A True Character

       The Knight in Shining Armor, The Dastardly Wizard or Emperor who wishes to end the Hero's existance, the Fair and Lovely Maiden who gets kidnapped five to many times, the boy who meets a girl, loses her, and wins her again, and the lifeless side-characters who are merely used as imagery. These are all examples of what one should avoid when creating characters. These Archtypes are the tried-and-true examples of most escapist literature, and although they may be easy to create, they leave the reader feeling disconnected from the piece. If you are a writer, you want to create memorable characters that will leave audiences and fans breathless with their words and actions, and as a reader, you want to experience the thrill of meeting a character who you come to respect and adore in a piece of writing. No one wants a perfect hero... no normal man or woman could ever relate to a perfect protagonist with absolutely no flaws or secret agendas so why make one? It is the hero with flaws, with weaknesses, and desires that he/she cannot have, it is these heroes that captivate readers. We want to see a fallen hero rise back up after being beaten, a man or woman who is willing to own up for their mistakes and take responsibility for their actions. While you're at it, why make the villian entirely evil? Why not give the reader a perspective on good and evil, maybe everything isn't as black and white as it once appeared. There are always shades of moral gray in between the black and white, why not exploit it? Always remember that side characters can be just as influential as main characters, and in some cases, even more influential. Remember to flesh out side characters, their mannerisms, their dialogue, their actions... make everything about them as life-like as the primary protagonist. Remember that the character you create is always a piece of yourself, a mental representation of your beliefs, thoughts, or even your physical being. The character is a part of you... why not make it as unique as you are? Cheers - The Illusive Writer