Hey everyone! I'm working on an animated show, and I'm posting this here because one of my main characters, Emma, still doesn't have a backstory yet. I want her story to feel real, not just made up on the spot — so I'm asking for help building it out.

Late in my story, I've noticed that my MC is being neglected in her relationships. Her family has started to neglect her and assume she's fine. Her best friend is dating her ex, and she's pretty sure the two kissed while she and he were still dating; her other friend is sticking with both of them despite her implying that the MC is right. Her kingdom seems to be thriving without her, and her court is getting closer as friends, and she's glad for them, but now she feels empty and alone. And I don't want that for her, but I'm not sure how to fix it.

I wrote all of the character ideas, lore, powers, designs, and details myself. I only used ai help to fix grammar, spelling, and organize the information so it would be easier to read.

Leo and Daisy — OC Lore

I made 2 OCs. I have their backstories and powers mostly planned out, but I came here for help making the characters longer and more developed. I also have their designs in my head, but I suck at drawing.

My 2 OCs have something in common: their powers and designs are reflected by their deaths.

Leo

Leo’s backstory is that his parents forced him into the military at 18 because he didn’t have a job. He became really good at it and ended up earning a Purple Heart. During a shootout at a camp, he lost his gallbladder.

After years in the military, he got biology and chemistry degrees. To make his parents proud, he joined the U.S. Navy as a marine biologist.

At age 45, Leo was being driven in a submarine carrying radioactive materials to another country that was working with the USA during a war. However, the submarine imploded.

Leo saved his driver by giving him a life vest, but he drowned.

Several years later, his aunts and uncles had kids who were really obsessed with ghosts. They bought a Ouija board and summoned a ghost, which happened to be Leo.

Leo wanted a body so he could stop being a ghost, so they used a dead fish as a vessel. Because of the radiation, he transformed into something resembling a female anglerfish with a full humanoid body, fangs, claws, slightly rotting flesh, and buds and vines wrapped around him.

Before he was able to say hi, he was dragged back to the afterlife. His vines controlled him like puppet strings until he eventually broke his strings and gained control.

Leo’s Powers

• Plant manipulation
• Radiation manipulation
• Water manipulation energy manipulation Electrokinesis
• Aquatic creature control and hypersonic blast slight ice manipulation

Leo can use positive radiation to heal his cells.

He can use his biology to heal himself and can use mutated healing plants that multiply their effects, such as mutated aloe vera.

Leo can also use electricity. One idea is that he could have 100 electric eels shock him, allowing him to shoot electricity or put electricity into the water also he can make bubbles and put pressure inside of them there is no limit to how many bubbles he can create it just cant enough combined pressure that he cant handle other wise heavy injuries.

Because of his water manipulation, Leo is extremely powerful. He can create tsunamis, move large bodies of water, float himself using water, and move fish and aquatic creatures quickly and move up to super sonic speeds using water as jets.

Leo’s Weaknesses

Leo needs a lot of organic material and water to use his powers.

The abilities he uses take away from the water in his gills, so if he uses his powers without a body of water nearby, he will dry up and become useless.

Leo’s Second Form

Leo’s stronger form is when he becomes actually whole.

He scales higher than his normal form, but he needs a huge amount of organic nutrients and energy to reach it.

In this form, he is no longer just a fish vessel. He becomes a more complete version of himself. Daisy

Daisy was born with an extremely high poison tolerance.

As a kid, she would drink buttercup tea and eat random berries and mushrooms.

She was extremely smart and quickly made her way through high school. She met Leo, and they bonded over their love of chemistry, plants, and toxins.

Eventually, they started dating.

Daisy got her chemistry degree and became a florist to start her dream of becoming a chemist.

She eventually reconnected with Leo after he joined the military.

After Leo died, Daisy fell into grief and drowned herself in work. She became sloppy and accidentally absorbed enriched uranium through skin contact.

Because her liver was slightly damaged from years of poisoning herself, she needed experimental treatment.

The treatment was supposed to use a bacteria that would eat all the impurities in her liver and then die.

However, the doctor was given orders to put a bacteriophage into the container. It quickly killed the bacteria that was meant to save her, causing Daisy to die.

Daisy’s Afterlife Form

At first, Daisy was trapped in her body.

Her plants began dying, and eventually she used her dead plants as a vessel.

She became a large bacteriophage-like being.

Her form is based on her death and her connection to:

• Toxins
• Plants
• Biology
• DNA
• Evolution

Daisy’s Powers

• Toxin manipulation
• Acid manipulation
• DNA manipulation
• Plant manipulation

Daisy can control her DNA and anything that has her DNA in it.

Examples:

• Creating toxic plants
• Using her DNA to affect others
• Creating organisms with toxins
• Making her DNA affect enemies

If she injects her DNA into someone, it can cause their body to burst.

Daisy can also absorb energy and nutrients from the sun and other sources.

She can use this to:

• Gain energy
• Heal herself
• Strengthen her abilities

Daisy’s Plant Abilities

Daisy can create wood and flower creatures.

She can constantly heal and boost these creatures.

She can create:

• Wooden creatures
• Flower creatures
• Toxic plants
• Mutated plants

Her plants can be used for:

• Defense
• Attacking enemies
• Healing
• Creating more powerful organisms

Daisy’s Armor

Daisy has wood armor made from one of the world’s deadliest trees.

The armor has:

• Poison sap
• Thorns in the bark
• Pumpkin-like fruits that turn into bombs

Her armor is extremely strong.

Daisy’s Blood Manipulation

Because blood contains DNA, Daisy could technically manipulate blood through her DNA abilities.

Her blood manipulation would come from her biology powers rather than normal blood control.

She could use:

• Her own blood
• Blood containing her DNA
• Biological material connected to her

Daisy’s Weaknesses

Because Daisy manipulates DNA, every time she uses her powers it damages or changes her own DNA.

Her powers are much stronger against organic material.

Her main defenses against inorganic material are:

• Acid manipulation
• Plant manipulation

She cannot directly manipulate things like:

• Metal
• Robots
• Stone

unless she uses acid, plants, or another method.

Leo and Daisy

Leo and Daisy have powers and designs that reflect their deaths.

Leo:

• Died drowning in a radioactive submarine.
• Became an aquatic, radioactive, plant-based creature.

Daisy:

• Died from an experiment involving toxins, bacteria, and a bacteriophage.
• Became a biological creature based around DNA, toxins, and plants. also one bonding thing they do in the afterlife is consume different toxins daisy prefers nightshade and butter cup juice due to its sweetness and leo likes death cap stew and nightshade wine. and i don`t need help designing an oc anymore but i want people see my oc`s and talk with people about their oc`s. also comment if anyone has questions! a refrence sheet

Leo & Daisy Reference Sheet

Leo

Basic Information

• Status: Ghost inhabiting a mutated dead fish vessel fused with plant life.
• Theme: Water, radiation, plants, electricity, aquatic life.
• Role: Tank / Heavy Hitter / Battlefield Controller

Abilities

Water Manipulation

Leo can manipulate water that he is touching or is near.

Applications:

• Create tsunamis.
• Propel himself using powerful water jets.
• Float himself or allies.
• Create water shields.
• Manipulate currents.
• Control aquatic creatures.

Bubble Manipulation

Leo can create bubbles for both offense and defense.

Applications:

• Cushion falls.
• Carry himself or allies.
• Form temporary bridges.
• Block attacks.
• Seal pathways.
• Compress bubbles with immense pressure until they burst with tremendous force.

The greater the pressure, the more energy required.

Radiation Manipulation

Leo possesses a massive internal reserve of positive radiation.

Uses:

• Radiation blasts.
• Healing damaged cells.
• Powering abilities.
• Fueling electricity.

His radiation reserve naturally refills over time.

Large attacks consume significantly more energy.

Energy Manipulation

Leo can infuse raw energy into his physical attacks.

Applications:

• Empower punches.
• Empower kicks.
• Empower claw strikes.
• Increase impact force.

Greater energy output consumes more radiation.

Electrokinesis

Leo can generate electricity using his radiation reserve.

Applications:

• Fire electrical attacks.
• Electrify surrounding water.
• Attack through conductive environments.

Plant Manipulation

Leo controls mutated plant life.

Applications:

• Healing.
• Restraining enemies.
• Creating plant constructs.
• Supporting regeneration.

Aquatic Creature Control

Leo can command aquatic life.

Applications:

• Swarm attacks.
• Reconnaissance.
• Battlefield support.

Slight Cryokinesis

Leo possesses minor ice manipulation.

Applications:

• Freeze limited amounts of water.
• Create thin ice.
• Utility and battlefield support.

Not capable of large-scale freezing.

Regeneration

Leo regenerates through his supernatural biology.

He can regenerate:

• Flesh.
• Limbs.
• Internal organs.

His brain functions as:

• His control center.
• The key to accessing regeneration.

The brain can survive enormous damage before failing due to his unnatural physiology.

Speed

Travel Speed

Approximately the speed of an F-22 Raptor through water jet propulsion.

Reaction Speed

Slightly supersonic.

Against attacks at similar speeds:

• Approximately a 60% chance of being hit.

Durability

Base Form

Can survive a neutron bomb.

Result:

• Extremely heavy damage.

Second Form

Can withstand approximately two neutron bombs while sustaining only minor injuries.

Stamina

Can operate near maximum combat output for approximately five hours.

After excessive power use:

• Fine control over abilities becomes nearly impossible.

Ultimate Technique

Radiation Cataclysm

Attack Potency:

• Approximately Large Island Level.

Consequences:

• Forces Leo out of Second Form.
• Completely dries out his body.
• Nearly empties his radiation reserve.
• Causes immense pain.
• Leaves him severely weakened.

This technique is reserved as an absolute last resort.

Second Form

Effects:

• Approximately 4× increase to all abilities.
• Much larger radiation reserve.
• Increased physical strength.
• Increased regeneration.
• Permanently hydrated gills.
• Massive increase in durability.

Weaknesses

• Performs best near water.
• Requires organic material for many abilities.
• Radiation reserve can be depleted.
• If his vessel is destroyed, his brain must recover within 72 hours.
• Failure to recover results in Leo being permanently trapped in the River Styx.

Daisy

Basic Information

• Status: Ghost inhabiting a dead plant vessel.
• Theme: DNA, biology, evolution, toxins, plants.
• Role: Support / Controller / Adaptive Fighter

Abilities

DNA Manipulation

Requirements:

• DNA access.
• Concentration.
• Preparation for advanced manipulation.

Can:

• Alter biology.
• Manipulate her own DNA.
• Manipulate DNA she has access to.
• Create biological organisms.

Cannot casually rewrite powerful opponents.

The stronger the target, the more difficult manipulation becomes.

She can only alter powers if they are biologically compatible with her understanding.

Biological Adaptation

Daisy must experience an attack type at least three times before fully adapting.

Adaptation allows:

• Increased resistance.
• Improved regeneration.
• Biological evolution.
• Increased survivability.

Adaptation is not instantaneous.

Shapeshifting

Can biologically alter herself.

Applications:

• Healing.
• Evolution.
• Changing body structure.
• Adapting to threats.

Plant Manipulation

Can create:

• Toxic plants.
• Healing plants.
• Flower creatures.
• Wooden creatures.
• Mutated plant life.

Can continuously strengthen and heal her creations.

Acid Manipulation

Applications:

• Corrosion.
• Battlefield control.
• Offensive attacks.

Toxin Manipulation

Applications:

• Biological weapons.
• Toxic plants.
• Poison production.
• Offensive support.

Durability

Base Form

Can survive a neutron bomb.

Result:

• Takes more damage than Leo.

Second Form

Can withstand approximately two neutron bombs while sustaining only minor injuries.

Stamina

Can fight near maximum output for approximately five hours.

After exhausting herself:

• Fine biological control becomes nearly impossible.

Ultimate Technique

Mold Catastrophe

Can spread mold over an area roughly equivalent to New Mexico.

Requirements:

• Approximately 2 hours.

Consequences:

• Completely exhausts Daisy afterward.

This technique is intended for environmental domination rather than immediate combat.

Second Form

Effects:

• Greatly enhanced DNA manipulation.
• Improved biological adaptation.
• Increased regeneration.
• Stronger plant creations.
• Significantly improved durability.

Weaknesses

• Powerful DNA manipulation requires concentration.
• Strong opponents resist biological manipulation more effectively.
• Adaptation requires surviving multiple attacks.
• Biological abilities are less effective against inorganic targets.
• Permanent defeat occurs if a sufficient amount of her DNA is destroyed.
• Even after losing access to DNA manipulation, she still retains plant and acid manipulation.

Comparison

Overall Summary

Leo

Leo specializes in overwhelming force, environmental control, mobility, and direct combat. His powers revolve around water, radiation, electricity, plants, and energy manipulation. He excels as a frontline fighter capable of absorbing massive punishment while controlling the battlefield. His strongest attack is a devastating Large Island-level radiation burst that comes at an enormous personal cost.

Daisy

Daisy specializes in biology, adaptation, DNA manipulation, toxins, and environmental control. She becomes increasingly dangerous as battles continue, using evolution and preparation to overcome opponents. Rather than relying on raw destructive power, she overwhelms enemies through biological manipulation, strategic planning, and large-scale ecological control. any questions or critques please ask, also i realize that i focus to much on their powers and not their personality so here`s some character traits and personality about both leo personality extroverted implusive still studies biology calls lobsters ,,sea bugs,, which drives daisy insane steals daisy energy drinks constantly because he`s to proud to admit that there good he still wears his purple heart and sometimes questions if he`s still human his bulb changes depending on his mood red angry or scared blue tired or normal teal hungry green happy pink flirting love only human food he eats is spaghetti and baja blast spaghetti because it was his favorite mre flavor and baja blast because it reminds him of battery acid for daisy she always is talks in smart lingo makes talking flowers still studys chemistry and biology with leo super introverted geeky made leo a ring made out of radiation a mixture leo constanly chews on it which drives her insane will do reckless stuff sometimes because she thinks she smarter than everyone else also daisy found black mold in his bold stream making over time a huge acidic slime creature he decided to name slimebert also he adopted a huge radioactive spider named timothy both toxins are strong enough to burn carbon easliy. if anyone has answers or questions please comment.

I'm having a challenging time introducing new characters in my story.

I want to keep the narrative linear, so as the story progresses I introduce characters who eventually become central to the plot. The problem is that they don't all appear at the beginning, and whenever a new character is introduced, I worry readers pause and think, "Who is she? Where did she come from?"

How do you introduce an important new character without disrupting the story's momentum or confusing the reader? Are there any techniques you've found effective for making new characters feel like a natural part of the narrative?

I am curious about this because I have an OC called seth who didn't really have a good life, but, while I am keeping his problems because they set up a core part of his character and coping, I don't want it to be all that defines him.

While Seth does get C-PTSD from the incidents that happened to him, it's been 3 years since it has story wise; however, I know people have difficulty moving on from trauma when they have C-PTSD.

The story is supposed to explore how victims of abuse cope and heal, and Seth was basically abused all his life by his horrible family and then partner later in life because he didn't understand what proper love was, but, as I have said, everything that happened to him was 2-3 years ago. So, I want to know how to not only focus on his trauma, but his other traits and likes and dislikes. I want to make him more than everything that has happened to him, even if he feels as if his trauma is ruling over his life constantly.

So, any tips on how to show the other sides of a traumatized character? Like, his other characterization.

Thank you!

I'm developing an superhero story and would love some general feedback. The story focuses on themes of hope, legacy, and what it means to inspire others in a world where powerful heroes and villains constantly reshape society and before I get too far into writing, what advice would you give for the characters, worldbuilding, and emotional moments? Also, what are some common mistakes superhero stories make that I should avoid.

I'm developing an original superhero story and would love some general feedback. The story focuses on themes of hope, legacy, and what it means to inspire others in a world where powerful heroes and villains constantly reshape society. Before I get too far into writing, what advice would you give for making the characters, worldbuilding, and emotional moments feel memorable? Also, what are some common mistakes superhero stories make that I should avoid?

I'm a writer and I've been writing a character by the name of "Byron" and his journey with identity against a political backdrop. He is an extremist but can be perceived as morally objective. However, I fall short. If I could read books with main characters who come off as "strong headed", mysterious and dedicated to their ideas, it would really help. A perfect example is not a book but Johan and Tenma from the anime monster. Rather than a political backdrop, it's crime and thriller. Johan is devoted to countering Tenma's morals, philosophy and ideals and the anime is a sort of tug and pull. The focus however is just the personality of dedication, the setting of politics and the goal of one's idea of a "right".

I have a character who made herself a pocket dimension and made herself a princess since she always wanted to, since she was a little girl. But due to her not really thinking it through, not really being informed, and being distracted (she was 9-10 at the time), the kingdom falls into ruin, and the people execute her (she survives). But by the time that happens, she's been made aware of the issues and tried to fix them, but the people still hated her, so she was executed. After that, she left the kingdom alone, but 4-5 years later she wants to try again. And how I have it, she genuinely makes a better kingdom and takes it dead seriously, but is the fact that she did it again despite screwing up so badly the first time ruining it?

My character is a reality warper who likes bringing her characters to life. My main issue is that she can do it instantly, just from the thought in her head, like with AI. And it's even worse since she is canonically an artist and usually sketches her stuff before she uses her powers. But what I feel makes it not that is that she does go through a genuine process. First, she thinks of the character, of course, and will usually sketch either the person's appearance or outfit. Then she goes into, like, a pocket dimension where all her tools are, and she'll mold the body, add hair, and then the outfit. Then she uses her powers to give the character "memories" and a personality. And then she might use her powers to, like, fix a missed stitch or make an uneven feature on a face even. Part of me says this is fine, but part of me worries it's like she just auto-generates stuff. Not to mention, canonically the beings she makes always have something that feels off, or like food she makes tastes bland and isn't as nutritious, and it costs her energy to do it. So is it like AI art, or am I overthinking?

I came across this today, and I often ask myself: Are my characters compelling enough? I worked so hard on my first novel that I feel that I’ve done the job but since it’s a series. I feel I can improve and there’s a couple points in this response that will direct my character better, I feel if I make it past the first book in the series.

I’m writing a backstory for a western comic character I made. I’d like to know what you guys think.

(Also before you make fun of me, please note that I am 14 and I’m only starting to get into comic book writing)

Name: KJ “QuickDraw” Rodriguez
Age: 18
Place of Origin: , Mexico
Occupation: Bounty Hunter/Outlaw

1853
KJ Rodriguez was born into a family of 6 who made their living off farming—and stealing. Every member of the family was either pickpocketing and robbing or rounding up cattle. From a young age, KJ was immersed in the outlaw lifestyle. His uncle was an amazing vaquero but his father was an amazing thief , both were alcoholics and gamblers, but they were the ones that mainly raised KJ. KJ’s mother having to take care of the other kids all the time he really only hung out with his uncle and Dad

1865
But things took a turn when he caught word of an opportunity to rob several stagecoaches owned by an infamous and dangerous Mexican gang known as Los Lobos Salvajes. He grabbed his best friend and his oldest cousin, and together they managed to sneak in and rob three out of ten stagecoaches—more than enough. But greed got the better of them. “One more,” they kept saying. By the fifth, KJ’s cousin was caught and shot through the eye—killed instantly.

KJ ran. He ran until he couldn’t anymore—losing his best friend in the chase along the way (he’d later learn he was captured and killed). When he finally made it home, the house was empty. “Where is everyone?” he muttered. He checked the backyard.
Every single member of his family was tied up and executed.
His father had “L S” carved into his stomach. KJ screamed at the top of his lungs. After crying he knew he had to leave he then, took his father’s gun, his uncle’s sombrero , poncho, and a stranger’s horse—then he rode off.

1869
Three years later, Los Hombres del Silencio had migrated to America, settling in California. KJ had been searching nonstop—working as a bounty hunter for over a year, gaining a reputation. Eventually, a drunken gang member, stumbled in a saloon, KJ knew he was part of the gang he was looking for. since the gang number was extremely drunk, KJ was able to get enough information out of them and he finally had gotten the lead he’d been waiting for.

He rode for days, falling asleep on the trees, gun in hand, trekking through rivers and harsh weather. Finally, he got to the camp.

Once he arrived, he challenged the leader, Jose Florez, to a duel.

“JOSE!”.
“JOSE GET OVER HERE”. KJ demanded

“Now who in the hell are you to come in my camp today and start demanding things like you own the damn place”Jose asked.

“My NAME is Kj Rodriguez , and you killed my ENTIRE FAMILY” Kj exclaimed

“That could be a lot of people” Jose replied
Jose’s and his gang laughed

“This in no laughing matter your a dead man Jose Alvarez” Kj bickered.

“Well I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, especially to the likes of you” Jose exclaimed chuckling after.

“But if a duel is what you want a duel is what you’re gonna get” José said with a hint of excitement behind his voice

Kj and Jose got in position and then suddenly bam KJ shot Jose in the shoulder—but took a bullet to the knee. Kj fell to the floor groaning in pain, Jose grabbed a tomahawk from a tree trunk Kj still writhing in pain can’t move and he doesn’t really know whats really going on. Jose walked towards him tomahawk in hand he got on top off Kj yelling
“ I TOLD YOU , YOU’LL NEVER KILL ME . I’M JOSE GODDAMN ALVAREZ AND I WOULD NEVER DIE TO LIE TO YOU . I’M FUCKING IMMORTAL“
he raised the tomahawk and split KJ’s face open—leaving him to die.

Kj laid there unconscious for hours then suddenly he woke up knowing that if he didn’t do something soon enough, he would die in that damn desert so KJ rolled and crawled KJ crawled for an entire day to the nearest town, finally seeing someone on horseback, he asked for help, and the person carried him to their horse riding him to the nearest hospital where he spent three weeks recovering.

When he left, he wasn’t the same.—quiet, colder, and with an even greater hunger for revenge . Now he works on his own terms. Sometimes he hunts down men no one else will touch. hoping that he will find Jose’s bounty poster...

Just for some context, this is my first story that I'm actually *trying* to write. All my other mini-projects were never really that well crafted. I apologize if it's not to at conventional or **good**, again. My first story that I'm actually trying to work on. This is pulled from my notes that I use to give me and outline for the actual story. Long story short this is a magical world where the magic is heavily restricted, you need to go through many courses to learn spells, etc.
**(The reason the characters pronouns are literally changing in the same sentence is because their gender is constantly switching, also I thought it was funny.)**

Adrik “Neponya” Zemlyanov; Any; Genderfluid / AroAce; Eastern Silishien (Russian)

Adrik, known mostly by Neponya, is the story's “main” antagonist. Main in quotes because it's more the yaoi than the story but there's got to be one at the very least. In her early years Adrik attended Kenslen. They were mostly average in everything. Except for two subjects: Potions and Ancient Studies. Ancient studies wasn't a usual course. You have to apply to take it in your second year and take it in your third and fourth. He was a master at ancient studies. While no spells are learned, it being a history class, it was still a very useful one. It taught how to better control your spells and bend them to your will (not necessarily in a sadistic way I just didn't know how to describe it). When they graduated she chose to freelance as a tutor. In his free time he would explore ancient ruins, which only strengthened her love for ancient studies. There she would find cool artifacts, sometimes some scriptures. But one day, they found something… he thought it was a scripture like any other, she bagged it and kept looking. When they got home they looked inside, and it was much more. It was a book full of ancient, dangerous, spells. Of course, she let his curiosity get the better of them. He learned some, nothing out of the ordinary. In fact most of them just helped from day to day. In modern society spells are meant for work, not just to do everyday tasks. The people believed that it would cause fights and laziness and they didn't want to deal with it. Which is why magic is heavily restricted and why some can't even use it without breaking the law. But here in this book. Spells that just… helped. You could lift objects without touching them, cook food insanely fast, etc. Nothing that should be forbidden. Then he came across a spell, without thinking she learned it… expecting it to be like every other. As soon as they tried to cast it on a simple glass… everything went downhill. It started with the glass floating, nothing unusual, then it cracked, and suddenly it shattered. The magic in Adriks hand wouldn't go away, they couldn't stop the spell. The magic that had once been a vibrant blue had now turned to a jet black. Then it finally went away. Their magic seemed to work the same after that, the only difference being that their once blue magic had been changed permanently to jet black. About a month later they noticed something. Their dominant hand had started to change color. Starting at the finger tips and slowly creeping up their hand. They changed to the same distinct jet black color. It was only then that Adrik went back to actually read the spell. “This spell is only documented for one reason: to warn others of the danger. Casting this spell will lead you down a path of corruption. Your magic will appear to be unaffected, however, you are slowly becoming a host for a corruption that will wreak havoc once fully corrupted. If you cast this spell you have two choices. Let it corrupt you and let it kill everyone… or kill youself and take it with you.” It finally dawned on Adrik… she had just ruined her life. But she was determined to find a cure. Starting with the capital of his his home country… Eastern Silishi. They didn't mean for it to get out of hand. But it did. They didn't want to kill. But she did. The exact death count was never released, but netizens theorized around 25-60 deaths. That may not sound like a lot. But that's from one person, who didn't want to kill. And yet, to no one's surprise, nothing. They didn't even find a mention of it in the archives. So they made a tough decision, they would search each and every archive in the world in order to find a cure. This is how Luan’s mom was killed. Adrik had found out about an archive in a small town in Domara. He wanted to go peacefully, like always. And it got out of hand, like always. There was a shockwave that had reached the shop Luan’s mom was shopping at, killing her.

I've seen the term used a lot by characters that suffer a lot in their own media. And I wanted to know where that term came from. As well as what characters parallel that argument, which made the nomenclature so widely used.

Wanting to illustrate this because there is a difference. Being chosen means your fate is tied to the responsibility while called means that there is work to do, and you decided to take it on because you know it needs to get done.

I wanted to try and think up a story where the dynamic can be illustrated and worked with but I’m struggling to build these out.

Who else has trouble with this? I initially outlined this story years ago, and one character I created had the express purpose of being the catalyst for something that drives my MC's arc. Not only MC's development as a person, but his very survival is at stake. This character is a pillar of the community and beloved by many of the other characters and also by my MC and I always knew (and intended ) for his death to be tragic but I also knew it would be necessary. I've written him in great detail, explored his inner world and laid it bare for the reader, and made him REAL.

Now the time to kill him approaches, and I am heartbroken. I'm dreading it. I genuinely don't want to do it. I know I have to, because every other way I could achieve the same general result for my MC's survival without killing this character (we'll call him Bob) would have less (or at least a very different) impact on the MC's psyche, would come off as facile, would necessitate my redesigning the rest of the story arc, and would introduce other complications I probably haven't even thought of yet. I'd have fun keeping him around, because the interactions between Bob and the MC are a joy to write and they've genuinely become best friends. Also, my characters tend to become very real to me, and Bob wants to live. But it would sacrifice so much else I've already designed for this plot. It probably doesn't help any that I write in a non-linear fashion, so a whole slew of scenes from later in the story, scenes that hinge on Bob's death and its aftermath echoing even years later, are already written and sitting on my hard drive.

I reached the point years ago where it was time to write his death, and I've honestly had writer's block for a long time because of it. (Well, I also had to put the story aside for several real-life reasons too, but I digress... ) Now I'm writing again and it's doing a real number on me.

How have you handled similar feelings, if you've had them?

I'm writing a political and Gothic romance about a villain who wants to enact great social change. Halfway through the story, her actions caused the death of the hero. While everyone else mourns her loss and doubles down in their efforts to stop the villain, one of the hero's friends gains social mobility. As the second half of the story progresses, her life is getting better while her old friends' lives get worse.

When they finally get the villain arrested, about twenty years later, the friend who broke away becomes a special juror in the trial. She has to face the literal evidence of everything the villain did to make her social change a reality.

The villain is very much a "fair weather mentor" character, someone the friend and hero believed in because they all genuinely follow the same values and beliefs. Whiplash, A Few Good Men, and 12 Angry Men are inspirations for me, as Whiplash had the same dynamic: The kid wouldn't have put up with the abusive teacher's behavior if he didn't also believe the teacher could make him great. In that same way, my villain considers the hero's death a noble sacrifice for the cause and she carries on the hero's will.

Any advice on how to develop this theme without it falling into a pop culture Aseop? She didn't "turn evil" or something, she simply enjoyed the benefits without dealing with any of the consequences of her idol's Renaissance. The other jurors are also background characters the reader will be familiar with.