Forum: Author Hangout

I often think it is sad that people don't live up to society's expectations. Then I remember that what society expects of us is a goal and most goals are set as a perfect outcome that is rarely achieved. I will continue to try to improve, but I won't beat myself and others up for failing to attain perfection. It helps to think of what we might be if we never improved.

Also true.

Seems to me that injustice bothers many of us. Even in a fictional story, injustice bothers us and good overcoming bad is part of the draw to many stories.

Somehow, I doubt that Shaddoth is bothered by something so generic, after having just written a new chapter in an ongoing book. Typically, when that happens to me, there's something worrying about the chapter in the back of my tiny head.

Most often, it's my characters, objecting to their characterization (i.e. you may be asking them to do something that's no consistent with the characterization you've drawn of them. If so, they next step is writer's block, as the characters refuse to act out the role you've assigned them.

If not that, it's likely a warning that there's something else about the chapter that's bothering you (i.e. it just doesn't work, for some reason, or possibly your protagonist is coming off looking like a jack ass.

This would be a good excuse to review the chapter again, looking for potential problems. Either that, or give it to an objective reader who'll TELL you if there's a problem with it (though 'objective readers' are typically hard to find).

There can be many reasons for something affecting a person's sleep. My reason is just one.

I didn't write about a great injustice, but I wrote a very emotional scene and ended up having to pause several times because the screen was blurry due to too much dust in the air.

That happens to me, typically whenever I have to kill off the protagonist or a central secondary character.

i write on what i believe that teh behavior of all sides would reasonably, or unreasonably to.

i havent figured out a way out for my MC.

For me, the key is tying the 'retribution/revenge' into the character's basic moral framework. Thus punishing those who are hurting others (i.e. a 'proactive' defense of others) is easier to justify than is avenging oneself. If you continue having troubles, it might help to restructure the character's motivation somewhat (which is harder to do with a chapter-on-the-fly story). It's tough retrofitting a moral framework for an established character, though simply having them express what they were thinking helps.