this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2026
49 points (98.0% liked)

writing

22149 readers
101 users here now

"There's no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you"

-Maya Angelou

Welcome to c/writing!

This is a space for all kinds of discussion referring to writing. This could include the structure and style found in different types of writing, authors worth talking about, different genres, trends, etc.

This is also a space for users who wish to share their own writing for feedback. This could look like independently posting excerpts of poems/prose/plays or it could be replying to one of the writing prompt threads. Brainstorming and worldbuilding ideas are welcome too!

Ideally, this will be a community where we work together to become better writers and appreciators of writing in all its forms.

All that said, please note that Code of Conduct still applies here. Please apply content warnings where applicable and spoiler material that might be inappropriate.

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Yes it makes sense. It would motivate them powerfully. But it's been done too many times, and it's too easy.

The rule makes you find more interesting ways of motivating them. Are they driven by bruised pride? By romance? By obsession? Anything is more interesting than rehashing the cliché Hollywood loves.


Similarly, don't make a villain more evil by saying "they're a dictator and also a kiddie-fiddler orremoved". That's just tacking on villainy.

That would be like having a right-wing US President, and saying "oh he's also aremoved and best friends with a child-trafficker" - lazy, unrealistic writing. Make your villains more nuanced please.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] ashinadash@hexbear.net 9 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

But it's been done too many times, and it's too easy.

Ok then I don't wanna see any cishet characters anymore. BO-RING!!!! To put a twist onnit you could always have a protagonist with a weird found family, and have them get killed. People would cry, I think.

The rule makes you find more interesting ways of motivating them. Are they driven by bruised pride? By romance? By obsession?

By burning hatred mixing ugly style with lust...........

That's just tacking on villainy.

Ideally I think that if there is a "villain"/antagonist, they should have wronged the protagonist in a really achingly specific way. It should be extremely personal.

[–] Robert_Kennedy_Jr@hexbear.net 4 points 13 hours ago

Ideally I think that if there is a "villain"/antagonist, they should have wronged the protagonist in a really achingly specific way. It should be extremely personal.

The antagonist banged the MC's dad and was gone in the morning when dad woke up.

[–] Kefla@hexbear.net 7 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

To put a twist onnit you could always have a protagonist with a weird found family, and have them get killed.

Too late, the Witcher series did that

Though largely people hated that arc and celebrated when the unhinged villain brutally murdered Ciri's found family in front of her

[–] Wertheimer@hexbear.net 3 points 15 hours ago

Happens in Legend of the Condor Heroes, too.

[–] ashinadash@hexbear.net 5 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

More proof that The Witcher as an IP is a net negative...

[–] Athena5898@hexbear.net 1 points 4 hours ago

As a fan of the games. I can't argue with you (sad lol). I love the idea and shit but fuck most of the story is annoying AF.

[–] ashinadash@hexbear.net 4 points 18 hours ago

theory-gary

But beyond snark that twists the premise in a gay and fandom-bent direction, the premise can be deconstucted itself: why does this conception of storytelling require a protagonist to be wronged by an antagonist who then must be stopped? Why does narrative only center around violent conflict? Has the burger reich so perverted our sensibilities? Is there no room for rumination on the internal lives of characters, the social links between them? The processing of grief? The trials of organising, perhaps? Existential dread? Does the ghost of Joϟϟeph Kkkampbell haunt us so?