After browsing hundreds of character profiles, some patterns keep showing up. Here are the most common weaknesses I see — and practical fixes:
Vague summaries: "A mysterious warrior with a dark past" tells me nothing. Fix: add one specific detail that makes them unique. What makes THIS mysterious warrior different from every other one?
All backstory, no present: Three paragraphs about childhood, nothing about what they want right now. Fix: lead with the current situation and weave backstory in as context.
Power without cost: Characters who can do everything have no dramatic tension. Fix: give every ability a meaningful limitation that creates story opportunities.
No relationship hooks: Characters that exist in isolation. Fix: mention at least one NPC connection — a rival, a mentor, a debtor — that other writers could interact with.
What patterns do you notice? Share examples of weaknesses you have fixed in your own characters.
