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Arthur Doweyko, award-winning author and scientist explains the importance of creating a main character who is imperfect. The cliché of avoiding perfect characters is repeated often for a reason. A perfect character is uninteresting for a reader because conflict is entirely external of the character, making it difficult to stretch out through a novel. Plus, the character isn’t relatable. “The flaw is a good element because it allows the reader to relate to the hero,” says Doweyko. Including typical flaws in a character’s composition captures a reader’s empathy. It draws the reader in and teaches them to care about a character. So, how do you choose your hero’s flaws? Sometimes flaws are revealed by situations, and other times flaws are created by situations. Doweyko gives an unusual example from his own work of a surprising flaw that one of his heroes has to conquer in order to save the world. Listen to the clip below to discover what the flaw is and to learn more about crafting compelling protagonists.