#SpoonieAuthChat Oct 15
I really don't know what makes a compelling hero. I don't write heros so I've never worried about it. I would think it's the same that makes any character compelling -- relatable, engaging, stand out from the crowd, that kind of thing.

A compelling hero? My go-to for heroes is the late author Dave Duncan. He wrote over 50 novels, and his various heroes always tried to be good guys considerate of children, old folks, women and more. None of that bad-guy-with-one-redeeming-feature stuff.
#SpoonieAuthChat

[2/2] he doesn't have to be perfect or prepared to be the one who steps up and does something. I think (hope) that makes our trio compelling because really, who among us is "perfectly prepared" to be a hero? Heroes can be the ones who are *there*.

#SpoonieAuthChat #WriteSky #MM:SOTH

I’m typically drawn by imperfect heroes who let me in where I know what they’re thinking. I love big personalities, and I love humour. But I also love those moments of vulnerability when you don’t know what they’re gonna do next. And I also love heroes who overcome their fears. #SpoonieAuthChat

Spoonie Authors Chat for writers who manage spoons, October 15, 2026;

What do you think makes an compelling hero?

(Please quote-post and add #SpoonieAuthChat!)

#SpoonieAuthChat

I do like villain characters, but they aren't the ones I gravitate towards when writing, so it's more so of a "try to obsess over this evil creechur" then a guilty pleasure 😅

It's not so much a guilty pleasure for writing villains...but when I write a villain, that's a VILLAIN. They've done wrong, on purpose, and know it.
Yeah, I might know how they're unhappy & desperate & trying one more thing to maybe win. But a villain.
#SpoonieAuthChat

#SpoonieAuthChat

Not guilty at all, I just plain love it.

Two of my primary genres are horror and cape, so compelling villains are a must.

Plus, the worse they are, the more room for catharsis in the end.

#SpoonieAuthChat Oct 14
Nope, not at all. In fact, I very rarely write villians. Most of my stories don't have a Big Bad. I enjoy reading a well done villian, but the kinds of stories I want to tell don't have much room for villiany in them.

I don't see it as a guilty pleasure so much as a fun exercise in how to craft villains readers might feel sympathetic toward. 😈

It's not really my fault they decide to be so interesting. (Seriously. I can't rein them in!)

#SpoonieAuthChat

I’m not sure! I do love outwitting them though! #SpoonieAuthChat

Spoonie Authors Chat for writers who manage spoons, October 14, 2026:

Do you have a guilty pleasure for writing villains?

(Please quote-post and add #SpoonieAuthChat!)

Adorbz!! #SpoonieAuthChat

#SpoonieAuthChat
Have to admit this isn't something I spend a lot of time thinking about.
The first thing I do when making a character is figure out what motivates them. What they want/move towards. Second thing I do is figure out how they will grow. Growing characters can't be one dimensional.

Happy to oblige =) #SpoonieAuthChat

#SpoonieAuthChat

I think it's a matter of making sure they're more than just an archetype and there being a unique trait not common with similar characters, like a certain personality quirk or how they interact with other characters

I love that! #SpoonieAuthChat

Lots of coffee and an editor I call She-Ra because she is a bada$$.😉 #SpoonieAuthChat

It helps having a mental fancast/face-claim in my head for all of my characters. That way they feel more human and not just like a character sheet. #SpoonieAuthChat

Mostly by exhaustive rubberducking with my witch.
#spoonieauthchat