 Action/Adventure: May 31, 2023 Issue [#11968] |
This week: The Companion Edited by: Annette  
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"Finding the right companion on the onset is like striking the jackpot in life.” - Fanny Lai
“If you have loyal companion, that is all there is in this life.” - Lailah Gifty Akita
"A merry companion is as good as a wagon." - John Lyly |
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The Companion
Companions are partners to a principal protagonist. Famous examples are Sherlock Holmes' Watson, Han Solo's Chewbacca, and Doctor Who's revolving cast of companions to name a few.
The most obvious way to think of the companion is to relegate him into the role of the helper to the main character. In reality, the companion is the writer's and the reader's friend just as much.
Companion to the writer:
The companion gives us writers the perfect character to explain things to. We can use him for descriptions, narration, and even go all out and make the companion a fish out of water who needs to learn the whole world.
Additionally, we don't need to coddle the companion with a lot of lines, but use him/her whenever needed to keep the action moving along.
Companion to the reader:
The companion is our ears and eyes. We can experience more of the story by observing along with the companion. When we don't know why something works the way it does, all we have to do is wait for the companion to ask that question. Through those questions and the answers given, we learn more about the main character's motivation and inner thoughts.
Companion to the hero:
The companion is a fiercely loyal partner who is ready to jump in and assist the main character.
This trustworthy platonic friend also helps out with deductive reasoning and helps to plan out the next steps needed to accomplish the goal.
Close to the main character, but still apart, the companion is the shoulder to cry on and can provide other emotional support too.
Problems with the companion:
The companion can lose himself/herself in placing the friendship above their own good.
There might be a problem in fleshing out the companion as enough of a free standing character because the companion takes a step back from expressing any personal views - or even becomes a yes-person that rarely contradicts the hero.
The companion is at risk for abuse by the main character if they are written as a blindly loyal sidekick.
On the other side of the spectrum, the companion can become obsessed with the main character and be needy or co-dependent.
Have you used the companion archetype in your stories? |
| | | I Am the Storm (18+)
Her forest is diseased, her memories are lost, and her companion is not what he seems.
#2091150 by K Renée  |
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#2244421 by Not Available. |
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Replies to my last Action/Adventure newsletter "Five Pillars of Action Adventure" that asked Can you think of another typical Action Adventure ingredient?
Monty  wrote: Five great points for any type of write.
Beholden  wrote: Thank you very much for including my short story, Ambush, among your Editor's Picks. |
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