Character Trait: Braggart

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. A Braggart is someone who boasts or talks excessively about their achievements, possessions, or abilities, often in an exaggerated or arrogant manner. This character trait is often associated with insecurity and a need for validation from others. A Braggart may also be viewed as annoying or unlikable by others due to their constant need to draw attention to themselves.

Possible causes of being braggart

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Competitive nature
• Insecurity or low self-esteem
• Desire to impress others
• Fear of being seen as weak or incompetent
• Lack of empathy or consideration for others' feelings
• Need for attention or validation
• Childhood experiences, such as being praised excessively or criticized harshly

For detailed feedback on braggart characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's writing feedback tool.

Behaviors associated with being braggart

You may be able to show your character's trait of braggart by using these.

• Craving attention and admiration from others
• Exaggerating one's accomplishments or experiences
• Blaming others for failures or mistakes
• Belittling or dismissing the achievements of others
• Refusing to listen to feedback or criticism
• Interrupting others to talk about oneself
• Constantly boasting about one's achievements and abilities
• Making unrealistic promises or guarantees
• Overstating one's knowledge or expertise

Attitudes associated with being braggart

You may be able to show braggart through their attitudes.

• Self-importance
• Showing off
• Conceit
• Insecurity
• Narcissism
• Egotism
• Boasting
• Overconfidence
• Arrogance

Thoughts and struggles associated with being braggart

Here are some ideas for things your braggart character may think or struggle with.

• Inability to admit fault or take responsibility for mistakes
• Fear of being exposed as a fraud or failure
• Difficulty accepting criticism or feedback
• Deep-seated feelings of inadequacy or inferiority
• Overcompensating for insecurity or lack of confidence
• Inability to form genuine relationships due to their focus on self-promotion
• Constant need to prove themselves to others
• Tendency to exaggerate or embellish their achievements
• Jealousy or resentment towards others who are more successful or talented

Emotions associated with being braggart

Here are some ideas for emotions your braggart character may experience.

• Grandiosity
• Conceit
• Arrogance
• Boastfulness
• Overconfidence
• Egotism
• Superiority complex
• Narcissism
• Self-importance

Facial expressions associated with being braggart

Here are some facial expressions your braggart character may exhibit.

• Squinting eyes with a sly or cunning smile
• Raised eyebrows with a confident or self-important expression
• Puffing up the chest or tilting the head back while speaking boastfully
• Frowning or scowling when challenged or contradicted
• Smirking or smug facial expressions

Body language associated with being braggart

Here is some body language your braggart character may exhibit.

• Interrupting or talking over others to assert dominance in a conversation
• Talking loudly and interrupting others
• Frequently checking one's appearance
• Interrupting others to bring the conversation back to themselves
• Bragging about one's connections or status
• Smirking or sneering while talking about oneself
• Boasting about achievements or possessions
• Dismissing others' accomplishments or opinions as inferior
• Making grand gestures and exaggerated movements
• Standing with a puffed out chest and arms akimbo

For detailed feedback on braggart characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's writing feedback tool.

Behaviors associated with being braggart

Here are some behaviors your braggart character may exhibit.

• Overstating one's knowledge or expertise
• Belittling or dismissing the achievements of others
• Interrupting others to talk about oneself
• Making unrealistic promises or guarantees
• Exaggerating one's accomplishments or experiences
• Refusing to listen to feedback or criticism
• Constantly boasting about one's achievements and abilities
• Craving attention and admiration from others
• Blaming others for failures or mistakes

Growth and evolution of braggart characters

Here are some ways that your braggart character may grow and evolve over time.

• Learn humility: As the story progresses, the braggart character may encounter situations where their abilities are challenged or where they fail. These experiences can teach the character to be humble, to acknowledge their limitations, and to appreciate the strengths of others.
• Develop a sense of teamwork: Braggarts may tend to dominate conversations or take credit for group accomplishments. However, a story can show the character how working collaboratively can lead to better outcomes and how giving credit where it is due can strengthen relationships and build trust.
• Build empathy: A braggart character who is focused on themselves may not be able to understand or relate to others' feelings and experiences. However, through interactions with other characters, the braggart can begin to develop empathy and compassion, which can lead to more authentic relationships.
• Develop self-awareness: A braggart character may gradually come to realize that their excessive boasting and arrogance are not only annoying to others but also mask their own insecurities. This self-awareness can be a significant step towards growth.

Stereotypes of braggart characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical braggart character like these examples.

• Avoid making the Braggart character too successful or accomplished, as it can make their bragging seem justified or even admirable.
• Avoid making the Braggart character too one-dimensional or predictable.
• Avoid making the Braggart character too unrealistic or over-the-top in their bragging, as it can become cartoonish or unbelievable.
• Avoid making the Braggart character too likable or sympathetic, as they often come across as annoying or arrogant.

Negatives of being braggart

Here are some potential negatives of being braggart. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Braggarts may struggle with humility and may have difficulty seeing the perspectives and experiences of others.
• Braggarts are often viewed as obnoxious and annoying.
• They may struggle to maintain positive relationships due to their constant need to talk about themselves.
• They may struggle to accept criticism or admit fault, as they are more concerned with maintaining their image.
• Braggarts may exaggerate their accomplishments or abilities, leading to a lack of trust and credibility.

Positives of being braggart

Here are some potential positives of being braggart. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• They may be better at promoting themselves and their work, which can be useful in competitive industries.
• They may inspire others to believe in themselves and their abilities.
• Braggarts may have a strong sense of self-worth, which can help them handle criticism and rejection more easily.
• They may be more likely to take risks and pursue ambitious goals, which can lead to greater success.
• Braggarts can be entertaining and charismatic, making them fun to be around.
• Braggarts are often seen as confident and self-assured, which can be attractive to others.

Verbal expressions of braggart characters

Here are some potential expressions used by braggart characters.

• Exaggerating one's abilities or accomplishments
• Constantly boasting about one's achievements
• Making everything about oneself, even when it's not relevant to the conversation
• Name-dropping or talking about connections to famous or successful people
• Refusing to acknowledge one's faults or mistakes
• Interrupting conversations to talk about oneself
• Insisting on always being right or having the final say
• Belittling others or putting them down to make oneself look better

Relationships of braggart characters

Here are some ways that being braggart could affect your character's relationships.

• In group settings, braggarts may compete with others to be the center of attention, causing tension and discomfort among those around them.
• Braggarts may attract people who are impressed by their grandiosity, but they may also repel others who find their behavior off-putting.
• Braggarts may have difficulty admitting their mistakes or weaknesses, leading them to project a false sense of confidence and competence.
• Braggarts tend to dominate conversations, often interrupting others to talk about their own accomplishments or experiences.
• They may struggle to take criticism or feedback because they believe they are always right or superior to others.
• They may struggle to form deep connections with others because they prioritize their own image over genuine relationships.

Examples from books of characters who are braggart

• Baron Munchausen from Rudolf Erich Raspe's "The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen"
• Captain Hook from J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan"
• Ignatius J. Reilly from John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces"
• Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"
• Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye"
• Mr. Toad from Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows"
• Tom Sawyer from Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
• Artemis Fowl from Eoin Colfer's "Artemis Fowl" series
• Sir John Falstaff from William Shakespeare's "Henry IV" plays

Writing exercises for writing braggart characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write braggart characters.

• Have your character constantly interrupt others to talk about themselves and their achievements.
• Write a scene where your character is in a social situation and can't resist bragging about their accomplishments.
• Write a scene where your character is trying to impress someone they admire and go to great lengths to make themselves seem more important.
• Write a scene where your character is caught in a lie they told to make themselves look better.
• Have your character constantly name-drop or mention their connections to important people in order to make themselves seem more impressive.
• Have your character exaggerate their accomplishments to the point of absurdity.
• Write a scene where your character is caught up in their own ego and ignores the needs of others.
• Have your character belittle or put down others in order to make themselves feel superior.
• Write a scene where your character is exposed as a fraud or faker, and must confront the consequences of their bragging.