Odds and Ends about Writing

Stop Justifying Your Heros

Do you want to know the quickest way to get me to stop empathising with your heroes and rooting for your villains? 

Justify every single negative thing the hero does. 

Did your hero say something sexist? IT'S NOT HIS FAULT HE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE. 

Did your hero disrespect an ancient monument. HE HAD NO CHOICE DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE HIM. 

Did he break someone's trust? HE HAD GOOD INTENTIONS.

And if this happens, there's a good chance that you're also turning your hero into a Gary Stu/Mary Sue. For example:

The hero is rich, has friends in every single part of the world, the media loves him (but is curiously absent when he doesn't want them there) and he can fight. 

There's no way that I can empathise or even root for a hero like that. He's too perfect, and he doesn't seem real. 

So remember, give your characters flaws, and make sure they're human flaws. Not the "oops I'm so good looking and kind that people take advantage of me" type of flaw. That's not really a flaw, that's a humble-brag. 

And if your hero messes up, don't rush in to explain why the reader should still love the hero. If the characterisation was done right, the reader is going to understand. And even if the reader interprets the actions differently, that's their right as a reader.