You need to give both characters distinct personalities and arcs. Make sure their goals and conflicts interact and drive the story forward.
Well, one way could be to focus on creating distinct and memorable traits for each character to make them stand out.
As I haven't had the chance to read this novel, I can only guess. There could be a character who is in a position of great responsibility, such as a doctor who has to handle his patients' lives with care. Or perhaps it's a young artist who has a special talent that is very fragile and needs to be nurtured carefully. There may also be a love interest for this main character, and their relationship would also need to be handled with care. And then there could be antagonists or characters who create obstacles for the main character, forcing them to be even more cautious in how they handle various situations in the story.
To handle flashbacks effectively, you need to make sure they have a clear purpose. They should provide crucial background info or deepen the character's development. Also, the transition to and from the flashback should be smooth to avoid confusing the reader.
The key to dealing with criticism on fiction writing is to have an open mind. Don't immediately reject it. Try to understand where the critic is coming from and see if you can learn from it. Maybe make a list of the suggestions and think about how you could implement them to make your writing better.
When it comes to writing fiction, it's best to steer clear of ableism. Focus on creating diverse and inclusive characters without resorting to stereotypes or discrimination based on abilities. This not only makes for a more empathetic story but also respects the experiences of all readers.
You can also provide some context or pronunciation guide. Maybe add a short description like 'Marie, pronounced Ma - ree in French'. This can prevent readers from mispronouncing the name in their heads and helps them better engage with the character. Another approach could be to use a more familiar form for easier readability, but this should be done sparingly to avoid losing the foreign flavor.
The main characters could be the truck driver who has a special connection to the crate. Maybe he knows what's inside and is protecting it.
Maybe it could be a group of thieves. They see the large rectangular crate on the truck and think it must contain something valuable. The leader of the thieves, a sly man named Tom, tries to figure out how to get the handle off the crate to steal what's inside. There could also be a detective, Inspector James, on their trail.
You should make the quotations fit smoothly into the narrative. They need to sound natural and not disrupt the flow of the story.
The literary agents handling transgressive fiction can vary. One such agent is [agent name]. They have a penchant for discovering and nurturing authors who offer fresh perspectives and daring narratives. Another notable agent is [agent name 2], who is drawn to works that question societal norms. Additionally, [agent name 3] has made a name for themselves by representing transgressive fiction that leaves a lasting impact.