Kill your Mary Sue with these 7 steps
A guide to write flawed characters
Many writers fall into the trap of creating characters who are competent, likable, and impressive… yet strangely forgettable.
In the previous post, we talked about what flawed characters really are and why perfection weakens a story instead of strengthening it.
If you haven’t read that one yet, I recommend starting there to understand the foundation.
This post is the practical follow-up. Here, we’ll focus on how to write flawed characters using concrete techniques you can apply to any story, genre, or draft.
1) Give the character a flaw that causes problems
A flaw should do something in the story. If it doesn’t create friction, it’s just decoration.
Think of flaws that actively interfere with the character’s goals, relationships, or decisions, such as:
Avoidance
Pride
Fear of confrontation
Control issues
The key is consequence. The flaw should make life harder, not just add color.
2) Tie the flaw to the character’s desire
Flaws feel more real when they grow out of what the character wants most.
For example:
A character who craves safety may avoid risks.
A character who wants approval may lie.
A character who wants control may refuse help.
When desire and flaw are connected, every choice feels intentional instead of random.
3) Let the flaw show up under pressure
Characters often manage their flaws when life is calm. Pressure is what exposes them.
Use moments of stress, conflict, or urgency to push the flaw forward. Ask yourself:
What does this character do when things go wrong?
How does their weakness influence this decision?
This is where flaws become visible without explanation.
4) Avoid labeling the flaw
You don’t need to tell the reader what the flaw is. In fact, you shouldn’t.
Instead of naming it, show it through:
Actions
Repeated choices
Reactions to others
Readers trust patterns more than explanations.
Let them connect the dots on their own.
5) Allow the flaw to hurt someone
Flaws feel shallow if they only affect the character internally.
Let the flaw strain relationships, cause misunderstandings, or create distance. This raises emotional stakes and makes the flaw impossible to ignore.
It also gives other characters a reason to react, push back, or leave.
6) Decide if the flaw changes or stays
Not every story requires a character to overcome their flaw.
Some flaws:
Transform
Soften
Become more controlled
Remain unchanged, but understood
What matters is intention. Know whether the flaw is something the story challenges or accepts.
7) Revisit the flaw during revision
Flaws often weaken or disappear during editing.
During revision, ask:
Does this flaw appear consistently?
Does it influence key scenes?
Does the ending reflect the flaw’s role in the story?
If a scene doesn’t interact with the flaw at all, it may need adjustment.
Final thoughts
Flawed characters are what make stories feel alive. They make mistakes, hurt people, avoid hard truths, and choose the wrong thing even when they know better.
That’s what gives your story tension, emotion, and meaning. You don’t need to fix your characters or make them likable at every turn. You just need to make them human and consistent in how their flaws shape their choices.
Now it’s time for you to practice!
In the next post, we’ll move from theory to action with writing prompts designed to help you practice creating flawed characters in real scenes.
