There's no trick to writing realistic characters as opposed to Mary Sues. I find I even disagree with Feanaro: no person has one ruling emotion. I mean, look at me, for an example. At times, I'm ruled by love; at times, by anger, at times by fear . . .some people are perpetually grouchy, but that kind of "ruling" makes for very two-dimensional characters (I see it a LOT in High Fantasy and Sword and Sorcery, and it annoys me.)
People. Aren't. Simple. Ever. Your average person is a wonderfully conflicting ball of every emotion that a sentient being can possess, and there's almost always (except in very rare circumstances like moments of pure terror) six or seven of those emotions working at once.
For an example that shall startle some people, we shall take my character, Puck. He's currently being motivated (oooooh, motivation!) By what?
My gods, the list. In one instant, he is being motivated by fear, love, resentment, hatred, unadultered . . .well, puckishness, superiority, amusement and protectiveness.
And this is one of his moments of simple motivation. We're not even going to get into the complex situations.
All my characters are like that, because people are like that. Big, conflicting balls of a thousand motivations and emotions. The person who's ever-so-reasonable to most of the world may, for whatever reason, be unable to see things from her sisters' point of view.
Even my villains hold complex motivations . . .SICK complex motivations, but complex motivations nonetheless (some of the things they've done make me want to be sick, and I'm the one writing the story!) Any time things seem simple, throw in a complication. Eventually, you will be as messed in the head as I am.
As to focusing too much on one character . . .no one can do everything, so to each person the job that they're suited. The Elven Queen is a horrible leader, but a stellar administrator; she does the paperwork, her husband makes the speeches. To each what they are suited for! ^^
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