How to write a character (+story) with a MC that is depressed, suicidal, and apathetic?
tw: rape, suicidal ideation
Disclaimer: if by some chance you recognize my username and (even less likely) are reading the story I'm about to talk about, you might wanna skip reading this if you're concerned about spoilers, lol
So I've been staring at my story for like weeks now not really knowing how to continue it from where I'm at.
So far I've got a character that's moved away to start a new life in the vegas area, but hasn't really explained a reason for why yet. He's also suicidal, depressed, and doesn't want to do anything.
Some points I've got in my head in no particular order:
- MC is fleeing from an abusive relationship (was raped by his ex-partner)
- A second character (2nd mc) is working at a sort of "bdsm club/dungeon" type-thing (it fits their personality)
- eventually, the two come together romantically
- MC tries to commit suicide but is half-stopped by second character before it's irreversible (mc survives)
- once in a relationship, mc sees second character do something hurtful to them (not quite sure what yet. Maybe misunderstanding? Some act of cheating (miscommunication?)? etc.?
- MC engages with second character in an act of bdsm play but things spiral
The thing is, I'm really struggling to write past the first chapter. I'm not sure how to expand it from where I'm at. I've tried planning, but I usually either go too far or don't abide by it anyways.
If it helps, I'm also depressed and autistic and I feel the latter really impacts my ability to write compelling characters/scenes
I'm trying to keep the mc in character, but how do you write someone who doesn't want to do anything like this??