I find myself struggling with one of my characters. He’s one of my main characters, but for the most part I’ve been avoiding writing him as much as possible. Because quite frankly, I don’t like him. There, I said it, I do not like him. I feel like I’m that parent that very clearly has a favorite amongst their kids, but I can’t help it. I just don’t like the guy! So I avoid him, and I’m getting to the point that I can’t avoid him for much longer.
He’s so cocky, and arrogant. He’s one of those guys that doesn’t really have to work for things, they just fall into his lap. Things have a way of working out for him even when he doesn’t deserve it, especially when he doesn’t deserve it. So I find myself throwing things at him to mess with him. I chop off his leg . . . he gets a wife out of the deal. Damn it! His wife proves to be a far superior spy . . . he takes credit. Double damn it! It’s like no matter what I do to this guy he pops back on top and it annoys the crap out of me!
At this point, I think I’m almost afraid to write him, because I really don’t think I can hide the fact that I don’t like him. I’ve never had this experience with a character. I have never vehemently disliked a character to the point that I not only wish him harm, I cause him harm. Unfortunately, the story will out, so he always winds up fine. I already know how it ends and he’s in the end, so I can’t kill him off. Triple damn it!
Although I guess there are worse things than hating a character. I could feel ambivalent toward him and that would make one hell of a boring character. So I’ll grit my teeth and let him play out his part of the story and I’ll take my consolation from Henry. Him I like. Huh, I don’t know that I’ve ever put this together before, but I like my Confederate officer. It’s my Union officer that I don’t like. Interesting . . .