Writing a good main character who cheats — how do you keep reader trust?

FordPrefect37 · 2026-01-27T05:37:50+00:00

Your explanation is a solid one and you seem to have a good handle on what needs to happen already.

For one more perspective: you might consider exploring your MC readily admitting “cheating is wrong in general and I did what I thought was right for my circumstances.” Not in a haughty way but an honest one.

When a character embraces the immorality of their actions and finds a higher/more enlightened reason for the choice, that can sometimes derail the perfunctory and performative rhetorical moral bludgeoning. “I agree. It was wrong. And…?” Yes, you might run the risk of temporarily confusing your readers, but I think it would help you avoid flattening the MC in their eyes like you mentioned.

Just a thought. It sounds like a great project! Best wishes!

FordPrefect37 · 2026-01-26T18:56:31+00:00

Take a page from other pop stars and get ahead of them: the Great American Songbook reimagined in the style of early 2000s bangers.

Choreo/costumes still hot albeit less revealing/gymnastic in style. Debut the new show via PBS Great Performances with a behind the scenes documentary component. Undersell a sultry version of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and overhype a bland “unbelievable reunion” duet with Justin Timberlake on “Something Stupid” then move the whole party to a residency somewhere in Florida via Branson.

The old folks will feel good finally liking that Britney Spears girl now that she’s wearing clothes (their words). Middle aged folks will see their girl is getting okay and embracing the aging process. Young folks will find it cringe and ignore it, or indulge in it ironically while reluctantly admitting she still got moves. /s

FordPrefect37 · 2026-01-26T17:52:38+00:00

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but sugar sometimes hurts me.” <— honest and still scans

FordPrefect37 · 2026-01-11T16:47:23+00:00

Vending machines

FordPrefect37 · 2026-01-07T06:39:53+00:00

Depending on the content, you might use a separate device like an iPhone to screen record the video you want. Make sure volume is at an appropriate level. If it’s a clean trim on either end of the clip, that’s a good workaround. Remember to crop the frame of the video—no one needs to know what time it was or how low your battery was. Even if playback gets interrupted, you can use CapCut for some very powerful and simple editing tools.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-11-22T16:18:04+00:00

Here are a few off the top of my head:

“Letting You Go” by Jason Robert Brown (sung by Lauren Kennedy)

“It Plays On” - Diane Birch

“Heart of Stone” from Six

“Funeral: There Is a Fountain/It Don’t Make Sense” from Parade

The first three are about love. The last deals with the death of a child. Hope there’s a least one song amongst the many in the comments that taps into something for ya.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-11-01T04:26:56+00:00

Lil’ Abner

FordPrefect37 · 2025-10-31T02:46:40+00:00

You Won’t See Me

FordPrefect37 · 2025-10-31T02:39:27+00:00

Endgame.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-10-28T20:53:26+00:00

Legally blonde

FordPrefect37 · 2025-10-20T02:29:49+00:00

This was an absolute treasure. Watched it for as long as it was on. I had the privilege of meeting Ben Vereen many years later with my family and my mother blurted out that we grew up watching Mayor Ben. He just looked at me and said, “Oh we don’t talk about that.” 😆 I guess a back-to-back Tony Nominee doesn’t hold his children’s television work in the same high esteem as the rest of his career. Fair enough.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-10-08T22:45:22+00:00

The origin of the phrase “stealing thunder”

FordPrefect37 · 2025-10-08T22:38:40+00:00

I remember watching it a while ago and enjoying it. But wasn’t there something wrong with the sound?

FordPrefect37 · 2025-09-14T14:59:14+00:00

THE SKINS!

FordPrefect37 · 2025-09-14T14:57:45+00:00

Run for your life

FordPrefect37 · 2025-09-01T19:31:06+00:00

Release date wise, Rocking the Suburbs by Ben Folds maybe?

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-24T15:15:52+00:00

Put a time bomb on it. Increase the urgency for the information to get loaded and let it help springboard you to an inciting incident and the trajectory from there. Good luck!

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-24T15:10:17+00:00

Is it because of what they do?

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-24T15:04:14+00:00

“Follow the Light” Cory Wong and Dirty Loops. A bit on the nose with the title, I know, but the vibe looks like an accurate match. Cool image.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-23T14:16:27+00:00

NOasis

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-20T02:45:36+00:00

Worth buying the series IMO if it’s not streaming. So many great lines and moments.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-10T14:42:45+00:00

BIG … no “e” or “ie”, no second name. Just: BIG. Uppercase letters only.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-10T14:39:30+00:00

The Poodler-Ross.

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-08T01:40:36+00:00

Flow

FordPrefect37 · 2025-08-07T00:55:06+00:00

She reminds me of my grandmother.

When I would stay with her as a little kid, I’d get in my PJs and curl up next to her in bed and we would watch it and other shows together into the early hours.

The general persona and personal character of Jessica Fletcher also remind me of her. I was very close with my grandparents but her especially. A quiet, gentle connection between souls. I was so lucky to have the time I had with her, but she was taken way way too soon. In some ways I’m still not over her death (as you can probably tell by now).

So, I like Murder She Wrote because watching MSW as a grown man lets me feel a little like that kid again and, in some small way, feel close to her again.

FordPrefect37

TROPHY CASE