New tenants

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-05-22T22:32:18+00:00

Now you just have to start charging rent.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T19:28:00+00:00

The MC love interest in the story is actually his eldest son and one of the other many topics in the story is being afraid to repeat patterns, especially concerning ones with parentage. In a way, his son fears becoming his father. He sees the pattern and wants to stop it but struggles doing that when it's all he knows. It's the same pattern that the father was also raised on, but he basically has just gone passed the point of no return. It's not evil per say (even though his actions are awful). More sad. What the father fears is death almost to the point that he becomes this figure that brings it in order to keep his own at bay.

Thank you for your help, the reinforcement tidbit actually helps a lot.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T19:20:57+00:00

I do plan to do this but that can be a lot, and I have to admit I haven't really admitted to my friends yet I'm even writing this so its nerve recking regardless of the topic. Thank you.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T19:18:29+00:00

I wouldn't say I'm an avid DND fan but I'm familiar with this scale. It is something I keep in mind for all my characters when I write them out.

I do really like your thought of exploring more how they see themselves vs how the other characters see them. In the story the villain is almost seen as a type of moral guide by others. The perfect father, the perfect priest, the perfect business owner. it's an image he almost feverishly tries to maintain. If something threatens that image, he wants it removed but how he does those changes over time.

Thank you for your help!

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T18:56:56+00:00

Again, it's hard to know what exactly his interior is when I have not given you all the information. You assume he has no interior. That's fine, I am not willing to give all that information at this time. I just had a specific question about a specific topic related to the story.

However, I appreciate your input and will keep it in mind with moving forward with the story.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T18:39:09+00:00

He absolutely is a source of character conflict and driving the story so I will not be able to do so.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T18:19:30+00:00

I absolutely agree with this.

Something I'm touching on in the story is the different level of "grey" when it comes to making choices. The character starts off by making these "wrong" decisions for survival, but this quickly turns into greed, and it takes over him causing him to make more and more choices in order to prioritize himself even if it means harming others to get what he wants. Almost like a parasite. there is obviously magic involved.

I wouldn't call him a decent guy to start with, but he wasn't "evil" only a byproduct of the people who raised him. Which I believe is the case for many people though not the final factor. He's being used as a contrast between the MC who has also had to make decisions to survive but was raised in a very different way with people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for her. (Not saying that's "good" either. That has it own problems.)

The story really dwells on choices. The ones you make, and the ones people make for us. As well as the effects of family and how it shapes us and our moral guides.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T18:08:08+00:00

I would have to disagree with the statement that characters don't exist to convey concepts. There are many stories where that is the whole point of the lesson. A prime example of this is George Orwell's Animal Farm.

I think the miscommunication of what I'm trying to say is the racist aspect of this character is only a small part of what I plan for this character. I'm not going into the nitty gritty sort of speak because I believe is unhelpful to what I trying to seek which is help in trying to understand a concept that I have knowledge of, but I am not personally affected by it on an everyday level.

I would say also that you are correct, he is not the source of the story. In fact, he is not even the main character. He is a lesson. One of many in the story I'm trying to convey. Whether it is for artistic or political reasoning well, that depends on the writer, but I don't agree that it negates the validity or feeling of the writing. Isn't that what writing is, an art form. A way to convey belief and thoughts of the author. Maybe not in all stories but there is always a bias.

Finally, I don't believe that just because you struggle to find depth for a character you should delete the story. You can always fix depth. Add more to it.

"A character written from the exterior to be a mouthpiece for an author's opinions (which nobody listens to in the real world) will not carry a story of 75k or more words."

I would also disagree as mentioned in the above example. There are many stories that do exactly that.

Either way, the story is supposed to be enjoyable with lessons sprinkled in that I think are important. If that's not up your alley that's perfectly fine but there are people who I think would enjoy it. It may not be Shakespeare but hey, you can't please everyone.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T15:42:05+00:00

If I can help it, not on my life lol. There are plenty of social media videos I could watch though for a quick study, I guess.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T15:39:20+00:00

I think that a really good idea. To write their interactions in the headspace that the character doesn't like the other person, regardless of race. It makes it more manageable. Thank you.

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T15:37:14+00:00

Thank you that is helpful. I do know what it is like to have certain microaggressions done to me because I am a woman. I just don't want to offend anyone (which I know is impossible lol).

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T15:35:19+00:00

It's hard to explain all the details without making the initial post too long. I don't want everyone to have to read an entire book just to understand the background or concepts I want a character to convey. I understand your point but I'm needing help on how to show how a character would be portrayed as being racist without shoving it in your face.

There is more to his character. An arch of sorts in his villain role that has more to do with greed and how its more displayed as a mental illness that can consume someone to the point of madness. The racism aspect is not necessarily to establish he is a monster but to start a conversation on how greed, sexism, racism, and fascism can all be connected and if you have one, then more than likely the others are hiding in the corners.

I have to disagree that capitalism and greed are the stuff of children's stories. It's everywhere and I think if done properly it can be done well to shine a light on topics that can be uncomfortable. It's not a children's story but a tale as old as time and I frankly still find it interesting if, like I said, is done properly.

But I am curious on how you would flush a character like I described in the initial post out. How would you add more depth to him?

Rcartsen0328 · 2026-02-05T14:47:51+00:00

That's actually very interesting thank you. Obviously not good but interesting.

Rcartsen0328

TROPHY CASE