Do you ever intentionally make characters that you WANT the audience to like still a little toxic in different ways? For me, this was an intentional choice when writing "Damsel in the Red Dress," because nobody is perfect, and I want my characters to feel living and breathing. We all have toxic habits until we train ourselves out of them, and sometimes we don't even realize them for what they are. Specifically my character Kattar, for all his sweetness, is actually still a brat, and he doesn't even know it, because he doesn't display it in the most obviously bratty ways. But he's used to having things go his way and having everything he wants, so having his freedom stolen from him, as he's paralyzed, and having the girl he likes not obeying his every whim (though he never even looks at it from that POV) aggravates him and leads him to be sullen, and even a little manipulative, to try to anger her into coming to see him when her schedule becomes too busy for him. Obviously, these are bad traits, I want to address IN the character, and even allow his crush to realize them for what they are. but it's interesting to me, as I write the character, that even from an outside perspective, this character can seem so sweet and gentle while doing some seriously messed up things to his BFF, and it's a reminder of how much harder these things are to tell from the INSIDE when you are that friend. Do you ever make your non-villain characters do toxic things to their friends, and when you do, how do you address the issue in the story?
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I text Kattar a picture of the bird, with the holly eyes and the wings for leaves.
All he says is “looks Christmassy,” as if that isn’t obvious.
But what more was I expecting?
Kattar’s world has always revolved around him - my orbit is getting bigger.
For the first time in my life, my story is about me.
I’m detaching myself from his pull. I’m thinking about other things - maybe - about other people - a little bit.
I’m dreaming bigger and hoping bigger and crossing my fingers - wishing - believing bigger.
Shannon says he thinks he can get me a showcase in a gallery.
A gallery! Imagine!
I never even dared to dream that big a few years ago.
Etan always told me my art was so “so-so.” Mediocre - blasé - unremarkable.
But for the first time…I’m starting to think I don’t really care what anyone else says - I like these pieces - I like my blasé lions and unremarkable still lifes -
So why won’t that little jerk say anything but “cool.” “great,” “awesome” “nice?”
What I wouldn’t do if I got a minute alone with that beautiful creep…
I’m not going to do it.
I’m not going to give in and go see him until he texts me first
