#so you've gotta choose what part of the story to tell in order to craft one

[navree]

Who do you think the most similar characters to Aegon ii in Asoiaf ?

Oof, tricky, cuz at this point Aegon doesn't really have an arc. Aegon was very much treated as a side character in season 1, considering that we only met him halfway through the series, he's only in four episodes as a not-toddler, and the childhood episodes were more focused on Aemond's character than any of the other kids. A lot of what I and others notice in Aegon's character and potential development comes from being particularly eagle-eyed and from choices that TGC himself is making wrt his acting. It's also tricky because the book this is based on is basically a history book, and historical figures don't traditionally have "arcs" because, they're historical figures, not authorial constructs.

I think, and this is conjecture, that Aegon's arc is likely going to see him go down something of a dark path, as by all counts his "arc" is going to result in what happens after the Flight to Dragonstone, when he technically wins the Dance, and what he does at Dragonstone is pretty dark (it's another one of those scenes where I need the writers to go all out). Aegon's arc could potentially see him abandon vices to focus entirely on the war effort as a way to cope, getting more ruthless and crueler, abandoning this party boy identity he has for a colder one as he suffers not just physical injuries but deeply personal losses (the Dance is going to end with everyone Aegon has ever been close to, ever loved, except for his mother and his daughter, though Jahaera kinda comes with a big asterisk next to her, dead as a result of fighting for his succession) and has to deal with it while at the same time being a reigning king.

Based on that, on that overall through line of "going down a darker road because of the really bad shit you go through" is actually very similar to Tyrion's. I don't think it will be quite the same, as I do think Tyrion is going to eventually pull himself out of the hole he's in, whereas Aegon never entirely manages, but I think it'll be the closest.

[bondsmagii]

It's hard to want to create anything nowadays. Consumers of art hold everything to this brutal, impossible high standard where if you fuck up in the SLIGHTEST you've got thousands of people calling you some kind of -ist and making it their daytime hobby to ruin your livelihood. I'm a horror writer who doesn't particularly feel like censoring my works or making them any less dark, and sometimes it feels like nobody wants my art or it will never succeed in this environment. Sucks.

It is just extraordinarily hard to want to write or draw anything at all between the wretched state of modern fandom and art spaces, the looming threat of a climate apocalypse, hyperactive cancel culture necesitating that every story be pure and kosher, "content creator" culture forcing you to ceaselessly produce fresg new content, and seemingly endless 'competition' from people 10-15 years your junior who are already better at your craft than you.. It's just rough being a creator, man

honestly, I sympathise totally with what you're saying, but I gotta say that it just doesn't work this way for me. the points you raise are solid, and it's frustrating as hell that you've been made to feel this way because people literally cannot read, but from one creator to another I'm telling you this: you have got to stop giving a shit.

I know it's difficult. when someone attacks your work, or even work that's themeatically similar, it can feel like a personal blow. not to mention some of these people are absolutely rabid, and the danger they represent in terms of harassment shouldn't be ignored. but you have to remember what your loyalty is to. as a creator, your loyalty is to the art you're making. it's your responsibility to tell your story in whatever medium you choose, and it's your responsibility to do that story or that emotion justice. this is an incredible responsibility, and it should rank above all else in importance. once you have created the art and sent it out into the wide world, your job is done. it will always remain as it is for you, but other people are free to interpret it how they would like. some people will do this in ways that will touch and humble you. others will do this in ways that will upset and infuriate you. but you will have done your job, and your own meaning will remain untouched.

forget competition. forget the state of the world. stop comparing yourself against others. forget what people are saying, or what they might hypothetically say. the reason that we create is because we have things we want to see exist. the reason we create is because we have something to say. all that matters is that we do this, as best as we can, and without betraying or censoring ourselves. that kind of integrity cannot be damaged because some people want to clutch their pearls over the fact that a horror story contained dark elements.

finally, I know that for some creators, reaching others is an important part of their creative process. this is not something that is necessary for me, but I understand that creators vary, and for some, the idea that their works might have to be censored in order to stand a chance of being enjoyed is a painful one. so I'll remind you of this: there are creators like us, who like to write horror and tell dark stories. what do we enjoy reading? we like dark stories. what have we drawn meaning from? probably dark stories. there are others like us out there. there are readers out there who need your story, who will get everything you hoped for and more from it, who will look at your book on their shelf and thank god you wrote it. they might not be as vocal as these other clowns, but they're there. if you ever need to imagine an audience to encourage you, or you find yourself wondering just what chance your art stands in this kind of environment, think of those readers. they are most certainly out there, and they want to hear what you have to say.