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My characters better not if they know what’s good for them.

Hmm.. maybe I’m just too cynical (I am getting old now!), but I believe that characters, like people, are mostly selfish. That’s the most realistic flaw you can write into any character, whether they’re yours or not. Sure, they all have moments of altruistic selflessness, as do we all, but I really think at the end of the day the great majority of the world goes around thinking about itself. And usually in quite a small way too, rather than master!villain selfishness. ie. worrying what other people think is probably pretty high up there for most people. Sad but true. I don’t exclude myself from that either. Whether a character is redeemable or not (let’s imagine they have a more major flaw for a moment) is an entirely different kettle of fish. I don’t think the two are necessarily connected. Bad things happen to good people, the same as they happen to bad people, and vice versa. Doesn’t mean anything. Doesn’t make them better, or worse, than they were before said event. I like irony. I like it when characters doom themselves in surprising ways, and make traps for themselves, sometimes millennia in the making, and they still don’t see it coming. That satisfies my evil muse. The problem with redemption is that it’s largely a mythical concept. Kind of like: everywhere you go, there you are. You can’t escape yourself. No character is redeemable in that sense. Ok, so a character could maybe stop doing a load of despicable stuff like murder, rape, dismemberment etc. But unless they’ve had some kind of drastic conversion that’s changed them completely into someone else, underneath they’re still pretty much the same dickhead, they’re just.. well.. dry drunk. Sorry, I can’t think of any other easier, short way to describe it. And then there’s the outside world, and how that can interact, because characters don’t live in a vaccuum. I said I like irony. The redemption of characters can be argued for or against, but if they then go and damn themselves via what is generally supposed to be one of their “good” qualities – what then? Or better still, if on the path to some kind of “redemption” they’ve gotten hold of the very instrument of their doom… then what? If the character really deserves their fate, taking into account everything they’ve done, isn’t that kind of balancing? Sorry if I wandered off topic a little. I tend to do that a bit.

So, none of us here is redeemable?

I think my cat was bitten by a spider, but the tough old bastard somehow survived.

Here’s a good piece of article on how to write character flaws.

Ok… I have a strange short chapter ten with a kind of important (but quite sad Clegane/Tormund scene). I’ll see if I can read through it before I head on up to bed. And I think I’m going to have to let it settle until the morning. The important bit is fine, it’s the rest that’s trouble. I’m off to bed! *yawns*

And… Chapter Nine – enjoy!

awww thanks guys, I really mean that. So other than it being wet rainy and cold, , its good to be home LOL. Have started writing again but slowly, amazing how hard it is to get back in the groove when you stop for a few months. Oh well, not like we’re in a hurry right What “we” are in a hurry for is getting your family settled in AND health back to 100 percent again.THEN we’ll start bugging both of you for more chapters in yor gripping stories. B

awww thanks guys, I really mean that. So other than it being wet rainy and cold, , its good to be home LOL. Have started writing again but slowly, amazing how hard it is to get back in the groove when you stop for a few months. Oh well, not like we’re in a hurry right so just wanna give a shout out to anyone in Texas or Florida, keeping you in our thoughts and hoping everything turns out well. I rode Katrina out so I know how horrible it is, not just the storm but putting the pieces together afterwards. Stay strong, you may no believe it, but it will get better.

I am glad everyone is alright. Taking a break from all things is sometimes just what the doctor ordered—Just know you were missed very much and welcome back. I am glad you relaxed. You and your family needed it.

I, too,heard from her and basicly the same thing. Can’t fault them for some alone time. HOWEVER, DA, 10 lashes with a wet noodle for no heads up. B

Family absolutely has to come first, and I’m delighted your absence was for all the right reasons. I’ll stop fretting quietly now.

Well, if you were a programmer, I’d suggest changing the numbering system… what value do you want it to be?

thanks guys and I’m not older, I’m a classic

As my mother’s said, it’s better to be over the hill than under it.

thanks DP, I am officially old but not to old

i am embarrassed that I haven’t wished everyone a happy new year earlier. I do hope that you entire family has a wonderful AND profitable year. Profit is not just measured in dollars. B

Happy New Year everyone. I hope this finds you and yours as happy and excited to greet the new year as my little family is, It’s been an eventful year past with some really emotional extremes: my beautiful baby girl, Steve’s illness just to mention a few. I have to admit there were times I wasn’t sure I’d make it. But with the support of friends and family we persevered, and that include everyone here; there were a lot of shoulders I cried on here and I can’t tell you how much that helped me keep my sanity together so for all the AFF family, a very heartfelt thank you from us all and especially me. I hope everyone’s new year is a good one, so with that let me wish you again HAPPY NEW YEAR!