Are you looking for characters beyond the usual blue eyes and blonde hair? How can characters be defined to appear real and believable? Do happily-ever-after tales and heroic characters appear unrealistic to you? Do you crave for a touch of realism?

We all (okay not all but most) loved fairy tales as children but then we grew up and the flawed nature of people started to sink in. The image of a beautiful princess and her handsome knight slowly fades away as we grapple with the imperfections that are all around us. Some continue to seek this perfect scenario but others (like me) consider adjusting to and accepting our world’s disfigurement. We realize that fairy tales only exist in our minds and we are now more attracted to characters like us, those with imperfections and who have stories to tell.

For the author, it is not always easy to create real characters that still inspire. There is also the problem that many people still crave what they cannot have. In this case, it is the idealism of a perfect story with perfect characters.

There are obvious advantages to creating characters that seem real. An important one is the added aspect of originality. Flawed characters have an authentic feel attached to them. Too many books have been written that contain characters with impeccable traits (as defined by society) and whose morality is unquestionable. Adding unusual traits and disclosing your characters’ faults differentiates your book from any other. After all, there is only one way to be perfect and so many other ways to be imperfect.

They are also more relatable. The reader can identify with and relate to what the characters feel. This makes the story more evocative. There is also an extra strand of uncertainty. If a character is flawless, the reader will always expect good from them. On the other hand, when the character is imperfect, it is difficult to predict their next decision or action.

This does not mean that the protagonist should not have great traits, but bringing out a little of their imperfection can help the story seem real and provoke the reader to have an opinion of the character’s actions.

 In K.M. Steele’s book, Return to Tamarlin, Lionel Slender is the protagonist. He sticks with his wife despite her constant insults and efforts to emasculate him. He believes that his marriage was destined and his solution is to survive it all. He survives her drunkenness and the constant conflict. Yet, his fits of anger constantly plague him. He constantly withdraws without clear solutions.

Realistic characters are more likable too. The reader is able to empathize with them in their plights. Lionel Slender continuously struggles to bring his family together and closer despite his younger daughter’s rebellion. The emotions in the book are heightened. The reader is not sure whether Lionel is the culprit and the constant question that hangs in the air is, “What if he is the killer, or better still, what if he is not?”