I have a character I'm writing who can be summed up as "she's the worst Plastic, and also looks warm and inviting, and no one knows that she's plastic because she pretends she's sweet and she's good at pretending".
Her name is Angelina (yes, I went there, yes, it was on purpose, don't come for me, this is tame compared to other writers).
She looks like this (photo from Pinterest):
Why do I bring this up?
My mom keeps complaining that I made her pretty, despite how often I tell her that "being pretty" is an integral part of her character (because her pretty appearance means she gets away with murder, and she knows it, and so is obsessive about her looks).
She wants me to make her look like a swamp monster.
At this point, it's not even her trying to convince me, she just throws the comment out after reading about the character, like she's lodging a complaint just to have it on record. She doesn't even pause for a response, she just keeps talking.
Example:
"You shouldn't make her look pretty. She's evil, have her look like it. Anyways, I think this scene could..."
It's like a running gag. Which is weird to have about your written characters.
And that's why I'm sharing. Because speaking into the metaphorical void is free and therapy is expensive.
