Annie, one of my readers, got surprising feedback from her writer's group. One of her novel's characters, an abused woman trying to escape from controlling relationships (with parents and boyfriend) was unbelievable. Her sadness and desperation to escape wasn't enough to make her vivid, memorable, engaging to readers. Where was her strength, her resolution?
Problem is, Annie says, an abused person often lacks this kind of drive. So what could she do to create more tension around this character, making her vivid and believable in her search to become her own person?