I’ve found the best way to work my way through these types of questions is to go deep into the character and determine exactly what it would take for that character to break his rules and why. You’ll probably have to put him smack dab into the moral dilemma, full tilt, and squeeze. But then, that’s what makes really good fiction. Think of your story’s environment as the trash compactor in Star Wars and the walls are crushing in on your character. What are the walls in your story? What is moving, driving them ever more toward your character? How is your character been responding, how is he responding now? What forces will move those walls even closer and then how will he respond? Find the breaking point. Discover what he values even more and put that at risk. Then you’ll find it easy for your character to “do the right thing.”

Good luck.

Fiction writing is by necessity an introverted process, and sometimes, even though we’re told “write what you know” it’s the experiences similar to those we’ve lived through in our own lives that are most difficult to capture and present to others, because they’re so personal. It’s a process that requires empathy and thinking things through, that’s for certain–even to create something as lighthearted as a romantic comedy.

Hey sis, wow, that’s a classic example of author intrusion. Must’ve slipped past the editor somehow, unless it was left in on purpose. Braun does have a breezy style. I’ve enjoyed my share of Koko and Yumyum. They’re perfect to escape to when I’m stressed or just need something ultra-light, and I love those Siamese cats. Right after 9/11, my employer wanted me to take another trip where I needed to fly cross country, and I was terrified to. At the time, I found those HJ Braun books were the only books I could focus on, I was so stressed out. They were sort of a lifesaver, my only fiction escape at the time. Fortunately I didn’t have to take the trip right then—I finally did, months later.

However, near the end of the novel he restores his worth by doing something special, out-of-the ordinary, and in doing so finds his balance again.

Which sounds a lot like real life to me.

Eric, you’re right about the need to decide. That’s always my sticking point. I take far too long to make these decisions. I get carried away arguing with myself.

Though I sometimes think I am stupid honest, you bet I would compromise to help or save a loved one. I go to extraordinary means for the sake of integrity. And yup, I’ve had some major boners in my lifetime, but I believe in karma and believe in accountability.

My first novel handed me some struggles regarding a delicate issue of integrity for my protagonist. She makes a judgment call regarding the fate of a $12 million lottery ticket. She pretends to burn the winning ticket, which denies her rotten brother the bounty – and then anonymously donates the entire amount to a worthy cause. I struggled with that – because she ‘stole’ from her brother. Of course there is more to the story and the reader has no sympathy for the brother – but yet, I squirmed with tinkering with the protagonist’s integrity. Bothered me a lot, because her standards are so high.

Writing is such an alter ego thing. It can be so delicious. I love the rough and tumble stuff. And after all, it is fiction.

I also get the feeling, more and more, that this is the character asserting himself, saying loud and clear, “I would never do that.” It’s possible I need to let him go ahead and do things his way.

I think where I tend to feel stuck, it’s sometimes (maybe always) the writer getting in the way. I can overthink this process and get myself totally lost and off-track as a result. Sometimes I have to let the story happen. I find I’m intimidated by the most dramatic aspects of the story, the ones I need to just plunge ahead with. Writing fiction is tough for someone who avoids conflict at all costs in real life, because the conflict is so much a part of what fiction is about.