Dear Protagonist and Her Fearless Band of Followers Friends,
Wait, what? You want to defeat the giant killer scorpion WITHOUT killing it?
No, no. it’s totally doable. I … I like the way you think. Giant killer scorpions have feelings too.
No, really. I mean that unironically.
Mostly.
Me
That lovely moment in the story when a phone rings, and you let your character answer it so that
both of you can find out who’s on the other end.
Really, knowing where the story is going before you get there is overrated.
1
Meanwhile:
Dear Characters,
I’m sorry, but you cannot organize
yourselves into one
Leader and Four
Lancers.2
It just … doesn’t work that way.
Me
ETA:
Dear Group Leader,
I know, I know. You have to deal with this lot and you don’t even get the benefit of being the protagonist for your trouble.
Would it help if I gave you some angsty back story to make up for it?
Me
1Necessary disclaimer: For my writing process.
2If a Five-Man Band has one Leader and Four Lancers, does the Leader become the actual Lancer? 