Tagged by @world-of-iridensia here (Thank you!)
Antihero or villain protagonist?
Both if I can. I adore when there’s a twist to it, when you have to pay attention for a while to realize that the protagonist is in the wrong, or the person you thought was the villain is actually trying to do the right thing. I have both of these types of characters in several stories.
Lies by omission or lies with a smile?
I generally have more fun with lies by omission. I feel like there's more room for complexity with it. There’s just something the character doesn't want to tell someone, even if they love or trust them (or if they don't). Maybe it’s dangerous. Maybe they're afraid they'll get in trouble. Maybe it'll ruin their plan. There are so many possibilities.
Your character gets caught, do they talk their way out or run?
Mel fights her way out if she can, otherwise she'll run. Alexander, William, and Lucia would all talk their way out.
Morally grey love interest or morally grey best friend?
Why not both? Morally grey friends to lovers ftw.
Your protagonist's fatal flaw: too much trust or not enough?
Mel's flaw is definitely not enough trust, but it's not enough trust in herself rather than others. She tends to think she'll make things worse, so she runs when things get tough.
Writing the betrayal scene or writing the aftermath?
I'm a sucker for drama, so it's going to have to be the scene itself for me. I love the shock and horror.
Crime of passion or crime of calculation?
Crime of passion definitely. I love seeing characters struggling against their moral compass and doing things they know they shouldn't.
Redemption arc or "they were right all along" arc?
Redemption arc. I believe everyone's capable of change so redemption arcs make me happy. There is something poignant about a villain who turns out to just be someone trying to expose and oppose a corrupt system though.
The confession scene happens in a courtroom, a rooftop, or a bed?
Rooftop. I like soft, private confessions over intense ones generally, though adding more and more tension till they snap is also fun.
Your character keeps one honest thing about themselves, is it their name, their past, or their feelings for one person?
Mel lies time and again about her name and her past, the only thing that will never change is her love for her husband.
William can't afford to tell the truth about his past, and he doesn't have time for feelings, all he has is his name.
Alexander's past is broken, and his name isn't all that important to him, but he's devoted to either finding his sister or avenging her, whichever comes first.
Past, future, lies, truth, it’s all the same for Lucia. She has a job to do and she'll do it.
Tags: @sm-writes-chaos @leahnardo-da-veggie @jamietamonwrites @foxgloves-garden
