The Dissenter

#1206 Victoria Dougherty: On Fictional Adaptations

4 snips
Jan 23, 2026
Guest
Victoria Dougherty
Victoria Dougherty, fiction writer of novels like The Bone Church and Cold, brings her theater and essay background to the conversation. She explores how and when adaptations should change source material. She talks about believable character development, plotting from impulse to plan, and weaving morality and politics into stories without turning characters into caricatures.
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ADVICE

Keep Flaws To Preserve Humanity

  • Avoid turning characters into flawless 'Mary Sues' during adaptation because that flattens conflict and realism.
  • Preserve flaws and believable motives so readers and viewers can relate and stay invested.
ADVICE

Make Violence Serve Story Purpose

  • Use violence sparingly and with purpose; excessive gore can turn attention away from character and theme.
  • Let violent scenes serve moral or narrative goals, not merely shock value.
INSIGHT

Out-Of-Character Means Outside The Story

  • Characters acting 'out of character' often signal the writer forcing a moral or political point.
  • Authentic changes must arise from internal character logic, not external authorial agenda.
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