A struggle in writing

More a stream of conscious than anything else, but an exposition of an observation of trends in writing.

One of the greatest difficulties, I find, is in trying to make a character more without making other characters less. An example of this would be in stories with a focus on 'Bashing'.

Now, from time to time such a simple premise does wonders to fulfill our need for schadenfreude (How can I spell that off the top of my head but need to doublecheck conscious?) but it doesn't typically offer much by way of literary experience, either as author or reader.

Beyond that, there's also the appropriate utilization of the background cast. This is admittedly a weakness of my own. It's a struggle to have them exist, to offer their own insight and experience without merely being a cardboard castaway. Where does one pick to drive the plot and flesh out the background?

Perhaps the biggest thing, something many authors struggle with, is making their characters feel real. Some inane hobby, media fixation or even a minor speech impediment, just something to make them relate-able. Your main character shouldn't exist for just the grand moments, but without those same instances, why are they interesting?

Hah, all in all it's rather like juggling, and I'm no good at that.