posted
I seem to like my secondary chars more then my main char, even though my main char suffers the most.
It seems like my four secondary chars are more interesting. All my hero does is save the freaking universe by sacrificing his eternal soul to damnation!
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> All my hero does is save the freaking > universe by sacrificing his eternal soul > to damnation!
And then what does he do? He goes around whining about it. "I saved the universe," he says, "and now I suffer unending torment while the rest of you have all the fun. Ow!" Seriously, who wants to hang around a guy like that?
But that's not all: he wears his "I saved the universe and all I got was this lousy T-shirt and eternal damnation" T-shirt all the time, and what with the brimstone smell and the sweat from all the fires of Hell, that shirt smells just a little bit.
posted
I suppose that it's a pretty extreme varient on the "gain the whole world and lose his own soul" idea.
One question, is it his plan to sacrifice his eternal soul like that, or does it just sort of work out that way? Because if it's his plan, it's a pretty stupid plan on the face of it. I've read/seen stories that made it work, but usually you have to introduce at least a little bit of the "things just worked out this way" element.
The trouble is that the "things just worked out this way" story can be seriously lacking in an essential element of drama, the active protagonist. If your character just happened to be the one that drew the metaphoric (or literal) short straw...well, that's not necessarily a reason for us to care.
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I don't see that it's a problem, really. You should definitely like your hero a lot, but I often come up with supporting characters that fascinate me and end up with their own complicated backstory (that I usually keep to myself). I ended up writing a novel chapter from the point of view of one just because I liked him so much...an assassin who gets blackmailed into killing a king (a suicide mission). I've had characters that draw the eye of readers because they have more swing and pizazz in a sentence than most characters do in a whole novel. I've had characters I fell in love with and gave them their own subplot because I liked them so much. (One of them I had to kill, though...very sad.)
I think secondary character can make or break a story, actually. Real depth of world, of plot, and of character often comes in the other people, the ones that so often end up shallow to the point of uselessness. Be happy you like your characters.
Just do find something special about your main character.
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Through the course of writing my first novel, I came to know my main character as well as I know anyone. My favorite character, however, was the man who was my main character's father figure. Because I knew my main character so well, it was a very emotional experience for me to write the chapter where the father figure dies. I knew every heart-wrenching detail of the agony my main character experienced. Then I watched him mature and get on with his life.
My point is that if you love your supporting cast, express that love with your main character.
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With whom does the universe "freak" in your story? Is that why it needs saving?
P.S. I like your screen name. I suffer from the delusion that I've won the game if I can take out the other guys knights. I mean, if I can get rid of the knights, I don't feel as stupid about whatever transpires next.
[This message has been edited by franc li (edited June 04, 2005).]
EricJamesStone - <grin> I better copyright that t-shirt. That's my frustration talking, not the hero. I just feel like my main character doesn't resonate with me, maybe I'm tired of heroes?
Survivor - Without giving away my entire plot - my hero, due to circumstances beyond his control, annihilates all the people of his colony. He has to live with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and the only feelings that surface through his depression are guilt, anger, and sadness. Therefore, when he's given the chance to keep others from suffering, he sacrifices his soul.
He doesn't draw any straw. He is given the choice, along with many others, and ends up the only one who volunteers. This is all still very raw for me, but I think I have it all in my head.
Christine - That's why I love this forum so much. When I posted this question I had no feeling toward my hero, and now I do because I'm forced to defend him... making me realize how noble and selfless this poor tortured bastard is :)
Exactly! Look at LOTR, every character is interesting and easily capable of having his own book. I'd love to see seperate books about Aragorn or Gimli.
Spaceman - Good concept. I think that a lot of writers live vicariously through their main character, while secondary chars are more refreshing and exciting.
Thanks for all your input, you all helped me get my creative juices flowing :)
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ParanoidRook
unregistered
posted
Almost missed ya there franc!
<grin> The universe doesn't "freak" with anyone, it just minds its own business It's those dirty humans that need help.
Ah my full name should've been ParanoidRookie, wasn't thinking of chess when I made it. Speaking of chess though, I only protect and try to take out the queen. It's no coincidence that the female piece is the strongest!
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I don't know if franc li has ever beaten me at chess, but it would have to have been before I learned that the king is the objective point of your game.
Anyway, if you're finding new life in your protagonists character, then our work is done here.
So, we could play chess, stranger things have happened.
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My primary protagonist in my current novel was an accident. I started out with the idea that another character (female) would be my lead, then this male character sort of took on life and now he's become the main character, and to some degree the lens through which the female character is seen. I'm still a bit surprised that happened.
Regarding your long suffering hero, I understand why you are tired of all the angst. We weary of that, no matter how noble the cause. You might give your hero a break by throwing an empathetic companion his way, someone to give him a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark life. Like in OSC's Alvin Maker series, little Peggy comes forth to be an understanding companion for him. Even though they aren't always together, there is a break for him to give him a chance to be human. It gives the reader a break too, from all the travail.
Just a thought... You could always make it a temporary relationship if you want to send him back to the Pit of Despair again.
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Ahavah - Talk about a horrible life! Bob the paranoid rock watched as the children picked up his brothers and sisters, and threw them into the pond. Fearing he would be next, Bob tried to move even less then before... which is impossible because he's a rock.
Elan - Yes, that's what my heroine does. I have to find a way not to make this some cheesy, cliche-filled book destined for use as firewood.
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I always have trouble starting out with and keeping POV characters where/who they should be. My POV people are never my "main" characters, but they all seem to have their own plots and struggles outside of the "main" plot. Sometimes it's hard to make sure that the focus stays in the right place, even though the "main" characters are always vitally important to the POV people's lives.
The other thing that surprises me is how often I pick the wrong POV character, and how naturally the problem corrects itself. It's annoying, though...start out with one character, and then find out that it's his best friend that's really the more interesting one, and that it's the best friend who has the most call to be telling the story at hand.
If you're getting tired of your "main" character, what about telling his story from another person's POV? I don't know how well the technique works for other people, but it's my favorite character arrangement. After all, what would Sherlock Holmes be without Watson around to tell us what's actually going on?
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