Do Imperfections Warrant Trigger Warnings?
Over the years I’ve focused on improving my craft, portraying my characters as nuanced. I’ve tried to make the good guys less than perfect and the bad guys multi-dimensional so they don’t come across as cartoonish, mustache-twisting villains but as real people who possess both good and bad qualities. When I started writing back in my twenties, I was accused of lacking a subtlety of voice, and so this is something I’ve tried to develop. I don’t want my stories or my characters to be too “on point”.
Unfortunately, what some consider strong writing craft and good literature, others find off-putting. Layering a character, portraying him with a negative internal monologue or casting him as cynical in his attitude or world view, causes some readers to outright hate that character. And if a character lacks empathy or is unaware or unconcerned with the struggles of others, some readers become insulted or infuriated. If the thoughts and dialogue of the character run counter to the view of the reader, in some cases the reader becomes uncomfortable and even angry or hurt.
