Dramatic question

[kenaz]

So.... is it better to kill off the completely inconvenient wife who is only evident in canon because her son wasn't hatched from an egg, or have her Go West, somewhat petulantly? Trying to not to entirely demonizing a non-character, while also not wanting to be overly sympathetic, and leave slashy husband some leeway for technical infidelity without making him a total cad.

Talk amongst yourselves.

File under: #fanficproblems; #loomingdeadlines; #ohshitnotdoneyet

Comments

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

I guess that's why I need her to be slightly unsympathetic-- so that her husband doesn't seem like a complete ass for having a moment of weakness with someone else.

Errrrrr...being frank here, I've never favored the slash trope that makes the inconvenient wife into an unsympathetic shrew or mope. Rather, how about a flawed woman — even a relatable one — who has a spectrum of characteristics, good and bad? Same goes for her straying husband. I love flawed characters who still can spark sympathy with the reader. Could your character's moment of weakness be simply because he has human desire — a strong chemistry as it were — for the other dude, so powerful that he justifies his straying to himself or hell, just lets the testosterone take charge?

I do like the idea of a political marriage that isn't exactly a bed of roses, plus your examples of Non-Ideal Elven Behavior™ in reply to jaiden are PERFECT! :^D

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

I think I've managed to do her justice-- I hope I don't come across as a writer who creates shrews and mopes, or assassinates characters as a storytelling shortcut-- but it's tough to balance in a really short story when an absent character is potent mainly *because* she is absent. It's already becoming an expository info dump, which is problematic enough in itself. I may have painted myself into a corner, but so be it. I'm both mediocre and extremely rusty, so I'm working with what I've got.

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

I hope I don't come across as a writer who creates shrews and mopes, or assassinates characters as a storytelling shortcut...

Be assured that you do not come across as a writer who does this. Ever. I've encountered it from no one I really know during my first forays into Library of Moria back in the day. I'm confident you'll write a fine short story, rusty or not! It's great that you're writing again!

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

OMG IT'S HARD!!!! I don't remember it being this hard!!! *shakes tiny dino fists of fury*