Writing advice?
Apr. 13th, 2021 09:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luzulaSo, I am generally not a fan of the thing where people kill off one half of a canon couple so they can get their ship together. I'm wondering if what I am contemplating doing is too close to that, even if the character is an original character, or if it is in general just too convenient for the plot. I already have a great beta reader for this story, but I just wanted more input on it...it's a general question which doesn't really depend on knowledge of the fandom.
Here's the set-up in my fic (it's the mid-18th century): Ewen and Alison are married, but they both also have another lover with the other's knowledge and permission. Ewen has Keith, and Alison has Catherine (an original character). Alison and Catherine met and became lovers when they were young together in Paris, but then both had to get married for social reasons. Alison was lucky enough to meet someone she actually fell in love with and ended up in a happy marriage, but Catherine's marriage is loveless. Her husband has a mistress on the side (without asking Catherine about it) and Alison and Catherine revive their relationship, which is conducted through many years of correspondence and occasional visits. Catherine's husband never finds out - he's away traveling a lot.
So, here is my question: can I have Catherine's husband die in the Seven Years' War, after they've been married fifteen years or so, and after 120K of fic? Obviously I would be doing this because I want Alison and Catherine to be together, although it's not like all the obstacles between them would magically disappear. One reason to do it is because I want a balance in the fic so that it's not dominated by one character or relationship, but contains a mix of development for all four main characters and their relationships. And this would definitely lead to character development for Catherine, because she would have to navigate becoming a widow etc. If I could think of another plot element that would contribute equally to developing both Catherine as a character and Alison and Catherine's relationship, I guess I might do that instead! But I haven't yet.
I suppose it isn't really parallel to the case where someone kills off one half of a canon couple, because Catherine's husband is a minor original character in the story and I don't believe the reader is going to be invested in him. But I'm worried that the reader would consider it just too convenient and wish-fulfilling a thing. What do you think?
Here's the set-up in my fic (it's the mid-18th century): Ewen and Alison are married, but they both also have another lover with the other's knowledge and permission. Ewen has Keith, and Alison has Catherine (an original character). Alison and Catherine met and became lovers when they were young together in Paris, but then both had to get married for social reasons. Alison was lucky enough to meet someone she actually fell in love with and ended up in a happy marriage, but Catherine's marriage is loveless. Her husband has a mistress on the side (without asking Catherine about it) and Alison and Catherine revive their relationship, which is conducted through many years of correspondence and occasional visits. Catherine's husband never finds out - he's away traveling a lot.
So, here is my question: can I have Catherine's husband die in the Seven Years' War, after they've been married fifteen years or so, and after 120K of fic? Obviously I would be doing this because I want Alison and Catherine to be together, although it's not like all the obstacles between them would magically disappear. One reason to do it is because I want a balance in the fic so that it's not dominated by one character or relationship, but contains a mix of development for all four main characters and their relationships. And this would definitely lead to character development for Catherine, because she would have to navigate becoming a widow etc. If I could think of another plot element that would contribute equally to developing both Catherine as a character and Alison and Catherine's relationship, I guess I might do that instead! But I haven't yet.
I suppose it isn't really parallel to the case where someone kills off one half of a canon couple, because Catherine's husband is a minor original character in the story and I don't believe the reader is going to be invested in him. But I'm worried that the reader would consider it just too convenient and wish-fulfilling a thing. What do you think?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-15 06:05 pm (UTC)