\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5831
Drama: August 21, 2013 Issue [#5831]

Newsletter Header
Drama


 This week: Fatal Flaws Create Powerful Stories
  Edited by: Joy Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

“Annabeth:My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris.
Percy: the brown stuff they spread on veggie sandwiches?
Annabeth:No, Seaweed Brain. That's HUMMUS. hubris is worse.
Percy: what could be worse than hummus?
Annabeth: Hubris means deadly pride, Percy. Thinking you can do things better than anyone else... Even the gods.”

Rick Riordan, The Sea of Monsters

“I'm a coward when it comes to matters of the heart. That is my fatal flaw.”
Haruki Murakami, 1Q84

“Man's fatal flaw is misplaced optimism.”
Allan Wolf, The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic

Hello, I am Joy Author Icon, this week's drama editor. This issue is about a protagonist's most important asset: his fatal flaw.

Your Drama Newsletter Editors: zwisis NickiD89 Author Icon kittiara Joy Author Icon
Thank you for reading our newsletters and for supplying the editors with feedback and encouragement.

Note: In the editorial, I refer to third person singular as he, to also mean the female gender, because I don't like to use they or he/she.


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.


Letter from the editor

My take on a free clip-art

Welcome to the Drama newsletter


         As we all know, writing a dramatic story or a script that is gripping, interesting, and one that shows some renewal in the plot or some growth and change in a character depends on character portrayal. A character is never fully developed unless we give him a few flaws.

         Among these flaws one of them usually becomes the characteristic that stands above the rest and is the most dangerous. As stasis is not a natural condition, this characteristic is based upon either growth or decay and death.

         Fatal flaw is not just any weakness or flaw. In Shakespeare’s tragedies, for example, Macbeth’s fatal flaw is boundless ambition. Othello’s is jealousy; Coriolanus’ s is pride; King Lear’s is self-delusion. Surely, a character may have other flaws or positive and negative sides, but one major flaw usually takes over and leads to his demise, especially in tragedies.

         Not all major flaws, however, mean the demise of a character. Some aid in the growth of the character and the rearrangement of the story-world. In Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Jo March’s bluntness goes against the family and creates conflict inside the family. As Little Women’s main theme is family, we can say that Jo March’s fatal flaw works directly against the theme.

         The same setup is in Cyrano de Bergerac. Cyrano, as accomplished as he is, suffers from self-doubt because of his unshapely nose. This keeps him away from the woman he loves. In this novel, therefore, the fatal flaw of self-doubt works against the theme of love.

         The old Greeks called fatal flaw, tragic flaw or hamartia, and according to Aristotle, it pointed to a failure of morals or character. In some Greek stories, on the other hand, a fatal flaw can even be not knowing one’s origins or identity to no fault of his own, such as in Oedipus. Then, like Achilles’s heel, fatal flaws can also be physical.

         As essential as fatal flaws are to main characters, not all main characters have to be people. Suppose we make a certain piece of land the main character and choose human life as the theme. If the land is in a low-lying area or is susceptible to tornadoes or other forces of nature, it will create a conflict with human existence on it.

         Now that we have established what fatal flaw is, let us look at how we can come up with a fatal flaw for a character in a fictional piece.

         *Bullet* If we have a theme, we need to look for the opposite value of the theme.

         *Bullet* If we have the main goal of the protagonist, we need to find its opposite goal. The main goal is not what the protagonist wants most in the beginning of the story but what he will want most at the end of the story.

         After we’ve given our main character its fatal flaw, if we don’t want to send him to his maker, we help him find his way to personal growth. The steps for a character to fix his life is:

         1.Acceptance :

Our character needs to see or at least sense that he has a fatal flaw. Not all characters will openly admit to this, but if at least, our character feels all or part of the problem has to do with his own stance, then he is on the way to solving his problems.
          I am acting out by yelling at the staff. Why?

          2. Identification and Understanding of his Behavior:

He will need to identify the stimuli and the specific events that cause this behavior.
         When my boss doesn’t acknowledge my work, I act out.

         3. Making a plan for change:

Once the first two steps are realized, the next thing to do is come up with a plan for change.
          If my boss doesn’t acknowledge my work, I’ll work harder and ask for help from my teammates. If need be, I’ll apologize or make up in some way for past mistakes.

         If you are like me and create your characters first before going to the plot or theme, there is a psychological quiz on the web to help real people find their fatal flaws. I think this can be used for finding our characters’ fatal flaws, also. Here is the link:

         http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_s_your_fatal_flaw_1

          Until next time…*Smile*


And...~Sept. 1-13~ HappyThirteenth Birthday, Writing.com!



Editor's Picks

          *Gold*   Enjoy!   *Gold*

*Reading**Moon**Music1**Music1**Music1* *Butterflyb**Moon**Coffeep**Reading**Moon**Butterflyb**Coffeep**Moon**Reading**Moon**Coffeep**Butterflyb**Moon**Reading**Moon**Butterflyb**Coffeep**Music1**Music1**Music1* *Moon**Reading*


 The New Green Party Open in new Window. (ASR)
A senator-elect has a different philosophy than the outgoing incumbent.
#1945651 by Jeff Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1916372 by Not Available.

 Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary! Open in new Window. (13+)
If only she had a bell to ring like in olden days. The Writer's Cramp 08-03-2012 winner
#1883193 by J. A. Buxton Author IconMail Icon

 Of Damsels and Warriors Open in new Window. (18+)
A soldier confronts his own views on women in combat.
#1944708 by Graham B. Author IconMail Icon

Not Your Typical Day at the Beach  Open in new Window. (13+)
A tiny look into the lives of three people who come together in small acts of bad morals.
#1882711 by Jessica Author IconMail Icon

 
Image Protector
STATIC
A Clown's Tears Open in new Window. (E)
Saving his daughter, Auguste is burned severely. Tragically, shame keeps him from her.
#1061423 by Redtowrite Author IconMail Icon

 The Phoenix and the Dragon Open in new Window. (13+)
Two people caught in a circle of death and rebirth must re-live the same tragic moment.
#326254 by KC under the midnight sun Author IconMail Icon

Walking Through Walls Open in new Window. (E)
Symposium for the recently deceased-don't be late, Eternity Hall fills up fast!
#773195 by catty Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1914083 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1079429 by Not Available.

Bear Truth About Getting Enough Sleep Open in new Window. (13+)
The price for getting humanity to Mars? One man's counting on sleep, but not his own.
#1817022 by Mage Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B0CJKJMTPD
Product Type: Kindle Store
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99


Ask & Answer

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


*Bullet* This Issue's Tip: People are full of contradictions, and so can be the fictional characters, no matter what their positive or negative traits can be. If your protagonist acts out of character, make him question or wonder at his own behavior, to explain the contradiction.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


*Bullet* *Reading* Reading Recommendation: A book with drama *Reading*

Review by LostGhost: Seeking & Learning Author Icon
ASIN: B008BM4LZY
ID #111546
Product Type: Kindle Store
Reviewer: LostGhost: Seeking & Learning Author Icon
Review Rated: 18+
  Setting:
  Story Plot:
  Length of :
  Usefulness:
  Overall Quality:
Amazon's Price: $ 7.99


If you have a recommendation, a few words on a book or a product review, send it to me or to this newsletter. I'll highlight it here. *Smile*


A submitted item:
 White Sheep of the Family Open in new Window. (13+)
Raised by a family of thieves, a man tries to be an honest cop. 1,970+ Views
#1902911 by BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful Author IconMail Icon


by
BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful Author Icon

Plenty of trouble.


I bet. Thanks. *Smile*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B083RZJVJ8
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5831