Revision Note #4: Internal Character Journey
A thing I’ve noted in many of my first drafts: the antagonists and the supporting characters tend to have clearer, more vivid motivations than the actual protagonist, who too often seems to act out of a vaguely generic desire to ’help out’.
I suspect this tendency comes from an inclination to view fictional protagonists as ’blank slates’, avatars that both the author and the reader project themselves and their desires into. The second person perspective of "Cold Iron Crossing", designed to mimic the voice of ’Interactive Fiction’ and "Choose Your Own Adventure" type games, probably didn’t help matters.
Fortunately, there’s more to the happy go-lucky Dieselnoi Worawoot than meets the eyes. Thanks to some great editorial advice, plus some fleshing out of his backstory, I was finally able to start work on revisions that explored the heart of one of Diesel’s deepest drives:
Becoming a full-fledged, hard-boiled Private Eye.
Why does he want to be a Private Eye? What does being a Private Eye entail in a lawless supernatural hive like Cryptatown?
You’ll get to see in time. ;)