Elzbieta Tibai
asked
Josh Lanyon:
This is a general writing question: I have a character who is bound and determined to be a jerk - despite my best efforts - and it's causing problems for his marriage, not to mention with my other characters. I'm trying to avoid divorce, which his heading towards, but I can't seem to fix it. So, should I continue to try, or accept the situation for what it is?
Josh Lanyon
Well, in all honesty you have to keep in mind two things: the genre you're working in (in other words, who is the audience for the book?) and how seriously you take reader feedback. ;-D
There's a lot more flexibility for asshole protags in mystery than in romance, for example.
Personally, I think if the character is behaving believably--ideally *inevitably* given the situation and his psychology--you're on solid ground from a writing standpoint.
Which doesn't mean readers won't have a hard time with the character's actions.
There's a lot more flexibility for asshole protags in mystery than in romance, for example.
Personally, I think if the character is behaving believably--ideally *inevitably* given the situation and his psychology--you're on solid ground from a writing standpoint.
Which doesn't mean readers won't have a hard time with the character's actions.
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