THE “PERFECT” MAIN CHARACTER

Okay, so we've all had a good laugh at the 'perfect' main character – you know the one! But let's get real for a minute: while it's fun to poke fun, these tropes can actually make stories less engaging. I mean, how many times can you read about a girl who 'smiles happily as she reads her book,' always a classic like *Pride and Prejudice*, just 'because she's smart and different,' before it starts to feel a bit... repetitive? I've personally found that the truly compelling characters are the ones with genuine flaws and struggles. It's hard to root for someone who's already effortlessly beautiful, intelligent, and desired by everyone around them. The OCR text perfectly captures this: 'every man in has stopped to stare at her,' and 'her hair curls perfectly despite the fact she does nothing to it except pass her fingers through it.' It's like, come on! Where's the relatability? And don't even get me started on 'her skin is flawless, even though she only ever uses soap to take care of it.' Or 'her eyelashes are long and dark, her cheeks rosy, her lips pink and pouty with zero makeup.' As someone who actually spends time on skincare and makeup, reading about these effortlessly perfect heroines can be a bit frustrating. It sets an unrealistic standard not just for characters, but sometimes (subtly) for readers too. It's not about being imperfect, it's about being *real*. What I crave in a story are characters who feel like people I could actually meet. Maybe she's super smart, but she's also incredibly clumsy. Or perhaps she's stunning, but struggles with anxiety or a tough family situation. Instead of 'she dresses simply, doesn't care about fashion like her peers do,' yet is somehow still 'put together and attractive,' I want to see a character whose style reflects her personality, even if it's quirky or a bit messy. And the whole 'she's poor, usually doesn't eat very much, but that's okay because she's skinny with a flat and toned stomach, but she still has curves and an ass' bit? That's a whole other level of unrealistic body portrayal. It feels like authors are trying to appeal to every single beauty standard at once, resulting in a character that feels utterly manufactured. So, how do we move past describing every FMC this way? For writers, it’s about embracing nuance. Give your characters vulnerabilities, quirks, and challenges that aren't instantly solved by their inherent 'perfectness.' Let them make mistakes, learn, and grow. Let their beauty (or lack thereof) be part of their journey, not just a given. For readers, it’s about seeking out diverse narratives and supporting authors who defy these tired tropes. I recently read a book where the main character was incredibly intelligent but also had a crippling fear of public speaking. It made her so much more compelling because her internal struggle was as significant as the external plot. She wasn't just reading 'heavy and smart books so she doesn't fly away with a gust of wind'; she was grappling with her own limitations. That's the kind of 'latest main character' evolution I'm hoping to see more of in both published novels and fan fiction alike. Let's champion characters who are perfectly imperfect!