I'd not considered looking back over my characters to see trends.
Though I have been doing that edit of Playing the Hero. In a lot of ways, my writing style hasn't changed much except to mature into a more concise form. However, my voice remains the same.
However, I have noticed that there are a lot of similarities between Reed Owen (Soulless Prince) and Vathion (PtH) in how they handle being busy and stressed out.
When I was writing PtH, I didn't realize that I was writing out a lot of my feelings about being low key neglected as a child. I had parents, but never really felt like they actually wanted me around, given how little attention I got. I felt like an outsider because we were always moving. I didn't have any friends until 5th grade, and then I clung on too tight, driving people away. Vathion and Reed are playing that out again in my stories, and at least with Reed, I am aware of the themes I'm putting into him as I write. Vathion's edit is only going to make his issues worse.
At the same time, though, Vathion and Reed also have quite a bit of that Macho Run Straight to Action. Though I'm not sure if it's toxic or just tragic. Reed's is definitely self-destructive. He's used to getting beaten, so throws himself between abusers and victim to take the hit, thinking that somehow this is ok. Because he's used to it. No one in his story thinks this is ok except him. But what can they do to stop him. Especially when it's them he's saving.
Vathion just thinks he's smart. So all his decisions are "pretty good" if not "perfect" and in my edit, I'm not going to change that, because that's totally how a 16yr old thinks.
Honestly, though, I think there is plenty of room for characters like Kirk, and William Pearson. Though I think you went a bit harder on William than necessary sometimes. He was trying to do his best. Even if he wasn't good at it. I never suggested dialing it back when I was editing, though, since William Fucking it Up Again was an integral part of the story. If William didn't fuck it up again, the plot wouldn't move forward. Sometimes you need to throw a hammer in the dryer.
Though I have been doing that edit of Playing the Hero. In a lot of ways, my writing style hasn't changed much except to mature into a more concise form. However, my voice remains the same.
However, I have noticed that there are a lot of similarities between Reed Owen (Soulless Prince) and Vathion (PtH) in how they handle being busy and stressed out.
When I was writing PtH, I didn't realize that I was writing out a lot of my feelings about being low key neglected as a child. I had parents, but never really felt like they actually wanted me around, given how little attention I got. I felt like an outsider because we were always moving. I didn't have any friends until 5th grade, and then I clung on too tight, driving people away. Vathion and Reed are playing that out again in my stories, and at least with Reed, I am aware of the themes I'm putting into him as I write. Vathion's edit is only going to make his issues worse.
At the same time, though, Vathion and Reed also have quite a bit of that Macho Run Straight to Action. Though I'm not sure if it's toxic or just tragic. Reed's is definitely self-destructive. He's used to getting beaten, so throws himself between abusers and victim to take the hit, thinking that somehow this is ok. Because he's used to it. No one in his story thinks this is ok except him. But what can they do to stop him. Especially when it's them he's saving.
Vathion just thinks he's smart. So all his decisions are "pretty good" if not "perfect" and in my edit, I'm not going to change that, because that's totally how a 16yr old thinks.
Honestly, though, I think there is plenty of room for characters like Kirk, and William Pearson. Though I think you went a bit harder on William than necessary sometimes. He was trying to do his best. Even if he wasn't good at it. I never suggested dialing it back when I was editing, though, since William Fucking it Up Again was an integral part of the story. If William didn't fuck it up again, the plot wouldn't move forward. Sometimes you need to throw a hammer in the dryer.