail into the wall "flawed"?  
Characters are good at some things, and not so good at others, and the  
decent characters know what they're not good at, and try their best  
anyway. They _think_.

Only trauma is an excuse for temporarily not thinking straight, and not  
even trying to. (In my never humble opinion.)

I don't think most of the traits listed as possible flaws are flaws at  
all, they are character traits. All part of what gives a character,  
well, _character_ (as opposed to being cardboard).

(I could ramble on about insecurity, versus just finding themselves in a  
strange situation and trying to figure out how to act now. The latter  
isn't insecurity.)

I think the only character I have who's lazy is one of my evil  
overlords. :)

> A parsley flaw can be comedic, but the only example I can
> think of is Indiana Jones and his snakes.

Hm, maybe it's not even parsley! :)

-- 

Mickmane - not new here, but using my online nickname now, rather than  
one you might remember.

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Flawed heros Joy Beeson <jbeeson@invalid.net.invalid> - 2025-08-08 22:11 -0400
  Re: Flawed heros "Mickmane" <ATH@kruemel.org> - 2025-08-09 23:04 +0200
    Re: Flawed heros djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2025-08-09 22:10 +0000
      Re: Flawed heros "Mickmane" <ATH@kruemel.org> - 2025-08-10 09:38 +0200
        Re: Flawed heros djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2025-08-10 19:06 +0000
          Re: Flawed heros "Mickmane" <ATH@kruemel.org> - 2025-08-10 22:35 +0200

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