The Difference Between “Flawed” Characters and “Too Dumb to Live”
Kristen’s post highlights one of my pet peeves. I have read many an inexperienced author who wants to write “trendy” stories, rather than what she/he KNOWS. Not only does the plot suffer, but ultimately, so do the characters. Just because particular types of characters are popular today, does not mean that an author should write about them. Nor does that mean they should follow the herd – off a cliff – by creating plot lines that become a caricature of themselves.
Which is more important? Plot or character? Though an interesting discussion—sort of like, Could Ronda Rousey take a Klingon with only her bare hands?—it isn’t really a useful discussion for anything other than fun. To write great fiction, we need both. Plot and characters work together. One arc drives the other much like one cog serves to turn another, thus generating momentum in the overall engine we call “STORY”.
If we goof up plot? Readers/Audiences get confused or call FOUL. Watch the movie Ouija for what I am talking about *shakes head*.
Goof up characters? No one cares about the plot.
New writers are particularly vulnerable to messing up characters. We drift too far to one end of the spectrum or the other—Super-Duper-Perfect versus Too Dumb to Live—and this can make a story fizzle because there is no way to create true dramatic tension. This leaves us (the frustrated…
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Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 