How To: Make An Original Character

strengths and weaknesses

Most authors tend to want to make their characters perfect people who are practically indestructible. But every character has to have a weakness, something that makes them a bit more... Normal? Is that the way to put it? A bit more human?

Sometimes you need to show a weakness in order to showcase the strength of your character. In fact having a weakness and overcoming it is far more impressive than just being perfect all the way throughout.

Weaknesses is something we all share, we all have things that scare us. If your character can connect with the reader on a level as personal as some of the deepest weaknesses, you have done extremely well in your character development.

Strengths are also important, as your character can't just be the damsel in distress all the time. Also someone who is constantly not taking risks and falling into their weaknesses can aggravate the reader because you just want to shake the character and tell them to get a grip!

This is kind of linked to my 'flaws' chapter maybe slightly more specific. You need to know everything about your character which includes their strengths and weaknesses :)