What do you do with protagonist parents? (+poll)

DiegoPalacios 2025-10-01 15:42:01 UTC #21

In my case it depends a lot of the story i'm telling. So i voted for something in between.

In some stories i use them, in others i kill them, there's also the "use them for a while and then kill them so their deaths hit harder"

Lane_Kalchik 2025-10-01 17:05:20 UTC #22

Kenny's parents don't play a huge role but always seem to have an underlying feeling of authority even when they are not in the scene, until at the middle of the story they disown him completely.

On the other hand, Lane's parents although written to seem scary by the different points of views are more present and openly supportive both he and Lane

ShidoDraws 2025-10-18 03:52:42 UTC #23

In my previous stories, I almost never write parents as part of the story. But with my current story, I wrote the main character as having their parents affect their every choices in some way, even in another world where she is freed from her parents grasps. Though her father didn't abandon her prior to the first chapter, she still never had a father figure, so you can imagine how things might play out.

As for what I want in stories, I don't really expect people to make what I want to see. Personally, it never feels right for me to ask since I wouldn't want people to ask me to write what they want to see. And I've had that happened to me before, same with art.

Veuliah 2025-10-21 06:47:04 UTC #24

the protagonist parents are part of my story , deep-rooted in wisdom and life lessons

The cottage responded immediately to my call. Floorboards groaned and buckled as I awakened the dormant life within them, reminding oak and pine what it felt like to grow, to reach, to fight for survival. The walls themselves became my weapons as thick vines erupted from every beam and plank, writhing with predatory hunger. (quote from Lyra the mother )

luminosityyy 2025-10-22 02:14:58 UTC #25

I don't think it's best to just kill them

Sometimes having a parent that continues to haunt the narrative while they're alive can be pretty interesting. Also interactions with them and your OC could also serve as major plot points

I used to kill A LOT of my OC's parents and it was mainly because I didn't want to develop their characters.

In summary, do to them what you wish- it's your story. But don't take a path just because it's an "easy" way out.

oldestcharm 2025-10-22 06:34:33 UTC #26

I sent them on a fancy cruise. Again.

Considering they had little hand in raising their son who is now an adult but did raise their now teenage daughter who is the secondary protagonist, they play a different role in both of their development but aren't particularly relevant to the plot itself. The uncle is more important and he's missing.

Mohini9000 2025-10-22 18:52:04 UTC #27

To be fair, my comic series is a slice-of-life, so it wouldn't fit the overall fluffy vibe of the series.