Character Creation
📋 What it is
Believable characters have wants, flaws and a way of changing through the story.
🗣️ Coach says
Great characters feel real because they WANT something and have flaws. A hero who's perfect is boring; one who's brave but stubborn is interesting. As the story goes on, a strong character grows or changes.
🧠 Memory hook
A character needs a WANT and a FLAW. Perfect is boring; growth is gripping.
😂 Giggle
What did the dragon say to the world-builder?
"You really fired up my imagination!"
😲 Whoa!
Authors often base characters on real people they know — mixing traits from several to make someone new.
✅ Quick check: What makes a character more interesting — being perfect, or having a flaw to overcome?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Having a flaw — it creates growth and makes them relatable.
Flaws give characters somewhere to grow, which engages readers.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Invent a character with one big want and one flaw. How might the flaw cause trouble?