You can't write a sprawling adventure or an engaging story without compelling characters. Good stories have characters with unique yet relatable struggles. Take Finding Nemo, for example. Marvin the Clownfish’s anxiety and trauma propel him on a journey to rescue his son. Though his story is confined to whatever can and does happen in the Big Blue, his fears of losing loved ones and protecting those he still has are universal.
Good characters don’t just drive the story forward, they resonate with us, leave us with lessons, and make us feel emotions we never forget. But often, particularly in modern storytelling, bad character writing ruins this magic.
Sometimes, the issues are obvious, as in Sony’s Madame Web, where flat, uninspired characters drag the story down by acting in strange ways. Other times, they creep into even critically acclaimed series like Arcane Season 2, where inconsistent motivations or abrupt changes in behavior create a cascading failure that derails the story’s direction and quality.
As a writer, nothing frustrates me more than these recurring character arc sins. Below, I’ll list them so you can be aware and craft better characters.

They Act Stupid for the Plot
Say you have a mechanic in a horror story whose car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. He doesn’t have any tools with them, his phone is dead, so he waits for a passing vehicle. A stranger stops by, picks him up, and later kills him in an undisclosed location.
Did you catch what he did wrong? He didn’t bring tools, didn’t try to fix his car, and apparently, he didn’t have a phone. The mechanic acts in a way that contradicts his defining trait: being a mechanic. He might as well have been a traveling clown, and the story wouldn’t change.
Readers will notice when a character’s actions contradict their traits, and this inconsistency pulls them out of the story. Let your characters behave naturally, let the plot mold around their actions, and your story will feel more authentic and engaging.
They have a "Twin"
Not a literal twin, but two or more characters who play similar roles or have nearly identical personalities. Redundant characters bloat the story and weaken its impact.
For example, imagine a story with a cast of characters, two of which are "the funny one" but lack other distinguishing traits They may have great chemistry and conversations with each other, but most people have great conversations with themselves. This chemistry would be even better with another character in the cast, and it'll better the overall character dynamics.
Every character should serve a unique purpose. If two characters feel interchangeable, consider merging them into one with more depth and complexity.
They are Likeable for No Reason
Sometimes, stories feature characters with unlikable traits - arrogance, selfishness, or cruelty -who are inexplicably adored by everyone around them. This is unrealistic.
For instance, imagine a protagonist who constantly belittles others but is somehow beloved by every character in the story. Readers won’t buy this unless there’s a compelling reason. Like, perhaps the character secretly helps others or has charisma that makes them irresistible. Or maybe the "friends" that surround them likes whatever benefits they get from tolerating them.
Unlikeable characters can still be compelling if their flaws are balanced by redeeming qualities or satisfying arcs. Make sure the story acknowledges their flaws and give other characters realistic reasons for tolerating or admiring them.
They Never Face the Consequence of their Actions
In real life, people often deal with mistakes or regrets privately, but their choices still affect their lives. Similarly, your characters don’t need to broadcast their struggles, but their actions should shape their journey.
For example, if a character loses someone they love, show how that loss affects their decisions, relationships, or emotional state. Even subtle hints can add depth and make their story more impactful.
Characters should face the emotional or practical consequences of their actions, even if those consequences are subtle. This makes them feel more real and their journey more meaningful.
They let the Story Happen to Them
Passive characters who meander through the plot make a story feel weak.
For example, imagine a fantasy protagonist who spends the entire plot being dragged from one fetch quest to the next by other characters. Readers will quickly lose interest of the repetition and will notice the main character isn't doing anything that meaningfully affects the story.
Ask yourself: Is my protagonist actively pursuing their goals?
If not, what can they do to drive the story forward? Active characters are memorable because their choices, and not just the events around them, determine the direction of the story.
One or more of these sins often plague characters in bad stories. These mistakes are rarely deliberate. They mostly stem from rushed or overly surface-level writing. But there are always more interesting ways to fix these issues. With effort and introspection, writers can create characters that not only enrich the story but also take it in unexpected and compelling directions.
Many of these sins also come from inexperience. New writers often rely on their favorite movies, games, or well-known tropes when imagining their characters. For example, they might think their hero needs to be strong, funny, universally liked, and effortlessly cool. These surface traits become the foundation, and only later (if at all) do they try to fit a backstory or emotional depth around them.
So, how does one gain the experience needed to avoid these pitfalls? The short answer is to live and write more. Pay attention to the nuances of people, relationships, and motivations in the real world. Practice writing characters who feel just as complex. A deeper exploration of this is beyond the scope of this blog post, but the key is to remain curious, introspective, and open to growth as a writer.
Stay mindful of these character arc sins, and you’ll be on your way towards writing better characters. And better characters make better stories.
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