In a post on Writers Helping Writers, Becca Puglisi offers advice on portraying insecure characters. “Every reader on the planet has experienced insecurity—often at crucial moments—and they know how awful it is,” she says. “Seeing someone they care about stumbling through it tugs at the reader’s heartstrings and makes them root for that character.”
To portray a character struggling with insecurity, Puglisi suggests using the following physical and verbal tells:
- Overcompensation. Characters who feel insecure often act overconfident to compensate. “We often see this with characters who fit the macho stereotype: bullies, jocks, divas, CEOs, world leaders, etc.,” Puglisi explains.
- Risk-Aversion and Avoidance. Meanwhile, other characters go the opposite direction to avoid confrontation and risk. Insecure characters may also feel paralyzed when faced with confrontation or major decisions.
- Self-Sabotage. Characters who are convinced they can’t win will avoid trying too hard to avoid losing. “They might only half-try, or they’ll adopt dysfunctional behaviors that will take them out of the running before they have a chance to fail,” Puglisi says.
