to me it seems that commercial fiction paints a story with unrealistic drama (guns, kidnapping like they're part of everyday day life!) then sugar-coasts it for a happy ending in the vein to make it more entertaining. I wonder, then, how entertaining it would be to reveal the deeper parts of our psyche that most people won't admit to.
e.g. god she looks horrible in that dress. But I wish I had that flat stomach ...
e.g. If only he knew I was using him to get through the holidays. Then I'm so going to dump his ass.

Teresa, Thanks for blog on "Your Character is Your Story". The writer creates the world that the protagonist is the center of. While it's important that the protagonist be likeable, the protagonist also needs to be identifiable to the Reader. Once the protagonist resonates with the Reader, the Reader is hooked. Revealing the protagonist's likes/dislikes as with books, hobbies is important but also their dark side. Once the protagonist reveals his/her shames then they become more real, therefore more identifiable. We all have shame and usually when it is released we realize it's not all that bad, especially when we find others who have similar experiences. Thanks again Teresa, I will incorporate many of your ideas in my own character building.