: The readers will accept what you prepare them for. If you choose to go with the vigilante/anti-hero option, show them as passionate (for either good or bad reasons) or committed to their beliefs.

@Sue2132873

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The readers will accept what you prepare them for.

If you choose to go with the vigilante/anti-hero option, show them as passionate (for either good or bad reasons) or committed to their beliefs.

There are a number of attitudes which might motivate your characters. Some might desire vengeance for past wrongs. Some might hate the greedy or hard-hearted "leaders" who will die. Some might only care about making everyone's lives better. And others might only care about progress without any consideration for personal or social outcomes.

If you choose the indecisive or non-violent path, this must likewise be supported by characterization.

Your protagonists could start off either with either a weak or a strong commitment to the cause. Whatever hits your plot points is fine, really.

Regardless of where they start, they need to develop qualms about proceeding. It can be difficult to "show rather than tell" with mental events, so you should expect to weave in dialogue, displays of hesitation, and/or signs of distress and agitation. Different characters can and should cope with their concerns in different ways.

I expect the vigilante option will be easier to write.

The vigilante option requires a strong motivation supported by a high degree of self-determination and ideological certainty. Both of these traits can be very appealing to your readers.

The vigilante option also eliminates the need to handle internal conflict. While internal conflict is an important facet of human experience, it is one of the more difficult ones to master---in my opinion.

You also avoid conflict within the group, which streamlines the plot (realistically, their doubts would grow at different rates so there would be differences of opinion leading up to the final decision point).

Tell the story you want to tell.

Your writing is not improved by distraction regarding what your audience might want. Decide what you want to happen and focus on making it feel genuine. The hard work does not lie in making the decision; the hard work lies in making the decision compelling and believable.

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