Strong characters aren’t just collections of strengths and skills—they’re also the things that hold them back. Just like all real people are a mix of strengths and imperfections, the best fictional characters experience a balance of both. A protagonist that’s only “strong” may come off as a power fantasy (or a Mary Sue), but one that’s always struggling to persevere can become frustrating. It’s when these two worlds come together–when their strengths and flaws are intertwined–that characters and stories feel truly alive.

So, how do you craft strengths and flaws that feel authentic, rather than just a list of traits? Let’s break it down.

What Are Strengths & Flaws, Really?

It’s easy to think of strengths and flaws in terms of skill sets: a character is good at fighting but bad at math. But that’s not really it–or what makes your character interesting. A character’s depth isn’t defined by whether they can win a sword fight or solve a riddle—it’s about how they think, react, and struggle within the world around them.

  • A strength isn’t just about competence. It’s what helps a character navigate the world—their persistence, kindness, intelligence, adaptability, or even their sense of humor. It’s a core part of who they are and how they approach challenges.
  • A flaw isn’t just a weakness. It’s the thing that holds them back—whether it’s fear, pride, impulsiveness, self-doubt, or something deeper. It’s what makes them hesitate, make mistakes, or push people away.

The trick is… your character’s strengths and flaws are often connected. In fact, a strength can become a flaw in the right (or wrong) context, and a flaw can become a strength when it’s needed most.

For example, a character’s stubbornness might help them stand their ground in the face of injustice (a strength) but also make them push people away when they refuse to compromise (a flaw).

This duality is what makes characters feel real. People aren’t just one thing—they’re complicated, and can even be their own worst enemy if they’re not careful.

Strengths & Flaws Don’t Need to be Static

No single trait is inherently good or bad—it all depends on the situation your character and their trait find themself in. What may be a flaw at the beginning of your story can, through character development, lead to the very moment that saves the day. A strength or flaw doesn’t have to be on or off at all times, they may crop up in ways that help shape your story and characters unexpectedly.

Same Trait, Different Impact

A risk-taker might be a hero in a high-stakes moment but reckless in personal relationships. A deeply loyal character might stand by their friends no matter what—but that same loyalty might blind them to betrayal. The same trait can serve them in one situation and sabotage them in another.

Character Relationships as a Mirror

Who your characters interact with can be a mirror that highlights their strengths or call out their weaknesses. A character who sees themselves as independent might be forced to rely on someone else. A control freak might clash with someone who thrives on chaos. Relationships provide a way to showcase and challenge a character’s defining traits.

Strengths & Flaws Should Shape Your Plot

Your characters shouldn’t just react to your plot, they should be impacting it through their decisions. And decisions are shaped by individual strengths and flaws. That means your character’s inner struggles are just as important as their external obstacles–and that they

Both Can Help Create Conflict

A character’s struggles often come from themselves just as much as from outside forces. For example, a character with the flaw of a quick temper may find that their rash actions get them into trouble with other characters. Or maybe you find their need for control pushes their allies away. The more their flaw  disrupt their life, the more compelling their arc becomes.

But no strength is without its drawbacks, either. Your quick-witted, or highly-skilled character may find that others resent them for their prowess. Jealousy can come before betrayal, so don’t discount the power of turning a strength on its head.

They Can Also Shape Solutions

No two people do the same thing the same way, and that means the way your character overcomes an obstacle should be uniquely theirs. A cunning strategist doesn’t solve problems the same way a brute-force fighter does, and two cunning people will often take different paths to the same ends as well. 

But on the other hand, a persons limitations also affect their approach to the world. A cunning strategist with a fear of failure may build plans A, B, C, all the way to Z just to be safe. While a grandiose villain may use their charm in the limelight to achieve their goals.

But Both Impact Growth

Regardless, these factors will contribute to your character arc–how they evolve through your story. Maybe a character’s best trait needs to be tempered, or their worst faults needs to be overcome. Most importantly: growth doesn’t always mean getting rid of a flaw entirely—it might mean learning how to manage it or use it in a healthier way.

Flaws Don’t Negate Strengths (And Vice Versa)

One of the most important lessons of characterization is learning that flaws and weaknesses are not a balancing system. A strong, capable character that wrestles with deep flaws is still strong and capable. And a character with major weaknesses can always rise to the occasion and succeed. The best characters aren’t just one or the other—they’re both, constantly. That complexity is what makes them feel real.

  • A flaw doesn’t mean a character isn’t capable. They can still be brave, smart, or talented—even if they struggle internally.
  • A strength doesn’t make them perfect. Just because they’re good at something doesn’t mean they always make the right choices.

Instead, it’s the tension between the two that makes them feel human.

A Quick Exercise

Character Name:
Main Strength (internal, not just skill-based):
Main Flaw (internal, and tied to their strength):
How This Flaw Causes Problems for Them:
How This Strength Helps Them Succeed:
A Moment Where the Flaw Becomes a Strength:
A Moment Where the Strength Becomes a Flaw:

By weaving strengths and flaws together, you don’t just make characters more interesting—you make them real. And that’s what keeps readers hooked.

 

Looking for More?

Brush up on your main character creation skills to avoid making Mary Sues and Gary Stus from the start with our article on building your best main character.

Whether you’re trying to find the perfect narrative POV for your book or trying to build your best main character, we’ve got you covered.

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