30+ Character Traits and their Positive and Negative Uses

To create well-rounded characters, it’s important to make them as realistic as possible. This can mean seeing two sides of the positive (or negative) traits that best represent your character. Honesty is a distinctly good virtue, but is honesty always the best if it comes across as insensitive? Below, I’ve collected over twenty traits that can be flip-flopped between positive and negative uses.
Kind or passive
Strong-willed or stubborn
Caring or sensitive
Honest or insensitive
Courageous or risk-taker
Cautious or paranoid
Calm or apathetic
Optimistic or idealistic
Knowledgeable or argumentative
Determined or stubborn
Devoted or obsessed
Caring or overprotective
Assertive or bossy
Self-controlled or cold
Passionate or obsessive
Unyielding or unchanging
Virtuous or high-strung
Selfless or people-pleaser
Open or naive
Elegant or uptight
Sincere or gullible
Righteous or merciless
Logical or cold
Whimsical or weird
Generous or excessive
Effective or cruel
Humorous or flippant
Confident or arrogant
Fearless or ignorant
Wise or condescending
Agreeable or impressionable
Perfectionist or never satisfied
Tons of traits have opposite effects depending on when they’re used, and this is a great arc to add to any story.
I post a new blog every Tuesday with writing tips! Sign up to our mailing list today to be notified each time there's a new post--as well as get a monthly newsletter that has book recommendations and writing updates!