Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/45583
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Realistically, life sucks, but most of us manage to find hope somewhere. Sometimes little girls have to grow up too fast and sometimes we have to deal with messes other people make.

It sounds like your young lady is going to have a lot of tears and fight some battles she's not ready for. Let her fight. Let her cry. But, make it worth it in the end. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Don't forget to let her laugh sometimes too. Give her some battles she can win, so she gains the confidence to keep trying after the ones she loses.

Your long-lost prince is going to have to pull up his big boy pants and learn some diplomacy and negotiation skills. The entire structure of his kingdom has been altered and he's going to have to work with that. He may never have the same amount of control as the previous king, but that’s life.

Give both of your characters failures and successes. Heavy consequences for bad decisions aren't necessarily grimdark. They are learning experiences. They develop character and make the few victories that much sweeter.

As you plan out these successes and failures, some avenues of hope will emerge and, hopefully, you will begin to see the pathways towards a happy ending. Or, at least, an ending everyone can deal with.

Original score: 1