@lockheartfiction.bsky.socialI use biases and assumptions to subvert expectations.
Half of Kellem's struggles become worse due to his biases in a pot meet kettle kinda way.
Rollan wants people to be inherently good to the point that he is easily manipulated. If he explains it just right, they might change.
@elwolfsblood.bsky.social#Sustember
Im deeply having a hard time answering this, Lunaris is extremely trusting but I don’t use that against them. If anything it spurs them forward. A candle doesnt realize how dark it is around them.
@norashear.bsky.socialTough question!
In No Sky Like Midnight, Paige doubts everyone's motives. That makes the tension worse when ppl have to save her, & leads to the big crisis moment. Leo is obnoxious & hates humans, so his reactions tend to be volatile (though never violent).
@maximejaz.bsky.social#Sustember
I don't know my characters when they start their story, so it's always exciting to put myself in their skin and discover how they are. They are often very different in every aspect. In my crime WIP, Nate seems almost slow and lost a bit, even if inside his mind is churning on his case.
@skarabraeauthor.bsky.socialWell, Dante tends to have a bias against himself. So, there's a lot of self-doubt.
@dichoro.bsky.socialMorvin's an ex-con and a street witch. She's not got the experience and patience to engage with 'proper' magical society. In a world where nobles are sorcerers, and court officials/the civil service are magically trained, this is a lot of people she can't fully understand.
@justsomephil.bsky.social#Sustember My current MC is sure that he can’t be hurt anymore, courtesy of his everything-proof skin – so no matter how many dangerous people he pisses off, it will always turn out great with no consequences for him, right? Right?
@nikibond.bsky.socialOh I definitely have fun with this~ Emily starts out with a very black-and-white mentality, and since she's been betrayed in the past, she's slow to trust--though she's also a friendly person, so she eases up before long. Still, it's her flaws that make her butt heads so much with Seth--
@amber-hathaway.bsky.socialOoh, in the 90s horror I'm revising, the MC and her love interest are both suspicious of the other person's trusted adult. Carrie is sure Pastor Abrams is keeping secrets while Tracy thinks Wiccan librarian Pat is up to no good. So we also get added tension between the characters.
@vampireantihero.comMy #Sustember answer -- This really depends on the character when we talk about how they react.
TFTNG, Acanthus, Austin, and Azalea lean towards suspicion. Cypress is gullible and too trusting.
S3, Rebecca tries to subtly dig for more information.
YP, Phoebe points a knife at the problem.
@vampireantihero.com#Sustember | 15
Halfway through! Let's talk biases!
Do they assume the worst in people? Do they falter when someone answers in an unexpected way? Are they too trusting?
How do you decide what their reaction is to the tension?
@skarabraeauthor.bsky.socialI tend to handle them with different tones and a lower level of suspense.
@trishcwilson.bsky.social#Sustember Sept 14: I write horror so suspense comes with the territory. I use humor as a tension breaker & then I slam readers over the head with dread and terror when they're least expected. I avoid expository info dumps since they slow the action down to a crawl and are BORING!
@norashear.bsky.socialIt's why I love writing horromance! The romance moments are so sweet, & placing them in between the suspense makes them simultaneously heartwarming & heart-wrenching.
In No Dream Like Forever, I've included lots of humor.
No Sky got extra lore & extra spice.