Sometimes the Trite Is True

My characters are specifically barred from being subjects of this answer. If I let them have their way, they’d do nothing but blather on about how many horrible things I subject them to for the purpose of the story. That they’d be right is entirely beside the point.

I considered this question for a bit (and found it a little unsettling to realize I had numerous instances to compare and contrast), but concluded that the most accurate answer is also the one most expected, unto the point of clich...