Today’s topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon:
Ugly protagonists in fantasy: having a non- classically pretty heroic character and not being condescending or smarmy about doing so.
OK, so I admit it. I like writing and reading about “pretty” people. Most of us do, and so our characters are often tall, muscular, and blond with blue or lavender eyes.
But does pretty ever get boring?
So my questions today: As a writer, have you ever written ugly characters, or at least ones with visible physical flaws? How do you make these characters sympathetic? And as a reader, do you enjoy reading about characters who aren’t Greek gods?