Giving balance to your characters

I was having a discussion with my writing group last night (hey guys!) and I had to get their opinion about something my MC says in my new WIP. Basically, he makes a rude slur about a gay student and his (girl) friend. My question was simple, does this make him too unlikeable?

I ask because having a character react in an honest way is important. And at the beginning of a story, a character can be more rude and unlikeable–because it leaves room for that character to grow and become better. But there are some lines that can make a character completely unredeemable to a reader. Did your MC just kill a puppy? Yeah, no WAY is a reader going to be on his team, EVER. Like, ever.

It’s a delicate balance. In this situation, my MC is hurt and frustrated and acts out without thinking. Does he mean it? No. But just saying it is enough to put a few dents in his shining armor and make him a more real, honest person. Who among us hasn’t, in a moment of pain or anger, said something we regretted? Something we didn’t mean?  I was able to use his breakdown to create conflict with the other characters and move the story itself forward. Will he redeem himself later? You bet. But if a character is perfect all the time, readers have a hard time connecting with them then. It’s almost worse than a character being unredeemable. It’s unbelievable.

So when you are writing, just remember that giving your character flaws and having them make mistakes is great. But too far one way or the other (too perfect or too evil) and you lose your reader.

And when in doubt, ask your friends/crit group. That’s what they are for! (Seriously, I love mine!)

 

Happy Reading!