Research Question--Rated PG13/R post

[Stacey Sweeney]

Sorry about the rating on my post, but I don't want to offend anyone and I'm not sure if kids/teens are allowed on this site.

What do you guys do when you have a character or situation and you aren't sure it's ringing true? I'm having trouble phrasing that the way I mean, but in the story I'm currently writing, I have a few things going on that I'm not sure are realistic.

I have a character who starts out wanting the main character. His name is Dan, hers is Skyler. Well, Dan is fantasizing about Skyler, getting a hard on whenever he's around her, etc. He then changes his obsession to a character named Melissa. He and Melissa actually begin dating and have a serious relationship, but he stays a closet perv. He gets off on violence and abuse and also has it out for Skyler, who unknowingly rejected him. Is this realistic, or would a guy, even a creepy perv, never act that way?

The second thing is a character, Fisher, is going for custody of his son. His ex-wife cheated on him, getting pregnant with someone else's baby while still married to him. They get back together, for the sake of his son, and he walks in on her having sex with some guy while the kids are down for a nap. Is this grounds for getting custody of his son? Can I make it work somehow, like she's scared he'll call children's services or something? (He leaves her again after walking in on her.)

The last thing, for now, I'm having a problem with is Skyler's mom. She's mentioned throughout the story, but isn't actually in it. If it were a movie, she'd never have lines and would probably never be on camera. I only mentioned her because Skyler's step-dad is a very important charcter in the story. I don't think I can have him without her, and I need him. Should I kill her off before the story starts, and have the step-dad have custody of Skyler? She's 18, so really, I'm not sure she'd be living there if it weren't for the mom. Oh, and the step-dad is a phoediphile (though I spell that so badly that it doesn't come up on spell check-sorry. Actually, I don't even see a spell check button on here, so... sorry for any other spelling errors too.)

These are weird things to try to research, so I'm not sure how to go about finding out if any of the situations are realistic or not.

[katiemac]

Regarding your final point, about the mother, it's up to you whether or not she is a live character. In my WIP, a very important character is dead before the opening page, but her death drives another character throughout the story. If your character has conflict with the mother, the mother could be living in another place (and she chose the step-father, because she likes him better... I know people in real life who have made this decision after a divorce), depending on how long the story lapses, she could simply be living with the step-father while the mother is on vacation .... anyway, you have plenty of choices. If the mother is mentioned once or twice, it doesn't quite matter where she is. On the other hand, her presence could be a drive for the character depending on how solid their relationship is.

With regards to gaining custody, you may want to talk to a social worker in your area (a local hospital could probably get you in touch, if you don't know where to start) and see what would make a good case. If there are a lot of "random men" coming in and out of the house, the character could probably have a good case in that it is endangering the children's safety.

As for your first point, obsession can drive a character to do anything, as long as you make it realistic to the reader. If it hasn't ever happened in real life, that doesn't mean it can't happen in a novel, and most psychotic personalities are so different you can probably make anything within reason work.

[Celia Cyanide]

The last thing, for now, I'm having a problem with is Skyler's mom. She's mentioned throughout the story, but isn't actually in it. If it were a movie, she'd never have lines and would probably never be on camera. I only mentioned her because Skyler's step-dad is a very important charcter in the story. I don't think I can have him without her, and I need him. Should I kill her off before the story starts, and have the step-dad have custody of Skyler?

I don't think you need to show her, but make sure you know why she is not around. He's home, but she's not...where is she? Just because they're married doesn't mean she has to be there all the time. But just make sure it doesn't sound like she's "not around" because you didn't feel like developing her, which may be difficult to do if they're married. Did you ever see Twin Peaks? Did you know Audrey had a mom? I was a huge Twin Peaks fan, and I never knew Audrey's mother was still alive, until I rewatched it, and noticed that she showed up one day. It doesn't really work. While she wasn't around, I never wondered where she was, but then when I was reminded she existed, I wondered what she thought about...well, some pretty lurid subplots involving her husband. Hope this is helpful.

[Jaycinth]

Sorry about the rating on my post, but I don't want to offend anyone and I'm not sure if kids/teens are allowed on this site.

What do you guys do when you have a character or situation and you aren't sure it's ringing true? I'm having trouble phrasing that the way I mean, but in the story I'm currently writing, I have a few things going on that I'm not sure are realistic.

I just write it. Then I go back and read it a week/month later. If it doesn't seem right, I mentally choreograph the scene and I ask myself the same question an algebra teacher once told me to ask...."does it make sense?" If not I highlight the places that bother me and go write another chapter or so. If I don't work it out by developing the story, I give it to someone else to read. 'Other people' are unbelieveable in their ability to find problems...and solutions. ( In chapter one you have your character frying bacon, wouldn't it be better if she got out of the taxi and went inside first? That kind of thing)


I have a character who starts out wanting the main character. His name is Dan, hers is Skyler. Well, Dan is fantasizing about Skyler, getting a hard on whenever he's around her, etc. He then changes his obsession to a character named Melissa. He and Melissa actually begin dating and have a serious relationship, but he stays a closet perv. He gets off on violence and abuse and also has it out for Skyler, who unknowingly rejected him. Is this realistic, or would a guy, even a creepy perv, never act that way?

A creepy perv not only would act that way but would eventually 'get' Skyler and take her some where he could take his time doing creepy perv things to her. And some of his pervish tendencies would surely come out during his relationship with Melissa. May I suggest you read a few Dean R. Koontz books. He writes 'great' pervs.

The second thing is a character, Fisher, is going for custody of his son. His ex-wife cheated on him, getting pregnant with someone else's baby while still married to him. They get back together, for the sake of his son, and he walks in on her having sex with some guy while the kids are down for a nap. Is this grounds for getting custody of his son? Can I make it work somehow, like she's scared he'll call children's services or something? (He leaves her again after walking in on her.)

I know a guy who lost custody because he smoked cigarettes. Not in the house, just smoked them outside. His ex got a lawyer to prove he was neglecting his 5 & 8 yr old kids by stepping outside on the balcony twice an hour. I know a mother who lost visitation because her boyfriend was in AA, and the father sucessfully argued that the people in AA were 'losers' and he didn't want his kids exposed to that. ( She broke up withthe guy to get her privelages back...she essentially can't date. Not even when he has the kids for a week.) As Katiemac said...check with social services, check the court docket too. The reasons for losing custody can be as simple as 1 parent converts to a religion the other parent doesn't like. It really depends on who can hire the best lawyer.

The last thing, for now, I'm having a problem with is Skyler's mom. She's mentioned throughout the story, but isn't actually in it. If it were a movie, she'd never have lines and would probably never be on camera. I only mentioned her because Skyler's step-dad is a very important charcter in the story. I don't think I can have him without her, and I need him. Should I kill her off before the story starts, and have the step-dad have custody of Skyler? She's 18, so really, I'm not sure she'd be living there if it weren't for the mom. Oh, and the step-dad is a phoediphile (though I spell that so badly that it doesn't come up on spell check-sorry. Actually, I don't even see a spell check button on here, so... sorry for any other spelling errors too.)

These are weird things to try to research, so I'm not sure how to go about finding out if any of the situations are realistic or not.

Write the story all of the way through. Put in the situations as you see them and stop questioning your subconscious. If the characters need the situation to change, believe me they will let you know. They will make you go back and change things to suit them! Once the thing is finished, put it in a drawer, read someone elses work, write something else, then go back a month or two later and read the whole thing with a colored pen in hand. You will be surprised.
Don't agonize! (Yes I'm guilty of that. Do as I say not as I do!!

[My-Immortal]

I know a guy who lost custody because he smoked cigarettes. Not in the house, just smoked them outside. His ex got a lawyer to prove he was neglecting his 5 & 8 yr old kids by stepping outside on the balcony twice an hour. I know a mother who lost visitation because her boyfriend was in AA, and the father sucessfully argued that the people in AA were 'losers' and he didn't want his kids exposed to that. ( She broke up withthe guy to get her privelages back...she essentially can't date. Not even when he has the kids for a week.) As Katiemac said...check with social services, check the court docket too. The reasons for losing custody can be as simple as 1 parent converts to a religion the other parent doesn't like. It really depends on who can hire the best lawyer.

I think the key to this entire passage is the boldfaced line. It is unfortunate when people use their children as pawns during a divorce, and then don't consider what is in the best interest of the child even after the divorce is finalized.

I'm surprised by some of the listed reasons for loss of custody or visitations in the above statement, but I don't doubt that they are true. The judicial system is completely messed up when it comes to custody arrangements. My ex's live-in-boyfriend committed suicide a few months back in their garage and she has full custody of my oldest son but I'd have to drag her back into court and fight her in order to change the custody arrangement (and it's not even a guarantee that I would 'win').

I've read that after the age of 12 (which my son is), even if he tells the judge that he would want to live with me, the judge doesn't have to go along with it.

Obviously, in the case of your story, you can pretty much make up whatever you want because I'm sure no matter how bizarre you make the circumstances, someone would have lived a stranger situation.

Good luck with your writing.