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I can't decide if my MC's daddy is dead or not.
- Thread starter IReidandWrite
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What benefits/disadvantages does the dead daddy impart to your story? Are there things you can/can't do in the story if he's dead/not dead?
Could you accomplish the same things by simply having him be absent? That is, does it have the same effect if he's a disinterested father or in prison or...?
Could you accomplish the same things by simply having him be absent? That is, does it have the same effect if he's a disinterested father or in prison or...?
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Well, I'm not really sure.
The way I have it is, he (he's from Poland) impregnated a 15-year-old who had gone to Poland on a mission trip or something. I dunno. Not school. They're poor as heck. Maybe some sort of just....trip.
Said impregnation resulted in my MC, and the mom stayed with the dude.
She didn't keep the baby, but gave her to her 18 year old sister.
18 YO sister went to America and raised the baby. Actually, the way I think it would work (instead of them being able to go back to Poland overnight, especially since the baby doesn't have American citizenship. Her mom gave up that citizenship, so I assume she wouldn't have it either) would be that the sister would raise the baby in Poland until the visa went thru or whatever.
Hmm....
But I just can't put my finger on where the Dad fits in.
The way I have it is, he (he's from Poland) impregnated a 15-year-old who had gone to Poland on a mission trip or something. I dunno. Not school. They're poor as heck. Maybe some sort of just....trip.
Said impregnation resulted in my MC, and the mom stayed with the dude.
She didn't keep the baby, but gave her to her 18 year old sister.
18 YO sister went to America and raised the baby. Actually, the way I think it would work (instead of them being able to go back to Poland overnight, especially since the baby doesn't have American citizenship. Her mom gave up that citizenship, so I assume she wouldn't have it either) would be that the sister would raise the baby in Poland until the visa went thru or whatever.
Hmm....
But I just can't put my finger on where the Dad fits in.
If it seems easier to write it without the dad in the picture, then don't do it. Write what is difficult and hard to figure out. It'll be worth it in the long run.
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Personally, for me, I think the best way to write it would be for her dad to be more like an uncle.
Dunno though.
Dunno though.
Hi;
This is my first time posting in this section, so we haven't been introduced. I hope it's OK; every section seems to have its own etiquette.
On your question: I've had a similar dilemma with a female character's mother. The woman was useless, never around, never doing or saying much, just wallpaper. In the end, I just had her die while the character was young, of who knows what. (The novel takes place in the late 1700s, so it could have been anything. Even I haven't decided what killed her, the useless baggage.)
So. If he's really, really not part of the story, and his life or death makes no difference, does it matter whether he's alive or dead?
If "finding dad" is a major part of your MCs motivation or character, then it might matter. If it isn't, then don't even mention the man except in passing explanations. "Don't have a dad. Never did. He left before he knew mom was in a pickle, see, and he never gave her his address. She doesn't even remember his last name."
Course that won't work if you're a romatic. But it's more realistic than you might suppose.
Just don't get hung up on something like this for your character, if it truly doesn't matter to the story. Introducing "Dad" for the sake of your own emotional satisfaction won't necessarily make good reading. Unless, of course, you write scripts for Lifetime Television?
This is my first time posting in this section, so we haven't been introduced. I hope it's OK; every section seems to have its own etiquette.
On your question: I've had a similar dilemma with a female character's mother. The woman was useless, never around, never doing or saying much, just wallpaper. In the end, I just had her die while the character was young, of who knows what. (The novel takes place in the late 1700s, so it could have been anything. Even I haven't decided what killed her, the useless baggage.)
So. If he's really, really not part of the story, and his life or death makes no difference, does it matter whether he's alive or dead?
If "finding dad" is a major part of your MCs motivation or character, then it might matter. If it isn't, then don't even mention the man except in passing explanations. "Don't have a dad. Never did. He left before he knew mom was in a pickle, see, and he never gave her his address. She doesn't even remember his last name."
Course that won't work if you're a romatic. But it's more realistic than you might suppose.
Just don't get hung up on something like this for your character, if it truly doesn't matter to the story. Introducing "Dad" for the sake of your own emotional satisfaction won't necessarily make good reading. Unless, of course, you write scripts for Lifetime Television?
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What does the father DO in the story?
Does he serve a purpose? Or is he just there because, hey, we all have/had a father?
What is the story about? All I've seen explained above tells me that the father is important, and can't be dead, because the story is apparently about a 15-year-old mother who gives up her child to stay with the child's father (which makes no sense at all).
If, however, your plot is different, then you have to determine the roll of the father, and the roll the father plays in the MC's life. If your only purpose is to show that yes, this person has/had a father, well, then, skip it.
If you have characters that you can include or exclude based on a coin flip, do yourself a favor and exclude them.
Does he serve a purpose? Or is he just there because, hey, we all have/had a father?
What is the story about? All I've seen explained above tells me that the father is important, and can't be dead, because the story is apparently about a 15-year-old mother who gives up her child to stay with the child's father (which makes no sense at all).
If, however, your plot is different, then you have to determine the roll of the father, and the roll the father plays in the MC's life. If your only purpose is to show that yes, this person has/had a father, well, then, skip it.
If you have characters that you can include or exclude based on a coin flip, do yourself a favor and exclude them.
Have you tried asking the MC? I've found that on issues like this, the MC will usually tell me if I quit trying to force the issue and just listen quietly.
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