Action/Adventure: November 19, 2014 Issue [#6662]
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Action/Adventure


 This week: Sensible Hero versus Loser
  Edited by: NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon
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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

Hello writers and readers of action and adventure, I am NaNoNette Author Icon, your guest editor for this issue.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Sensible Hero versus Loser


Nobody loves your character more than you.


When you create a character and you spend time with him in your imagination going along on his adventures, make sure you don't fall so much in love with him that only you can love him any longer.

You think your hero is strong, but he really comes across as a jerk to your readers when:
1. He is always right.
2. He bosses too many people around.
3. Other characters have to forgive him often.
4. He gets into unnecessary fights (and always wins).
5. He commits a heinous crime, but somehow it's portrayed as okay in the story.

How can you fix your too strong hero?
1. Have him be right, but also wrong, and have him acknowledge when others helped him to find the correct path.
2. If he orders others around, show him also do the same tasks, or at least supervise and guide.
3. Make him forgiving too or don't create situations for him where misbehavior needs forgiving.
4. No unnecessary fights. If there is a fight, it has to drive the plot forward. A random streetfight to show off how strong he is is boring.
5. No heinous crimes. Revenge killing can be okay, pleasure killing or torture is a no go.

You think your hero is sensible, but he really comes across as a boring weakling to your readers when:
1. You write about his strengths, but he never uses them.
2. Everybody else in the story constantly puts him down.
3. He never shows anger toward other characters.
4. He never defends himself.
5. Other characters do everything for him.
6. Other characters scheme behind his back to do things for him.

How can you fix your too weak hero?
1. Show him do something. If he's a teacher, show him teach. If he's an artist, show him practice or perform his art.
2. Some down-putting can work to make us root for the underdog, but it gets old. Once the reader knows nobody respects your hero, move on in the plot.
3. Not showing anger only works for an Amish hero. Everybody else has to speak up or lose the reader's respect.
4. Reflectively blocking a strike against him in a fight is a good beginning, but then your sensible hero has to show some sort of will to live so that your readers want to see him live too.
5. Unless quadriplegic, your character has to do things for himself. If there is a rite of passage, he has do go through it. If there is a riddle, he has to solve it.
6. If your character is so passive and weak that even the other characters come up with schemes to do things for him ... what is left for the reader? Your hero has to be offended and insist to go out and do that task or something similar. Reaping the laurels for a non-done deed or even without coming up with a different or smarter solution on the part of your hero makes him redundant to the plot. Make sure the other characters don't steal the story from him.



Editor's Picks

 
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Moswen's Plight Open in new Window. (13+)
A betrothed princess runs into a bit of trouble on her way to see her fiancee.
#2018089 by Alagar Author IconMail Icon

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#1986134 by Not Available.

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#2018083 by Not Available.

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This item number is not valid.
#1553066 by Not Available.

 Wishing Back in Time Open in new Window. (E)
This is a story about a girl who goes back in time to save her father.
#2017632 by Bookworm Author IconMail Icon

 Oh, Cynthia  Open in new Window. (E)
About a girl, who's best friend goes missing and she needs to go and save her!
#2017599 by Silpa Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
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#2017596 by Not Available.

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A Healing Day for Rhea Open in new Window. (ASR)
Rhea's daughter, Miranda, is united with her healing horse.
#1950149 by Maryann Author IconMail Icon

 The Realm of Fantasy Group Open in new Window. (ASR)
For the love of fantasy, sci-fi, and mythology we write.
#2017107 by Khariyya Jia Li ~ Studying 247 Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
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#1967102 by Not Available.

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer


Comments I got for my last Action Adventure Newsletter "LocationsOpen in new Window..

BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful Author Icon wrote: Sometimes we have to create a world that's similar, but very different.



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