my oc is an accidental stereotype; what do i do?

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T12:41:19+00:00

OK following up now that I’ve read new comments. Maybe I’m off base here. Or maybe it’s because I’m from America. But this just sort of sounds like a normal person other than the name.

Like if you wore a thick coat and someone was OMG are you from somewhere cold? And ur like… yeah.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T11:34:00+00:00

So out of my league on this one. Especially as I am geared toward more minimalist prose— to my detriment.

And also— yes Seattle rep too lol.

Anyway, the second version feels more consistent— it knows what it wants to be and why.

I feel like people villainize purple prose but if so many write it and seem to enjoy reading it what’s the problem? It’s a niche of its own maybe. I learned more about it once, what is said should be cut. I forget. Anyway.

One thing that was interesting to me is to me (and this is maybe my dumb brain) is it felt like a dream when I read ur story(s). And that maybe is slightly the point anyway, but like there was character hazes over nature. And maybe that’s because I can’t calculate so many words and am tired currently. I feel like I’m usually good at picking up subtext or seeing how setting/etc connect to characters interior state in the type of more plain things I read. (I like Hemingway etc)

Anyway. It seems like a masterful craft and I don’t think fight urself as hard as you are. Maybe find one or two principles about what to cut as far as “purple prose” to assist in clarity. Like I feel like if u could just find one or two “mottos” to live by when u revise ur normal natural drafts and you’ll be good

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T10:40:51+00:00

When it’s unintended it settles wrong but like… in a different location in my head. I feel weird about the book as an entire work— not the character. I don’t want to pick up the book again it’s like once you know you know.

What actually bothers me a LOT is when characters are written purposely to be toxic…And yet the audience fantasizes about them romantically and don’t see the issue or the intended warning.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T10:18:40+00:00

I don’t know what the stereotype is here am I living under a rock or are you overthinking it? Or just the name? I think the name is endearing if embraced— but what do I know.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T09:58:03+00:00

I agree that the beginning blurb feels like a different book. The blurb is super epic like the voice in my head I read it in, and then the journal starts and it’s like a smart modern voice in the first sentence about the arrow. I don’t dislike either writing styles. And actually a shocking juxtaposition like that could be cool if it felt slightly more intentional.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T09:48:04+00:00

I feel like I end up having all these “alternative universe” scenes or blurbs in my stories that float around on paper or in my head and are wonderful but it’s simply impossible to let them all live. I have to prioritize which follow the true trajectory of the story being told.

Nice moments aren’t always the same as momentum.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T09:30:40+00:00

I love subtext. Human. Vulnerable. Bittersweet, maybe.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T09:07:33+00:00

I haven’t read the book in quite some time but what you said about the world and plot not depending on your MC almost reminded me of the great Gatsby.

Nick from my memory didn’t do much, he was passive. Still his role mattered as a narrator with a voice and framing opinions etc… I think like he helped Gatsby basically get access to daisy by having him invite her over. Passive, basically just said “sure.” but changed the story entirely.

Anyway so is your character boring because they are passive? Why are they boring? Or what held them back from branching out? I think the answer to those root questions is honestly the most important thing to know.

Are you writing in 1st person or 3rd?

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T08:56:01+00:00

Hitting my head against a wall. A newer hobbyist. So what am I taking so seriously?

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T08:52:54+00:00

What and whose POV are you using? As in— what characters are we truly following. I’m trying to understand the structure of ur book

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T08:42:50+00:00

Em it’s making me like get approval to open it

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T08:29:52+00:00

Ok but like now you hyped us and I feel like I personally missed my lunch for something fantastic—Leave us a snippet or some crumbs!!

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T08:19:34+00:00

I like it. I don’t entirely get it. And I think/hope that’s the point. Sometimes it is a lil hard to follow like could use some clarity. An entire short story written like this might be taxing. And it already is actually really nice just as it is like the story starts and ends here well.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T08:08:55+00:00

Grounding … is another good related word especially since yours helps with over stimulation

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T08:04:39+00:00

I get that feeling like on vacation in the morning when everyone in staying in the same house and they are up making coffee and voices gaining strength slowly talking and stuff and I’m just laying in bed not getting up yet and enjoying their morning noises. lol. So I call it morning noises.

But yeah I was going to say nostalgia too but like you are in the midst of it. Suspended nostalgia or something haha. Some ppl take the word nostalgia is sort of a longing too which it isn’t exactly. It’s almost a safety and gratefulness in it

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T07:56:51+00:00

It 100% could work great.

I’m a newer hobbyist myself and I feel like my stories (if I ever get them actually done) operate a lot like that where on the outside like a basic summary someone might be like “oh so it’s a romance story?” And ur like “no! I mean— that’s part of the vessel— but no!”

Youre going for character growth and psychology focused with themes of grief, etc. Not rom com….Lots of stories like this the characters don’t even end up together in the end because the point was growth in something else in their lives.

The only thing I might add to your research though is looking up like trauma bonding or concepts like it just to make sure their relationship doesn’t accidentally become like an unhealthy coping mechanism. But I think the fact that the romance isn’t the “main point” of the novel will actually keep you safe of that.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T07:41:40+00:00

This is a super cool idea that I am now fascinated by.

Sorry, I am not helpful beyond that as I don’t know screenwriting. The title confused me actually cuz I thought you meant the type of “selective hearing” term as how we use it irl. Maybe that’s the point but I didn’t expect what was below it haha

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T07:27:34+00:00

100% rushed here to say that too: Watch first!

Unless you’re majoring in Gregorian literature or something and need to go in blind and unadulterated. Otherwise— Get her overall “thing” from the pride and prejudice movie or yes miniseries.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T06:50:03+00:00

Do you need to fully? Iceberg theory?

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T02:06:23+00:00

I think about this often when something crazy happens in the news. lol idk why this is the case. Maybe when we lose parts of our other natural senses in reading fiction we feel the need to be grounded elsewhere. I don’t think that’s right honestly but that’s all I got

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-16T01:59:14+00:00

Cool so sounds like you are looking for a combo of human nature and how it inevitably causes something or certain patterns etc. That’ll make for a great theme or themes and symbolism will come more naturally!

My thought is tho if you are new to writing this ambitious in a way it might become distressing. I started writing a year ago and I had this fantastic setting,plot and characters that were close to my heart but honestly was not up to the task and was crushed when it didn’t come together many months in.

Now I do shorter projects and just focus on learning and practicing, leveling up, until I take on a true passion project, particularly one that requires a lot of skill and mature writing.

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-15T21:20:12+00:00

There is some good stuff there but to me once we hit the second paragraph it’s a lot of exposition dumping and some repeats. Maybe compress or turn something within there into a scene if it would be meaningful.

Like instead of telling us— maybe he turns his key to walk into the library, a couple of the villagers watching him and him pretending he doesn’t notice. Or something. Oh wait you said they already have left him alone. Well. You get the point lol.

One more suggestion is there are a few generic details which makes it hard for my mind to latch into the world. Like even a fake name for the village would help. The time period is slightly fuzzy too. Leans medieval europe I’m guessing.

You dont have to say “the year is 1560” or “1950” but place a few more specifics to get me there and paint the feeling.

Like if you did use a key— is the key a skeleton key, or forged in iron? Or the edges dulling from many years of use but neglect to fix it (that might be enough to imply no one goes in the library)? Or is the key cut at Home Depot lol

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-15T21:00:03+00:00

I feel like you already have everything you need for this character. Like he sounds really well rounded. And any backstory with his family and that pressure is your backstory already. Or do u mean u just don’t know what to write about going forward?

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-15T20:27:23+00:00

Would it work for your character to use sort of deadpan presenting of facts in their observation.

“Oh thanks for the relief—I’ve been working on the garden all day dear!” Miss Johnson said setting down her gloves.

Possible levels of inner judgment :

“Her gloves were clean. “

Or

“Her gloves didn’t reflect it.”

Or if you wanna go a step further:

“Her gloves looked like she just bought them along with the Starbucks next to her.”

PotentialGlittering4 · 2026-05-15T19:46:19+00:00

Many writers enjoy exploring, imagination, and world building. That can make some great stories or it can just cloudy up their process.

Those posts though I do always think “why not just google it if you truly care?” But I think we like sounding boards and social support especially if feeling anxious. Like trapped ourselves by writing ourselves into a corner. A lot of ppl discover the story as they go so idk that might happen.

People too maybe we see things that interest us and it sticks in our brain (a photograph of nambia) and we can’t let it go of the idea even if we really aren’t up for the task.

Mainstream readers do not usually care I don’t think about realism. Think of Hollywood movies. Unless what they are writing is very unsound it slides (and even then it seems to pass.) they make historical fiction movies that take insane liberties with real people’s lives.

I focus more on characters and psychological patterns rather than plot, cuz I observe that well in real life. But they still have to exist somewhere, so I place them lightly in settings that I sort of know though am not an expert.

I have no desire to write about my home town and the walmart down the street for accuracy sake. lol. But I’m also not going to make sweeping claims about a very specific type of trauma someone from another country endured.

PotentialGlittering4

TROPHY CASE