8 Ways to Write Flawed, Messy Characters Readers Will Love (& Root For)

Shameless specializes in deeply flawed yet endearing characters. Let’s look how to write characters with messy lives and bad decisions, while still making them relatable and lovable…

Writing a lovable character is one thing. But creating a deeply flawed character that readers can’t help but root for?

That’s a whole new level of mastery.

Think about it: Why do we fall for characters who constantly make bad decisions, have messy lives, and sometimes behave in downright terrible ways?

Shows like Shameless specialize in just that — characters whose questionable choices somehow don’t stop us from loving them.

It’s tricky, but when done right, writing flawed characters can lead to some of the most compelling stories out there.

1. The Appeal of Imperfection

Let’s be real: nobody’s perfect. Not in real life, and definitely not in fiction.

The characters who stick with us, the ones we think about long after closing the book or turning off the screen, are often the ones who remind us of our own messiness.

Take Frank Gallagher from Shameless. He’s selfish, irresponsible, and sometimes downright cruel. Yet, viewers don’t abandon him completely.

Why?

His humanity, his brokenness, keeps us hanging on.

When writing a flawed character, you have to tap into those universal emotions — guilt, desire, regret — that people recognize in themselves.

Everyone’s made a bad decision or five. Maybe your character drinks too much, cheats on their partner, or can’t hold down a job.

But if their flaws stem from something relatable, readers will stick with them.

Creating layers is key.

Walter White from Breaking Bad isn’t just a drug lord. He’s a father trying to provide for his family, despite the dangerous way he goes about it.

You want to balance flaws with vulnerability. Let the reader see why they’re so broken, and they’ll be invested in their redemption or, at the very least, in their journey.

2. Bad Decisions, Good Intentions

At the heart of every great flawed character is an internal conflict. They might have terrible habits, but their intentions are often good — at least in their own minds.

Writing a character with bad decision-making skills doesn’t mean they need to be inherently evil or heartless. Maybe they’re just misguided, confused, or desperate.

That’s how you keep them lovable.

For example, Fiona Gallagher, the responsible one in the Gallagher family (Shameless again), makes terrible choices in her relationships and finances, even though she’s trying to keep her siblings afloat.

Her decisions are infuriating, but viewers understand why she’s spiraling. Desperation pushes people to act out. Your flawed character doesn’t need to win all the time.

In fact, it’s better if they don’t. Let them lose. Let them mess up. Just make sure we understand why they’re doing it.

What’s the secret to making these decisions relatable?

Motivation. Dive deep into your character’s psyche.

Why do they do what they do? What’s at stake for them?

If the reasons behind their actions are clear, readers can forgive almost anything.

3. Humor Helps — A Lot

Flawed characters don’t always need to take themselves so seriously. A bit of humor can soften their mistakes and make their imperfections more endearing.

Think of Jessica Jones from the Marvel series. She’s got a dark past, a drinking problem, and walls that could rival Fort Knox.

But her dry wit and biting sarcasm make her struggles more bearable, even likable.

Humor is a great tool for showing vulnerability in flawed characters without drowning the reader in angst.

But be careful: the humor has to feel natural. Forced jokes are worse than no jokes at all.

Characters like Chandler Bing from Friends don’t work because he’s always making jokes, but because his humor hides his insecurities. It’s a defense mechanism.

So when writing flawed characters, use humor to give them depth, not to turn them into caricatures.

A well-timed joke can break the tension and make readers root for your character, even when they’re spiraling.

4. Show, Don’t Preach

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is trying to justify a character’s flaws with heavy-handed explanations.

Readers don’t need long internal monologues about why a character is the way they are.

Show us. Don’t tell us that your character has abandonment issues. Show us through their clingy relationships or how they shut people out when things get too close.

Characters like Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead evolve naturally without the need for over-explanation.

Let readers piece together the puzzle.

In Shameless, the Gallagher kids don’t sit down and talk about their trauma, but you can see it in every chaotic decision they make.

The less you preach, the more room you give readers to connect with the character’s humanity. It’s the subtlety that makes their journey more powerful.

Plus, who wants to read a novel that feels like a therapy session?

Your readers want to see real, messy lives unfold in a way that feels organic and true.

5. Keep the Stakes High

Flawed characters often thrive in high-stakes situations.

Think about Olivia Pope in Scandal. Her personal life is a train wreck, but she’s constantly involved in high-pressure scenarios.

That tension keeps things interesting. Every bad decision a flawed character makes should feel like it has real consequences, not just for them but for the people around them.

A character can’t be lovable if they’re static and their actions don’t have weight.

When the stakes are high, readers become emotionally invested.

Maybe your character is struggling to keep their family together, or maybe their addiction is threatening their career.

Either way, when the stakes are personal, readers feel the tension and root for them to succeed — or at least survive.

Nobody wants to watch someone constantly mess up and never face the consequences (kinda like Nancy from Weeds — it got a little unbelievable after a while that she never got caught).

If you’re writing flawed characters, make sure their mistakes have meaning. Let them learn, even if it’s a slow, painful process.

6. Vulnerability is the Secret Sauce

At the end of the day, vulnerability is what makes flawed characters lovable.

Nobody can root for someone who feels untouchable. We need to see the cracks in the armor.

Think about Killmonger from Black Panther. Yes, he’s a villain, but his pain is real, and his vulnerability makes him one of the most compelling characters in the movie.

He’s driven by deep, relatable wounds, and that makes him human.

Your character might not show their vulnerability openly.

Maybe they hide it behind sarcasm, like Veronica Mars, or they keep everyone at arm’s length. But it has to be there.

Readers need a glimpse of that raw, unpolished emotion, the thing that keeps your character up at night.

Show us that, and even their worst mistakes will feel forgivable.

7. Chaotic, But Still Lovable

Writing flawed characters means embracing the chaos.

They’re not perfect, and they don’t have to be.

But they do need to have that spark, that something that makes people root for them despite all their messy mistakes.

Think of Shameless. The Gallagher family is pure chaos, but we’re still hooked.

Why? Because even in their worst moments, there’s something human and real about them.

Your characters don’t need to have all the answers.

In fact, it’s better if they don’t.

Let them make mistakes, let them fall, but make sure they’re always striving for something more — whether that’s love, redemption, or just survival.

If you can show us their heart, readers will follow them, flaws and all.

8. Keep It Real

The most important thing when writing flawed characters is to keep it real.

People are complex.

Nobody is 100% good or bad, and that’s true for fictional characters, too.

Your flawed characters will resonate with readers because they reflect real life.

We’re all a little messy. We’ve all made bad decisions. What matters is how we pick ourselves up and move forward.

Take inspiration from real people, real situations, and real emotions.

Whether it’s the crumbling marriage of Don Draper in Mad Men or the relentless ambition of Selina Meyer in Veep, the best flawed characters are always rooted in reality.

The Heart of the Matter

In the end, flawed characters are the ones we remember.

They make us laugh, cry, and sometimes yell at the page (or screen).

But through it all, we root for them because we see ourselves in their messiness.

We want them to succeed because their failures feel so familiar.

So, embrace the flaws.

Write characters who stumble and fall.

And remember: it’s their imperfections that make them unforgettable.

Happy writing!

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