Writer's block 1/5

[Gear]

Maybe someone can help me come up with an idea.

I have five characters in my VN. To put them in the most simple (and possibly stereotypical) ways possible, I have the heroic genius (M), the naive but sweet jock (M), the overbearing leader (M), the attitude problem (F) and the quiet artist (M).

Now with the heroic genius, I can create conflict for him easily. He's a pragmatic idealist who can't balance the two. This could lead to major problems for him (life or death type stuff). The jock is struggling with the death of a loved one. The leader needs to learn when to back off people. The attitude problem needs to learn to forgive people. But the quiet artist...I've got nothing.

I need a conflict for him, and I think I just haven't developed him enough as a character to give him anything to antagonize. Simply going after him for being quiet is trivial compared to what the others are going through...

I don't know, does anyone have any ideas? Should I replace him with a different protagonist, or is there some life-altering conflict you can think of I could use?

[Funnyguts]

Easy. Give him writer's block. Getting back his muse will be his issue.

[OtomeWeekend]

What is the purpose you created that character? Just to complete the stereotype circle?(genius, jock, artistic, etc.)---well, best you stop it then.

Anyway, most of artists problems can actually go down to their families objecting about them wanting to pursue a job related to art. IF your character is the sort of quiet person. Why not make him actually agreeing though deep in his heart, he wants to continue pursuing what he really wants.

[KomiTsuku]

There's a reason that stereotypes become popular.

Anyway, you can always go with his pursuit of a quiet life of peace and discovery against the chaos and confusion that his cohorts bring down on top of him.

[Marcelo_Orlando]

I'm wondering why you're making them stereotypical to begin with but, put a pin in that and we'll come back to it later.

Why not have him stand for something, instead of making a simple run of the mill otaku who draws oddly proportioned anime characters. What if (and I know that this is a long shot) the artist is a rebel in his own way. Maybe he has a strong opinion against the government or possibly the church?

[Snow Blossom]

You could also make him just feel like he's not going anywhere in his career, what with a lack of inspiration and little improvement or individuality in his technique.

What if (and I know that this is a long shot) the artist is a rebel in his own way. Maybe he has a strong opinion against the government or possibly the church?

Adding to this - perhaps he could communicate rather controversial ideas through his art?

[Gear]

To be honest, they're not really that stereotypical. If you zoom out far enough on anything, it can look that way, but these characters' depth far exceeds any stereotype.

[Marcelo_Orlando]

To be honest, they're not really that stereotypical. If you zoom out far enough on anything, it can look that way, but these characters' depth far exceeds any stereotype.

Oh that wasn't a critique on my part at all. Perhaps I misread your first post.

I have five characters in my VN. To put them in the most simple (and possibly stereotypical) ways possible, I have the heroic genius (M), the naive but sweet jock (M), the overbearing leader (M), the attitude problem (F) and the quiet artist (M).