Aj Saxsma
Region: US
Wednesday 15 July 2026 23:31:47 GMT
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De 📚 :
People will hate my characters. Every character has haters. It is part of the craft.
2026-07-16 07:19:04
70
TonyK :
Love this. If you don’t give the reader time to wonder “why” then do they really have a reason to keep reading?
2026-08-04 20:53:47
1
mdjobeauthor :
Great example, emotionally impactful scenes can get robbed by a hesitant writer.
2026-07-16 13:23:30
37
SleepyZoop :
this is such good advice. thank you
2026-07-15 23:58:25
8
Curryfriedhaldol :
I think the most extreme example of this is Bakugo from My hero academia. Objectively, we should hate the guy for all of his damage and the fact that he never addresses his damage. And yet he is absolutely beloved by the fandom. Remembering that has made me so much more comfortable letting characters be messy
2026-07-24 03:26:56
2
Vi’s347thasscheekhair :
I like to put it as, “don’t be afraid to write a Shauna Shipmen,” bc she’s one of the most controversial characters I know. In my opinion the mc doesn’t have to be necessarily likable, but just as long as there not insufferable enough to stop reading.
2026-07-16 00:00:00
10
saphrii :
Guilty. Very guilty. 😭
2026-07-16 16:53:44
2
♤ :
Make a human character = flaws = someone will hate those flaws
2026-07-26 23:52:51
1
Mama Sama :
I still carry words from 20-30 years ago - even my own life scenes that were resolved later echo in my mind at times
2026-07-16 13:24:00
4
Millicent.C.D Comic Writer📚 :
I don't want people not to hate her, i want people to look at her and see that despite her being a horrid person, she ends up doing what she has to to save other people regardless of her own feelings about it, and is as complex as people legitimately are in real life. She has done harm, she has also saved people, and she suffers for and by doing both
2026-07-16 10:28:47
3
mapleleafmanga 🇨🇦 :
Nah if they hate them, let them. I aint apologizing
2026-07-25 22:16:08
3
📚Alex I Author :
Game changing advice, thanks. Will look out for these clean ups in my story.
2026-07-17 04:03:43
1
D.W. Ellis -Indie Author :
Haha, shouldn’t we let them tho?
2026-07-16 16:48:57
2
Ash_J91📝📚 :
This is great so when is it best to explain the why? When should they revisit that scene, how long should it fester?
2026-07-16 10:55:21
2
Shania.yaya :
I love it! My only question is…at what point do we enter the characters head? Because this might easily seem like we’re watching a TV show as the audience instead of being in the characters head. But I do see what you’re trying to get across 👏🏼
2026-07-16 01:09:15
5
CaelusWeaver :
People are flawed even if they're good people, it makes them more interesting than if they weren't. Like yeah you can make a "perfect" character if you want, but personally I don't find those interesting enough to stick with a story for (makes it feel like the "perfect" character won't ever face consequences or actual hardship at any point in the story, I grew out of liking those kinds of stories when I was about 8-9 years old) I'll definitely be more likely to stick with a story now if that story has flawed characters like that because it's so much more entertaining/interesting to read to me!
2026-07-16 19:40:04
2
Elise Heitmann :
I have a character that is supposed to be pretty insufferable with only a few specific redeeming qualities, and I constantly have to rework his perspective because I keep trying to justify his thoughts and actions, completely forgetting that he’s supposed to be a jerk lol.
2026-07-16 23:04:05
3
DLGxkitty :
I didn’t quite do this but this definitely makes me think I may need to rewrite a specific scene where my mmc does something nice for once and the Fmc noticed, seeing him in a slightly different light. Now I’m thinking maybe he still does the nice thing but is more rude or spiteful about it so people can still hate him longer. 🤔
2026-07-16 23:33:17
1
Janet H-M :
Yes! This!! So tired of Hallmark everything.
2026-07-16 01:47:38
7
SleepyLee :
I just started writing a story where the main character feels guilty for doing something bad in the attempt to do good selfishly and I’m attempting to convince the reader he’s a good guy by trying to convince the main character he is because he doesn’t believe it. It’s sort of unreliable narrator deal where all his actions are explained through his guilty conscience. I keep having to check myself trying to justify it on his behalf instead of letting it unfold.
2026-07-18 18:32:33
1
naughty_thoughties :
main character of one of my stories is a victorian-era detective who neglects and cheats on his fiancée with a 200 year old vampire (very toxic relationship). She prioritizes herself and leaves him cause its not her job to baby him and be there for his character development. He's depressed about it and resents her for it, and his life goes downhill from there
2026-07-19 00:37:33
0
penguin :
can I take the opposite route?make character's actions justiciable because other one ACTUALLY deserved it
2026-07-17 04:05:33
0
Hi there 👋🤗 :
Hi, how does one write seven characters gathered in one room and all are having conversations with each other.
2026-07-19 10:47:52
0
sport3050 :
Also I feel like a movie or show would allow us to see the instant regret. Whereas just letting it be on the page doesn’t reveal it.
2026-07-16 23:28:15
0
Ollieoaks :
Yeah I have a feeling if I ever publish, my characters won’t be for everyone. Not because I’m writing “bad” characters, but because I try to make them as human as possible…and humans, even the best ones, are messy. And people like to focus on the flaws. But characters shouldn’t be without them.
2026-07-16 16:40:14
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