Odds and Ends about Writing

Let Your Characters Suffer

Before you accuse me of being some sort of sadist, let me finish: "Let your characters suffer the consequences of their actions"

I understand loving your protagonist and wanting them to be safe (especially if you put a little - or a lot - of yourself in them). But a protected character makes for a boring character.
For example, let's say you have the average "plain Jane in her own eyes, drop dead gorgeous beauty to every single male character" heroine (which I could probably write a chapter about - not one of my favourite tropes). One day, she accepts a ride from a stranger despite 20000 warning signs. When she gets kidnapped, please don't make her win over her captor in one chapter. That's just boring (even if it means she doesn't suffer). Let her suffer, as awful as that sounds. Perhaps she gets her finger cut off as proof of life. Perhaps she has to make a huge sacrifice to escape. 

In other words, if the protagonist is in danger, don't keep rescuing them. Let them rescue themselves, even if it means more than a little pain and suffering.