If your character has a trait you consider one of their key features and it is never challenged in anyway, that trait will probably have about as much impact as their “tiny mole on their left buttcheek” trait.
For that trait NOT to fall totally flat, one or more of these things need to happen:
The trait exacerbates a situation in a bad way. (An extremely honest and trusting character reveals an important secret to the Big Bad’s lackey)
The character is given a choice to either act according to their traits or to subvert them. Often the subversion has the better outcome. They either maintain their trait and take a risk, or character development ensues. (A greedy character must escape. Leaving behind their riches goes against their very being, but it would allow them to escape easier. If they try to take some of their treasure with them, they do so at massive risk.)
The character is put in an environment or must work with a person that opposes their trait. (An extremely tidy person must live in their slob cousin’s filthy apartment for a week. / The character has a debilitating fear of being alone and they are stranded on their own on an island.)
The character is put in a situation that requires them to suppress their trait (A hotheaded character needs to have polite discourse with someone they hate)
see you space cowboy
tropes that will always f*ck me up
composed characters losing their composure
kind characters snapping
characters hugging each other after one or both of them have been through hell
character cradling their significant other’s face while they kiss
character says something hurtful. later on in the movie they are in a similar situation and say something kind instead.
self sacrifice
griefstricken women (who under normal circumstances wouldn’t hurt a fly) lashing out and striking the person responsible for the loss of their loved one
ugly crying
characters struggling to talk because they’re about to cry
characters reuniting with someone whom they thought were dead
FOREHEAD KISSES
F O R E H E A D T O U C H E S
I love characters that are completely harmless until they finally unleash their power and then they’re TERRIFYING
i talk a big game about enemies-to-lovers but i’ve only just now begun considering the possibilities of friends-to-enemies-to-lovers. they were friends. there was a BETRAYAL. now they’re enemies. but then… they fall in love… maximum potential for pining… achieved
if you guys have characters but no plot just put them in a scenario where they suffer the absolute most and you’re set
"he said you were so beautiful it made him shudder"
"I thought I might be able to see something I couldn't before"
the kitchen in autumn
instagram | twitter | shop | commission info
Hi! I'm Kit I write and occasionally do other stuff
130 posts