The Write Stuff (The Writing Thread)

[Whistle]

Some dumping/advice-asking/character critique of my own.

I'm thinking about how to write one of my characters, ensure that they're sympathetic while still having some sort of flaw...

My character Eco, as you may know, is a dragon, and the elder twin son of a king that just died. I'm thinking that his motivation will to become the king of the nation to ensure that he gains people's respect, since the

MelsemeYes, I finally came up with the name for the culture that speaks Alfeme ("our tongue"); it means "of our water"

 still doubt that someone who hatched female can really become such a king. Due to sexual dimorphism giving him tiny, nonfunctional wings, Eco has sewn his own wings out of fabric to be seen as a man, and has even learned to fly on his own. Touching a man's wings is a sign of major disrespect, and yet even casual innkeepers wish to feel his prosthetic wings. Even if he is normally an empathetic, driven, and occasionally forgetful dragon, disrespecting him and his identity can light somewhat of a quick, if tranquil, fuse for him.

I'm wondering whether this seems like a good character arc for him:

1. Sends letters to Autumn, Liz, and Jake
   
2. (absent for the rest of act 1)
   
3. Meets the trio in the forest, heals Autumn's leg
   
4. Tries to get fruit for a healing liquid, but getting them almost kills Liz and Autumn
   
5. Confronts an innkeeper who touches his wings, showing his angry side
   
6. Reaches the oracles, who tell him that he will not be the king
   
7. After Autumn is left for dead, reveals why he needs to be king in a heart-to-heart
   
8. Confronts his brother Lelfe, who removes his wings in front of a city's worth of onlookers
   
9. Forced to stay at his podium with Lelfe (vs. fly and prove his gender) as votes are cast to see whether he will be king
   
10. Sees his friends in plight, forgoes his chance at becoming king to save his friends
    
11. After an argument with Lelfe, pilots the ship to bring him to the ceremonial island where he will become king
    
12. Takes Lelfe to his ceremonial kinghood, but is interrupted due to Autumn and Liz being in danger from the volcano
    
13. Takes flight in front of his brother to save Autumn and Liz, proving his identity, though his wings are burnt in the lava
    
14. Comes back to his brother, who finally respects Eco as who he is
    

If want to give advice on how to handle this further, I'd really appreciate it, or if you just want to give me some pointers on how to write him a bit better...