[Cirias]

Just a quick one here. I'm struggling with a character in my current project. The others have slotted together nicely and feel like real people with dreams, fears and burdens to bear, but this one guy doesn't sit right with me.

This character is a one-time thief. He's never stolen before and he doesn't steal for monetary gain. He's only stolen one particular object, which he has craved for almost ten years. He's had to suffer along the way and has lost many who were very dear to him. He has a problem with eating as it reminds him of a childhood trauma and he is emaciated as a result.

At one point, this character was going to be mute and very much inside of himself. Then I altered this, gave him back his speech and instead toyed with the idea that he may be borderline autistic and unable to easily relate to others around him.

Now, I've reached the point where I'm not sure what would work best. I considered scrapping him as a main character and instead building him up to become an antagonist as the story progresses and someone who my other characters are all pursuing for various reasons. I have a supporting character who can easily be promoted to a main to end up with three characters all chasing this thief for their own reasons. Currently the main cast are two of the people who are pursuing the thief and the thief himself.

Sorry, it's not really been that quick, has it! What do you reckon? Is it more interesting to follow the thief whose only real desire is to hold onto this object for as long as possible and unlock all of its secrets or would it be more fun to follow his three pursuers whose separate storylines entangle as the plot progresses?

Thank you for your patience if you read all of this! Just to be clear, I'm curious on each of your views and am not asking anyone to help write my characters or story :D

[Teresa Edgerton]

There are so many stories about characters who are seeking some particular object (or objects) it sounds like it ought to be interesting for a change to read about the person who already has it and is trying to hold onto it.

But if he isn't working as a main character that doesn't really matter. Are some of the other characters clamoring to tell you their stories instead? That should be the main consideration.

[Window Bar]

Of course fantasy's quintessential thief is Gollum. As a villain, he's rather low grade, but dangerous. The Lord of the Rings simply wouldn't have been as interesting without him.

Vis-à-vis his actual theft of the ring, the action determines his life for the next couple of millennia. Tolkien's remarkable insight in writing this character was the constant monologue of rationalization -- he took the inner thoughts and vocalized them.

-- WB

[Kaeru]

Write the one you feel the strongest. That passion will carry over to your character/characters and will be the direction your readers will connect with most easily. I've always believed passion for your characters, your story is the most important element. Three characters, depending on how well written and how often divided, could be hard for your readers to follow. One character could turn out to be extremely dull depending on your love of that character. (Or hatred of that character) ... wow. A whole paragraph to say, your readers will feel your passion. With work, you can smooth out obstacles, but you cannot fake passion. Go with your heart. It's right.

[InfinityKgt]

To me the character seems too weak on all fronts. But i like strong, in your face type characters. Reading a book about a character that is unique is one thing but i would think he has to have one strong attribute to carry the story line whether he is the main or the antagonist. He needs to have something that will enable him to out run the people chasing him. Intelligence, speed, stealth etc. Right now it doesn't sound like he will give much of a chase unless it has to do with this item he has. It is an interesting character, similar to Gollum as mentioned earlier, but Gollum had his one thing that made him hard to catch. Stealth, with or with out the ring. Give him something to make him interesting to read about. A genius intellect or something of that nature. Just my 2 Cents. :)

[KatG]

I think an autistic main character would be great. But if the character is resisting that position in your mind, then Teresa's advice to switch is probably best. If you make him an antagonist, I would suggest making him a very sympathetic one. That is one of the reasons that Gollum is memorable.

[kmtolan]

I like the ancillary approach as well -this fellow is a good candidate for a secondary or antagonist role. Not sure I'd mute him.

Kerry