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Fantasy: January 29, 2025 Issue [#12952]




 This week: Ensemble
  Edited by: Annette Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

"Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them." ~ Joubert Botha


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Ensemble


In French, "ensemble" means "together." In the English language, "ensemble" refers to a cast of fictional characters who work together towards a common goal. They may not always see eye to eye. They may even come across as rivals, but they still have one common goal or all fight the same enemy.

Looking at many fantasy stories, there is often one character who stands out. The popular children's and young adult fiction hero Harry Potter gets to have his name on all of his books. However, he's clearly never alone. As soon as he gets on the train, we take part in the assembly of his crew. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger become his immediate and loyal to the end co-workers. The cast of people rooting for Harry and working with him only gets bigger as the books progress. Even one person who seems to be an antagonist from the first time they meet ends up being part of Harry's ensemble. Professor Snape works as a sleeper agent for the dark side while also doing his best to present himself as a despicable antagonist to Harry and all students. Even the most hated Professor Umbridge, the one who loves pink kitten plates, is in the end an opponent of the one who must not be named.

Short stories tend to be more understandable when the cast is kept small. Novels can have a larger cast because there is more time to flesh each character out and make them memorable. It takes a dedicated fandom to keep track of huge casts with several dozen important characters, but it's entirely possible.

As a writer, when you work out a fantasy story or novel, you have to assemble the cast. Remember that not everyone who has the same goal as your most prominent hero has the same methods. Maybe they even work against each other for a while until they realize they are stalling each other out. Or you use the mentor figure, represented by Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter books to create one person who pulls everyone's strings. Although it's a common trope that the mentor character dies, it's not a fixed rule. You can keep the mentor alive.

Do you have an example of a fantasy story with a protagonist who acts alone?


Editor's Picks

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FORUM
I Write in 2025 Open in new Window. (13+)
25 contest entries & 25 reviews is all it takes to be a winner.
#2329770 by Annette Author IconMail Icon

 
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STATIC
The Suit Open in new Window. (E)
Maybe looking up is not what we should be doing.
#2333150 by Ichabod Crane Author IconMail Icon

 
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BOOK
Bradbury Tales Open in new Window. (E)
Storage of stories written for The Bradbury, 2025.
#2332715 by Beholden Author IconMail Icon

 
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STATIC
The Amulet Open in new Window. (E)
Yasmin a young girl receives an Amulet from a dying sorceror Chapters 1-4
#2331639 by Dragonbane Author IconMail Icon

 
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STATIC
Dragons Paradise  Open in new Window. (E)
Two male dragons, female dragons and a Princess and an adventure.
#2333767 by Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon

 
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STATIC
TEDDY Open in new Window. (E)
A story about my Teddy Bear
#2334029 by Seabreeze Author IconMail Icon

 
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BOOK
The Brown Bag Book Open in new Window. (18+)
A brown paper bag full of stories. What? Were you expecting more?
#2332773 by Jeremy Author IconMail Icon

 
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STATIC
Kayda Saves the Day Open in new Window. (E)
A fairytale about an unlikely heroine and a village that misjudges her.
#2333736 by Cadence Sidney Black Author IconMail Icon

 
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STATIC
The Fall of the House that Crushed Her Open in new Window. (ASR)
Dorothy Gale is set to receive a delivery, but it may be too late
#2333957 by Than Pence Author IconMail Icon

 
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STATIC
The Portrait  Open in new Window. (E)
A six year old's dream of being a Flamenco dancer
#2249007 by Dragonfly Author IconMail Icon

 
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One Ancient Samhain Night  Open in new Window. (GC)
Wood-elf and an Imp Witness Death's start
#2328096 by AnotherDreamer Author IconMail Icon

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Replies to my last Fantasy newsletter "Wish-Fulfillment" Open in new Window. that asked What is the most realistic fantasy you've read or written?

Twinflame8 Author Icon wrote: I agree with Tolkien. I, too, prefer peace, abundance, and joy—that's definitely my go-to choice when it comes to writing. I want to write stories that inspire those types of feelings without the drama that usually accompanies the antagonist-protagonist stuff. I feel life can be antagonistic enough. I don't want it in my fantasies.

That's a great way to look at it!

dragonwoman Author Icon wrote: Thanks for making The Big Gift one of your picks

Thank you for writing it!

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