Characters are always either "good" or "bad": One common misconception is that characters in a story are always clearly defined as either good or bad. However, in reality, most characters are more complex and nuanced than that. They may have both positive and negative qualities, and their behavior may change over the course of the story. Direct characterization is always more effective than indirect characterization: Another misconception is that direct characterization, where the author explicitly tells the reader about a character's traits and qualities, is always more effective than indirect characterization, where the reader must infer the character's traits from their actions and behavior. However, both types of characterization can be effective, and authors often use a combination of both to create a well-rounded character.