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Post by eakyra on Oct 30, 2006 23:22:26 GMT -5
OOooo, good one.
The good guys are usually modeled after humans/people in real life. They have weakness, and are not really the most well put together. This helps show the struggle for ritchousness with people in real life, it gives them something to relate too.
The bad guy- why would he want to share this omnious glory?
Just my mini take on the subject.
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Post by Denithar on Oct 31, 2006 7:39:08 GMT -5
I would add that literature is highly influenced by the prevalent religions. For example, Christianity teaches that our power comes from God, not from ourselves. This is metaphorically the hero. Brave, possessing of character, but not powerful.
So in this case, the bad guy is bad because he tries to play the role of God.
However, as humans rely less on a God based religion, we've seen a change in the bad guys and good guys. (Ender's Game, Wicked, etc.) This actually ties in a little with the Good vs. Evil theme.
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Post by eakyra on Oct 31, 2006 21:22:11 GMT -5
Nice point Den. Funny how religion seems to tie into everything.
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Post by Chris on Nov 1, 2006 14:48:57 GMT -5
I'm glad to see our latest topic has stimulated some discussion, but let's keep in mind that the intent of this thread is to discuss topics in which others have difficulty in some area, and by sharing our knowledge together we can aid that person with some practical advice. The way this week's topic question has been phrased will make certain that the discussion takes place on a largely opinonative, subjective basis, and no real applicable advice will be given.
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Post by eakyra on Nov 1, 2006 23:17:29 GMT -5
Im actually writting a few story's where the bad guy turns out to be the winner. There is a hero per se, but in a diffrent sense. Im trying to make it more realistic. It is true that perhaps in the end he turns out to not be so bad, but then again, not really. ;D Will update more in the fiction stories forum.
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Post by Chris on Nov 6, 2006 9:53:21 GMT -5
New week everyone. Got a topic?
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Post by Denithar on Nov 6, 2006 11:30:47 GMT -5
The subject of writing the hero's loyal sidekick.
Personally, this is my favorite character to write. My favorite character in any book is still Sam the Hobbit in LotR.
This character must NOT be powerful. He or she is brave, loyal, happy, friendly, and slightly clueless. But in the end, they are often the character that saves their hero. They can provide comic relief in a serious situation. More talk later, I'm off to college.
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Post by Chris on Nov 7, 2006 10:28:14 GMT -5
Again, subjects like these are highly subjective. and therefore offer no real practical advice because every character is different, even if they fall into stereotypes like heroes and sidekicks. For instance, Den believes that a sidekick mustn't be powerful, but I think that there are many enjoyable plot points you can take with a sidekick who's more powerful than the hero he supports. Perhaps your hero will be jealous of his sidekick's prowess. Perhaps your sidekick is put out that he's the second banana to someone who is less powerful than he is. Perhaps the sidekick has the power, but doesn't have the discipline to control it. Like I said, it's a matter of personal choice, and you can create a hero, sidekick, villain, etc. with any characteristics that you like, even if it goes against the norm. There may be readers like Den who like sidekicks to have certain traits (and even I have to admit that I like Samwise much better than Frodo), but trust that if the quirks in your character are those that entertain you and not just those that seem appropriate, your readers will likewise enjoy them as well.
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Post by Denithar on Nov 8, 2006 0:49:00 GMT -5
I really don't see how these last two subjects are any more subjective than the first. But nevermind. I didn't say sidekicks couldn't be powerful, not in the least. I'm just trying to describe this sort of sidekick that I find most entertaining; the Samwise sort. How about you decide the next topic, as you seem not to like my choices.
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Post by Chris on Nov 11, 2006 8:50:23 GMT -5
God, you must think I'm a total snot. I'm so sorry; I just can't explain myself well. That's not what I'm trying to say at all. Let's just say that I want us to pose topic proposals as questions as opposed to statements, because questions are more likely to solicit answers and advice, while statements will more likely start discussions. Discussion is cool and all, don't get me wrong, but the key to what I'm trying to do here is to help get practical and applicable tips in subjects where people are having difficulties.
Let's compare topics for a second, then you'll see what I'm trying to say.
Eakyra suggested the theme of Good vs Evil, and "How to make this seem original". Look at it this way: we are given a problem, and we are asked to give our suggestions as to find a solution. The goal is specific and obvious, it solicits advice, and the advice that we give will be immediately applicable.
Now, take this week's topic: "Writing the hero's loyal sidekick". While the topic is obvious, it isn't specific enough, and more importantly, it doesn't really ask us to find a practical solution to a problem.
That is all I meant. For future topics, let's just pose our topics as questions.
Here's my topic suggestion for this week: How can I make setting more significant in my stories?
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Post by Denithar on Nov 11, 2006 9:25:50 GMT -5
I see what you mean now, and you're right. I'll remember that next time I post a subject.
One way to make settings significant is if your story is a journey by the hero and his band. Raise the danger and excitement level and keep the reader on edge by putting them in a hostile/desert/lava/cliff setting. Bring in sporadic places of peace and happiness so that they story has an ebb and flow of drama.
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Post by Chris on Nov 12, 2006 9:08:18 GMT -5
That's a great way. The environment itself becomes almost a character itself that way, and when it changes, the mood shifts with it. It also in just one more obstacle your hero has to face.
But let's say you're not writing about a hero/adventurer/traveller. Let's say you're just writing about an ordinary person who's staying put in one setting, like in his/her home or his/her town or his/her school. Could you apply the same principles? If you can't, what ideas would you use to make the setting more significant in that case? And can you think of any universal principles to apply to any setting in any story?
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Post by Denithar on Nov 12, 2006 9:44:50 GMT -5
This is of course a subject that doesn't have a right or wrong answer. The dwelling of the character, and his town or whatnot, should either effect the character's personality, or if you know your character, then you should fit his abode into that mold. You can move the story forward, and tell a lot about the character by describing where he lives. If you're serious about your story, then make sure you know the place as if you lived there yourself. Make maps, drawings, building plans, etc. Obviously all the information will never be used, but if you know the place the reader will sense it in the reading, and it will add immensely to your writing.
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Post by Chris on Nov 14, 2006 16:30:14 GMT -5
Excellent viewpoint. I agree that the setting will have some kind of effect on your character, and thinking it through can only make your story better. Let's take a look at the use of setting in a story through a work of a guildian. I've found this piece in the snippets section about St. Margaret's Village, and the author describes this village and compares it with the cities in the area, and asks the question whether the rurality of St. Margaret's is a blessing or a curse. The link: ywg2.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=snippets&action=display&thread=1157407358
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Post by Chris on Nov 20, 2006 16:01:40 GMT -5
Thread is dying here. Any suggestions for this week topic?
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