writerly ways

[cornerofmadness]

I actually have a theme in part from my friend, ES, and in part from the last few books I've read: How to write the passive character and how to write the unlikeable/unsympathetic character.

ES sent me one link on the former because of my issues with Blood Red Roulette. It was stuff I thought I had done but obviously not enough. I worried about Luc's passivity from the get go. It's not easy to write them. People don't like them but it is REAL. We should be able to write all sorts of characters even less popular, less embraceable types. I know what Luc wants. I guess I need to bring it out more but there's that length issue again. So I still have to add to the story and yet cut out word count

You can find ES's link on the matter here and here's the one I found it seems helpful


As far as I'm concerned, I probably won't be writing an unlikeable main character any time soon. I prefer them as secondary characters. Draco Malfoy is an excellent example of how to do it right in that respect.

I just finished a Vicky Bliss novel and she wasn't too sympathetic and I'm struggling through another of those Agatha Raisin mysteries mom gave me. I find her very unsympathetic. I don't really like them much. However 20 years worth of this series exists. So someone likes it. She must be an example of how to do it right AND an example of how doing it right doesn't mean you'll reach everyone. To me she's always saying things bitterly or angrily or harshly and snarling, barking, growling. I don't even think it's well written and yet.

And since, in spite of my best intentions, I don't really have anything new to add to this, have the articles I found. Pike's Peak's take on it AND Ethos & Mythos's take on it


How the hell did it get to be the end of July???

Yearly Word Count

36958 / 115000 words. 32% done!