While musing over trends in my writing, I notice that a lot of my stories and plot concepts share a common theme. I have protagonists who make mistakes that either get them into trouble or cause them a lot of angst and guilt, and the remainder of the story is about them fixing those mistakes and making everything turn out all right in the end. I like this trope because it's a way to establish that my protagonists are flawed while keeping them sympathetic, but I fear that if I overuse it people will consider my work formulaic. Is it possible to tell stories in which protagonists are flawed yet likeable without having to subject them to this "make a mistake and learn from it" process?
Put it this way: Who would like to read a book where a. the protagonist is "perfect" (not that that exist, but some writers seem to believe that it is perfectly believeable) =without flaws? b. doesn't grow or change in any way during the book? Or at least learn something, realize someting etc. I'd say both those things are pretty necessary to make a good book. the important thing is to be a little subtle, so that it doesn't look like a lecture.
EVERYONE HAS FLAWS. so you're safe. you HAVE to write about characters with flaws and overcoming them. they don't have to be HUGE flaws, but not one human walks this Earth without them.
I think characteristic "ticks" are what make good writers stand out. You come to expect a certain feel, if nothing else, from good authors. Even more so if you are producing a series of novels. So even if you have a set formula for writing, as long as you're writing it well enough, normal readers won't be able to tell. People are writers themselves may pick up the nuances, but fortunately for you, the writers aren't the masses.
There are several successful series writers that have a distinct formula to their writing. I think it eventually turns off some readers but they wouldn't be successful series if it following a formula was terrible. If I noticed a huge theme running through my works I would try to do something different just for the sake of wanting to expand my horizons.
