Making a Good Character Look Bad

Create a scene in which your character does one of the following:

• is hurt or humiliated
• does something stupid
• makes a fool of herself
• knowingly commits an immoral act or does not speak up when someone else does
• shows through her speech or actions that she is wrong about something important

It's easy to fall in love with your protagonist or identify so closely that you are unable to get your character into any serious trouble.  But a story in which your character does nothing wrong can end up short.  Create a scene where your protagonist is hardly at her best.

catherine@catherinealexander.net