Things I Want To See More in Stories

I haven't done a list post in a while, and this isn't exactly a list post, not like A List of Quirks To Give Your Character or Subtle Details You Can Add To Your Character's Look, but I think all of these things need a little more attention and a little more representation in stories.

So without further ado, let's go!

Platonic relationships

I can't stress this enough. People can be friends. Just friends. They don't have to get romantically involved. People can care about one another and be willing to die for one another and hug each other and not fall in love. Some friendships be strong like that.

Parents and siblings that are involved in the conflict

Pretty sure right now the only stories that let parents or siblings get involved in the main story are contemporary stories. Y'know, realistic fiction and stuff. Why can't the parents get involved in other genres? Horror, fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, all of those? Families should be involved more. It could be so sweet!

This series is the best for many reasons, but one of the reasons is because it
involves the characters' whole family in a way that doesn't feel awkward. <3

Characters who are just good people and their characters arc isn't a negative one

Just because there's a character who is just a good and kind person and actually has morals and stuff is not an excuse to give them an arc that takes apart all their goodness. I'm looking at you, Grease. A flat character arc is a thing. Or even if they start to slip a little bit, then realize why they have morals and everything, that would be cool too. But let them be good people, please!

Tasty food??? 

Go on. Describe all your delicious cupcakes and the chocolate the protagonist is eating and lovely salads and everything. There can never be enough tasty food.

Old people who aren't frail

I want an old lady with an axe going up against the evil overlord with us. I want them able to fight and help out and stuff. Even if it's old Balin, who's really too old for this but is here anyway. Better yet, why can't the old people be main characters? In Howl's Moving Castle, Sofie is transformed into an old lady for the better part of the story, and it's hilarious. We need more of this.

Romantic relationships where the characters are actually *gasp* planning on getting married??

Too many prolonged relationships. Too many where they live together and aren't married. Too many where they don't seem to be planning to get married at all. I think it's seriously so much cuter when they're planning to get married, because there's a whole new level of respect and a different kind of sweet affection when they're planning on spending forever together. It's just so cute. And then there can be engagement rings, do you got that? Sparkle!

Characters with creative outlets that aren't necessarily part of the plot, they're just there

Just for the fun of it. It doesn't even have to come up in more than one scene, it's just super cool to see a character who draws and be like 'oh I draw too! We have something in common!'

Girls. Wearing. Skirts.

We've talked about how I've always worn skirts. I love them, and I really do think that there should be more characters who wear them. Delilah Dirk always wears skirts, and I love that! I'm a little over all the 'i'm not a girly girl, I don't wear skirts' characters. They're worn out and they make people who wear skirts out to be girly and frilly. Go do your research on different kinds of skirts, and you'll find how versatile they are.

Yet another reason to love Delilah Dirk: she wears skirts!

Well represented homeschoolers! 

Not the weird ones, not the Einstein level genius ones, but just normal people who were raised being taught at home. Not that hard, just stop making them weirdoes.

People who are meh at things.

I feel like everyone in books these days is either really good at everything they try they don't do it. They're allowed to be meh. And it would make people who are meh at things feel better about being meh. It's normal.

Characters who still love 'kid things'.

Characters who love their childhood stories and stuffed animals and things. Not everyone is dedicated to being a full-blown adult at 16. You can hang onto your childhood loves if you want. And once again, it's healthy for the readers because the character will help them see that it's not weird.

Ngl, just like all the other lists, this has me wanting to go build a million characters. They don't have any stories to live in, but I'm sure they'll be fine just floating around in my head, won't they? *laughs nervously*

What are your thoughts? What's something you would like to see more in stories? Lets' talk in the comments!