Is Your Character Too Stupid to Live?
Writer Compass Writing Craft
Dear Red,
A reader accused my book’s (Unmasked) heroine of being “TSTL.” What does that even mean? And is it really so bad if my character makes a questionable choice or two? Help!
—Confused in Cliffhanger Canyon
Dear Confused,
TSTL—“too stupid to live”—is that electrifying moment when a character’s choices are so jaw-droppingly reckless, readers find themselves curled up in a quivering ball, clutching the book, and screaming, “Don’t go in the basement!” at the top of their lungs. It’s the kind of scene that makes your hair stand on end and your heart pound, because you know the next page is going to be a beautiful, terrifying mess. (Looking at you, every horror flick ever.)
Here’s the thing: TSTL isn’t about making mistakes—real people do that all the time. It’s about making choices that defy logic, intelligence, and basic survival instinct. Early in a story, TSTL usually happens to arrogant characters, bullies, or the stuck-up chick to make a point about how dangerous the situation is. In A Nightmare on Elm Street, teens repeatedly ignore warnings about Freddy Krueger, fall asleep in dangerous places, and walk into obvious traps, making their fates inevitable (and quite memorable 🤢). In Jurassic Park, the blood-sucking lawyer abandons the two adorable kids to hide in a bathroom during a T. rex attack. Spoiler alert: The T. rex doesn’t respect bathroom privacy. It was a half-baked escape plan, anyway. Heh.
A problem with TSTL pops up when the author doesn’t back it up with real danger or tension. Everything might be “set up” so the reader expects something to happen—maybe even dreads it—only for nothing to happen. Case in point: In one of my Zoo mysteries, my heroine waltzed off to confront a suspect without a flicker of worry. The scene fizzled because there was zero threat—no tension, no stakes, just disappointment. My beta reader called me out, and they were right. I rewrote the scene so the heroine knew she’d be safe before she went in, which kept her smart and the plot tight.
So, what’s the right way to use TSTL? Give your character a reason for that risky move—maybe they’re desperate, protecting someone, or missing a crucial piece of information. Make sure the danger is real, the stakes are high, and the reader’s heart is in their throat. Think Clarice Starling entering Buffalo Bill’s lair in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)—she’s terrified, but she’s got guts and a goal.
Because if your TSTL moment is just a shortcut for plot or conflict, readers will notice—and they’ll call it out every time.
Bottom line: If your character’s actions ramp up tension and make sense for who they are, you’re golden. If not, you might just be sending them—and your reader—over the metaphorical cliff.
Stay frosty,
Red
Other TSTL acronyms:
TDTB: Too Dumb to Breath
TCTL: Too Clueless to Live
Send us your favorite TSTL moments—those “Don’t go in the basement!” scenes from books or movies that made you scream, laugh, or facepalm. We want to hear about the best (or worst) examples!