7 Day Writing Challenge [Day #2]

Penning this at 1:20 am at what is technically Day #3 of the challenge. This is the 2nd post in my 7-day writing challenge.

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How to write a character that sparks debate

As a natural idealist, it took me a long time to understand that the world is just shades of grey. Highlighting the greyness is a great way to write interesting characters.

Most boring characters are black or white. They make a decent enough watch if you’re not looking to engage emotionally in the story. No shade if you’re one of them; you probably have better thing to do with your life, and I envy that.

However, interesting characters have both good and bad qualities, and that’s what makes them so real.

The genius small town cop who dedicates their life to the community have a shitty social life. (This is actually quite common: a hero who can’t find love or be there for their family because they’re busy frying bigger fish, hence they are sad.)

The foolish simpleton has the purest, most generous heart in the tristate area.

You can even go ahead and make a good and bad traits list while drafting the character! But make sure that you don’t love them so much that you make them all white.

If you can’t kill your darlings, at least give them a vice.