Finally, We’re Talking “Attractive Characters”—LeeAnna’s Positively Giddy, and Tim’s Already on a Tangent
Congratulations, folks, we’ve finally landed on the promised topic of “attractive characters” in writing. LeeAnna’s thrilled—it’s apparently “positive,” so she’s ready to sprinkle fairy dust all over this discussion. Tim, meanwhile, is already mentally wandering the streets of London, photographing buildings and thinking about… juxtaposition.
Ah, juxtaposition! The old and the new, the refined and the raw... the podcast topic and Tim’s wandering mind. Because nothing says “let’s discuss endearing characters” quite like a tangent about 17th-century stone towers cozied up to glass skyscrapers. To Tim, it’s a metaphor for the human condition. To the rest of us, it’s a classic example of podcast meandering.
Heroes Are Fine, but Tim Wants Messy, Morally-Ambiguous Characters (Yes, Harry Potter. Of Course)
LeeAnna kicks things off with all the hope of someone who believes people still buy Hallmark cards. “Let’s talk about positive traits in heroes!” she says. Tim, however, cranks up the snark (sure, but make them complex, or I’ll fall asleep.)
Cue the usual spiel about characters who have an angel on one shoulder and a devil yanking their other arm. Tim swears he’s not asking anyone to write literal shoulder-devils, but c’mon, you’re imagining it now. A conflicted character—torn, sweating, occasionally making awful decisions—will always beat Mr. Perfect, who’s basically a walking yawn.
Think Harry Potter, but with a few extra therapy sessions; after all, Harry spent seven books ping-ponging between dark temptations and saves-the-day goodness with all the angst of a tortured soul on a rollercoaster.
Secondary Characters: Go Big or Go Cartoonishly Evil—Just Make Sure They Torment the Hero
Now we’re getting into Tim’s favorite pastime: making secondary characters either holier-than-thou saints or absolute dumpster fires of humanity. Their sole mission? Wreak havoc on your protagonist, naturally. Meanwhile, LeeAnna launches into her personal wishlist of traits: conviction, empathy, patience (working on it!), and loyalty. It’s a mix of “character development goals” and “qualities my next date better have.”
Tim, sensing a weak spot, goes for the jugular. “You’re patient? With others?” The implied “yeah, right” hangs heavy in the air. LeeAnna swears she’s trying. Sure, Jan.
LeeAnna’s Ideal Partner: Protective, But Please Leave the Hidden Cameras at Home
Cue a personal anecdote from LeeAnna about how a guy who didn’t walk her home once has been blacklisted for eternity. She prefers a guy who calls to check she’s safely inside—a rom-com hero in theory, but let’s be real, it sounds like the start of a Netflix true-crime docuseries.
Tim, never missing an opportunity to poke fun, suggests her overzealous suitor may have installed tracking devices in her wardrobe. LeeAnna, unfazed, reveals she owns a bug detector to scan for secret cameras. Because in 2024, that’s just romance 101, right?
Writing Complex Characters? Let Them Do the Heavy Lifting (You’ve Earned It)
Tim wraps up with some actual writing advice—shockingly helpful for a podcast that’s mostly digressions and snark. Create complex characters with room to grow, he says. You know, like cowards learning to be brave or jerks learning to be… less jerky.
LeeAnna chimes in, pointing out that scars and painful memories can fuel character growth. It’s poignant, actually. But just as you’re getting misty-eyed, Tim reminds writers to use secondary characters to yank their heroes toward good or evil. Or just trip them up for fun.
So, writers, take this to heart: pure, unconflicted heroes are so last century. Make ‘em sweat. Give ‘em tough choices and ethical slip-ups. Or, as Tim might say, let ‘em wrestle with metaphorical angels and devils. Because perfect is boring, but “flawed and fumbling” is where the real magic happens.
The Snark
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