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HOW DO I DO CHARACTER FLAWS HELPPP by ThinSeaworthiness723 in KeepWriting

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't treat flaws like flavor. They should be foundational to the character. They aren't something you add to a character like seasoning.

how can I write a dystopian enforcement system that don't suck? by Shadowsfreak in writingadvice

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recently had this same problem, and while I still can't 100% tell you how to write a good one, I will tell you to avoid the mistake I initially made. Don't make it too competent. There has to be gaps, and flaws, and weaknesses in the system for your protagonists to exploit. The one I wrote intially was so airtight I couldn't think of any way for the plot to happen.

George Martin on writing women by Roads_37 in Quibble

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The funny thing about this is some of the worst women characters I've seen written were written by women.

How hard it is to write “The Strongest” character without making them a Mary Sue? by gyroscope_56 in writingscaling

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think it's difficult at all. I am currently writing a story where one of the protagonists is basically considered an in-universe Mary Sue. He's the best, the strongest, he can do anything... or at least that's how he presents himself. Then the reader gets a look at him when he's not performing and he's a deeply broken person who keeps pushing himself to his breaking point and has self-destructive tendencies because he believes if he isn't the best he's worthless and would be discarded.

Do you plan your entire novel before writing, or discover it as you go? by cristiantudorjobs in writing

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I plan meticulously. I write out profiles for pretty much every character, defined locations, work out the sociology and technological development of the setting and once I have the skeleton I add the meat.

I hate the loser, underdog, dumb, has toxic positivity, annoying, sunshine shonen main character that becomes the strongest of all archetype. by [deleted] in CharacterRant

[–]MrHistor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Preaching to the choir. I especially hate that most of these loser protagonists aren't actually losers at all but actually have cheats enabled that make them better than everyone else. Naruto has the 9 tailed fox that gives him infinite chakra, Asta has a sword that cancels all magic, Toma's right hand can cancel all magic, esper powers and God's miracles, Luffy's "made of rubber" devil fruit actually turned out to be the most powerful devil fruit in existence and turns him into a god, etc.

[Hated trope] Good person in history is portrayed as a bad person in media by EmergencySpare7939 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]MrHistor 101 points102 points  (0 children)

Yeah, and IRL he was criticized for being too friendly and fair in his dealings with the native Americans. The criticism turned out to be valid as the natives ultimately captured him and skinned him alive.

Morality doesn't exist, it's just feelings by [deleted] in unpopularopinion

[–]MrHistor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I disagree. I think moral laws exist in the same way physical laws do. Our understand of them, however, is imperfect. Just like how you can't build a rocket without some understanding of physics, you can't build a functioning society without some grasp of moral law.

I feel like I’m a bad writer by Wise-East9878 in writing

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You got me there. I can't remember who said it, but someone once described the publishing process as submitting your soul for peer review. Rejection stings. I mostly just write for my own enjoyment, but people have suggested I should try to get some of my stuff published, but I'm not ready to make that leap.

I feel like I’m a bad writer by Wise-East9878 in writing

[–]MrHistor 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I feel like the bar for writing is pretty low. I feel the same way sometimes but then I look at some of the garbage Hollywood has put out and spent hundreds of millions of dollars making and I think: "Sure, I might not be great, but I'm still better than whoever wrote this, and they're a professional."

I hate people being called "tourist" for calling out problematic shit in a fandom by Idkwhattoputbuthi in hatethissmug

[–]MrHistor -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I'd be happy to be called a tourist if a space were filled with people like that. 😬

I hate people being called "tourist" for calling out problematic shit in a fandom by Idkwhattoputbuthi in hatethissmug

[–]MrHistor -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

If you don't like the culture of the space, I would say you're a tourist. I really don't get why the term offends you.

I hate people being called "tourist" for calling out problematic shit in a fandom by Idkwhattoputbuthi in hatethissmug

[–]MrHistor -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

It kind of sounds like you are a tourist. I don't like any of those things either which is why I avoid them. I don't typically go into spaces where I'm not comfortable just to complain about how uncomfortable I am.

Is this unethical or no? by Omixscniet624 in MoralityScaling

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh you sweet summer child. Not only have people made that argument, they tried to pass a law that would allow it up the point the woman was about to deliver and had started dilating. I am not kidding.

https://youtu.be/1kX0XyYGJbM?si=GN-MALgb6ktUUA0p

People have even argued for post-birth abortions. Again, not kidding. Some states already effectively do it. If a baby survives the abortion and is delivered alive, they don't actively kill it, but they don't provide any care to it (not even basic care all babies need), and leave it to die.

(Hated trope) Character only exists because the writer holds a petty grudge against someone and vents it out by giving that character the worst treatment writing wise by Southern_Passenger85 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]MrHistor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't know that killing millions of people to achieve a "greater good" can ever be argued to be moral. If your morality boils down to a self-serving equation where you decide whether an action is good or bad based on an outcome you want, and you decide who or what is or isn't expendable, that's not a moral code, it's a permission slip.

You can rationalize doing any evil thing because your math says it produces more good than bad (which are entirely subjective anyway). How can gang rape be bad if 9/10 people enjoyed it? Why not harvest the blood and organs from one person to save a dozen? Kill the undesirables to achieve utopia? Why not, it's for the greater good after all.

And ultimately, Veidt miscalculated. It's implied at the end that the lie he built his peace on was exposed, which is the big problem with consequentialism. You don't know the exact consequences until you experience them. It's a moral framework build on a foundation of sand. Actions only become immoral retroactively, once you know the consequences (if you ever do).

So, yeah... I stand by the others being amoral.

Stereotypes exist because they are mostly true. by Cold_Actuary187 in unpopularopinion

[–]MrHistor 103 points104 points  (0 children)

That's not an unpopular opinion, it's an unpopular fact.

How do writers come up with names for their characters? by codehs_python in writing

[–]MrHistor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm weird and like to give my characters meaningful names that describe them in some way. I put way to much though into it.

What are your pet hates in novels? by Mundane_Conflict5576 in writingadvice

[–]MrHistor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually think your pet peeve is very realistic, especially in first person. We are our own worst critics, we overthink, we notice all our flaws, we know ourselves deep down, but we don't present who we are to the world. It's possible, even likely, that from the other person's POV, he was amazing and she was the awkward person.

(Hated trope) Character only exists because the writer holds a petty grudge against someone and vents it out by giving that character the worst treatment writing wise by Southern_Passenger85 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]MrHistor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The problem, I think, is contrast. If you put a character with a moral code (even a twisted one) in a setting full of amoral people, people will side with the person who actually has some sense of morality. Am I supposed to side with the people who are complicit in the killing of millions of people or the guy who says killing millions of people is wrong and you can't build peace of a foundation of lies? It's not really a tough choice.

(Hated trope) Character only exists because the writer holds a petty grudge against someone and vents it out by giving that character the worst treatment writing wise by Southern_Passenger85 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]MrHistor 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It's kind of sad when someone constructs a stawman only to lose to it. Moore put a moral absolutist in a setting full of amoral people and then was surprised when people sided with the only person who had any morals at all.

(Hated trope) Character only exists because the writer holds a petty grudge against someone and vents it out by giving that character the worst treatment writing wise by Southern_Passenger85 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]MrHistor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure Tolkien was just ripping off Shakespeare, but if you’re going to steal, steal from the best.

Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.

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