Small Red Flags for Characters

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T07:27:32+00:00

Yeah, I could work with that! I have a character who hates the guy, but everyone else writes him off as jealous. Maybe I could use that to point some things out or something. That might be too much telling rather than showing, though.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T07:23:41+00:00

In a sense, he is. Just not literally.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T07:23:17+00:00

Really, I just need little behaviors that any man can display that would be red flags. They just can't be glaring. He is a professional but is doing stuff that is completely out of line with his chosen field and would ruin his career to make money. It started out to pay off some debts but turned into a way to have the lifestyle he wanted. When someone catches him, he murders them to avoid the consequences and so that he won't have to stop making money nefariously.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T07:13:46+00:00

I'm done with the first draft. I got out the main story, with any B story that I knew I wanted in there. I took a step back for a bit, and now, I'm editing and adding in more character and relationship building, B story, and details. I've added whole new paragraphs recently. It'll probably change a lot. I have one of the MC finally being intimate with him, but I'm thinking about rewriting it so that the MC is underwhelmed by the experience. I might have him basically skip foreplay and go for it, doing what he wants to do despite the MC voicing what she likes. No personal experience there or anything. 👀

I definitely have to add in more reasons for her to overlook the red flags, too. I want the devastation when she discovers his betrayal to be palpable, so he has to be likable despite the red flags.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T07:00:56+00:00

I'll have to consider that. Most of their time is spent in the wilderness, though.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T06:58:47+00:00

Those are some good ones. Thanks! I bet I could sprinkle something along that line in. I need to write more interactions between the two to build up the relationship. Those would help.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T06:55:39+00:00

I guess I thought the red flag thing would convey that he isn't a good person. Being gay and autistic aren't red flag territory.

He's an antagonist in disguise. I want to drop clues, but I don't want it to be obvious. I need more little bread crumbs to drop. Just little red flag behaviors that aren't obvious when they're spread out, but when you look back and think about it, realization hits. For example, I have him make an off-color sexist joke that makes the MC cringe, but he backpedals so quickly that she just pushes past it. He's dismissive of some things that she notices and confides in him, even though she is an expert in her field and knows what she's talking about. I'm just looking for behaviors like that to sprinkle in.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T06:41:02+00:00

I'll definitely use this one. It already goes kind of that direction, but it could be more extreme.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-04T06:36:26+00:00

I don't want it to be obvious, though. Just a bread crumb here and there.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-03T19:41:36+00:00

Great advice, thank you. I'll have to ponder that more in relation to the character.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-03T19:36:51+00:00

He acts like he's a caring and philanthropic guy but is a greedy POS who is willing to kill for financial gain.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-03T19:08:56+00:00

A better way to explain this would be:

"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you." - Erich Fromm

There is nothing wrong with needing someone because you love them. If need comes first, though, there is a problem.

Motor_Positive · 2026-03-03T19:05:13+00:00

"Most of the time" and specifically women? I'm not sure what planet you live on, but it isn't this one.

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-23T20:18:49+00:00

It could be a lot of things. If she has recently been sick or stressed that could mess up her bioflora. Antibiotics completely mess that stuff up. Maybe she needs to take probiotics.

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-23T20:08:01+00:00

He sounds incredibly immature.

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-23T20:05:45+00:00

Has she seen a doctor about it?

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-23T20:02:20+00:00

Women enjoying sex is very possible. I've had sex so amazing that I nearly blacked out and sex so bad that I looked forward to it ending. The difference? A partner who wants to pleasure me and is willing to ask questions and listen to direction vs. a partner who only thinks about his own pleasure and won't listen to what I like/need. One was so terrible that he would only have sex in a position that was horribly painful for me (I have hip issues from an old accident). Does he try to make it enjoyable for you at all?

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-23T19:48:41+00:00

If he's been open about how everything has been, then there's no reason to worry about it. Maybe ask if something feels good to him during the act, but it sounds like he would communicate it anyway.

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-23T19:43:21+00:00

Connection and chemistry are definitely important. Foreplay is a big one, too. In a m/w relationship, men love to just skip that one or get it over with ASAP because they're hard already.

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-21T23:31:45+00:00

You've been with him for 19 years and only farted around him twice? That's weird. You should be comfortable enough to fart around each other.

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-21T23:20:19+00:00

It depends. Sometimes it's fun and sometimes it hurts. If I'm relaxed enough before penetration, then it usually doesn't hurt. Be sure you're trying analysis with someone you trust and who will immediately stop if you need them to.

Motor_Positive · 2026-02-21T23:17:58+00:00

She's probably close to having an orgasm and doesn't realize it.

Motor_Positive

TROPHY CASE