The beauty of common people

The beauty of common people

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The beauty of common people: keep them boring, or shake things up!

Every story has “common” characters who keep showing up in novels because they may be significant to moving your story along or they may be just there as a mention.

They don’t have any kind of past trauma, and they may not be the lead, they are just as important. For starters, it gives the reader a sense of realism – not everyone lives a dramatic life, and even the people who seem most insignificant in your life can play a huge role. Or, they have the potential to shake things up a bit, particularly in your writing.

And just like in life, if you didn’t have these “common” people who don’t bring drama everywhere they go, it would be boring, right?

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Can your readers see themselves in your characters?

Can your readers see themselves in your characters?

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The most important ingredient in a novel is not the plotline!

Anyone can think of a plot, such as a person brought up in the wilderness discovers an unusual shard that turns out to be the key to closing an inter-dimensional portal. Their unique skills mean that they are the only person for the job.

The problem isn’t the storyline, it’s your character.

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Character Archetypes Series: #7 The Shadow

Character Archetypes Series: #7 The Shadow

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In the seventh article of Character Archetypes Series, we talk about Shadow.

We have arrived at the “Supreme Ordeal“, the moment in which the Hero wages battle against his enemy, The Shadow.

This is the most powerful of the archetypes we encounter on the Hero’s journey. He is the hero’s antagonist, his enemy but also his alter ego. In Disney fairy tales and cartoons, it is represented as the villain, in the form of a dragon or monster.

This character got overwhelmed by the negative and dark side of his character and became a Shadow.

What can a Hero do to not give in to this archetype and turn into something dark?

He can learn to recognize this negative side, dominate it and counter it in order not to give in.

We’re used to thinking that the antagonist, the Shadow, is a flesh-and-blood character, a monster, but that’s not always the case. In some cases, The Shadow may be our fear. Let’s think about our daily life.

Have you ever had to do something that scares you, in order to achieve a goal or a loved one? Have you ever, for example, taken the plane to reach your sweetheart, despite the fear of the plane? Many romantic films show The Shadow in the guise of these inner fears.

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You don’t have to judge, you have to understand

You don’t have to judge, you have to understand

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We’ve all been there, you see someone doing something and just think that’s crazy.

Watching someone spend thousands on a dress, when you can get the same thing for a fraction of the price, can certainly seem crazy.

However, you need to remember that you don’t know the situation that person is in.

When you assume they’re crazy you’re judging them when you need to understand them. In effect, you need to walk a mile in their shoes before you can attempt to understand if their actions were crazy or not.

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Character Archetypes Series: #6 Shapeshifter

Character Archetypes Series: #6 Shapeshifter

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Before getting to the final part of the Hero’s Journey, we stop to describe two important characters in the narrative. In the previous article, we talked about the Herald, and this article of Character Archetypes Series we talk about Shapeshifter.

This is a character who changes throughout the story. However, it does not change shape but function in the Hero’s Journey. When we met him, he seemed to be bad. His role is to hinder the Hero in his path. Only towards the end of the story, the Shapeshifter reveals himself to be good.

He is also a figure who has worked behind the scenes to help, without even letting the Hero himself know.

Similarly, the Shapeshifter can apparently be a friend. In the end, he turns out to be an enemy, or someone ready to thwart the Hero.

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Good guys are boring

Good guys are boring

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Are you writing a novel or a short story and trying to work out the details of your character?

Or, perhaps you’re in a relationship with a good guy and wondering why you thinking of dumping them. You’re not alone!

Good guys are typically seen as boring.

It may be because they don’t like to take risks, or perhaps because they don’t challenge the norms of society.

The truth is that generally no one is attracted to nice guys. Or not?

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Character Archetypes Series: #5 Herald

Character Archetypes Series: #5 Herald

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In the fifth article of Character Archetypes Series, we talk about Herald.

In the previous articles, we arrived at the last step of the Hero’s Journey. But let us stop for a moment in our narration, and return to the initial stage, that of the “Call to Adventure”.

We have always said that it is an event that starts the story. It is at this very moment, in this event, that we know the next archetype the Herald.

The Hero’s Journey begins with an inner need, a kidnapping of someone dear or with someone’s warning.

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You can not please everyone. Who you are writing for?

You can not please everyone. Who you are writing for?

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The key to successful writing is to understand who you are writing for.

If you are interested in writing, it’s not enough for you to have a vivid imagination and time to put words to paper.

You can start by letting your ideas pool and then create a storyline that you can work with. But, in order to successfully do this, you need to consider who you are writing for.

There’s a big difference between the style of the Harry Potter series and the Da Vinci Code. The difference isn’t in the writer or even defined by the genre, it’s in who the target audience is.

Understanding who will be reading your novel ensures you create a story that they will enjoy reading. This approach ensures you are aware of the most appropriate writing style to keep your reader engaged.

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Character Archetypes Series: #4 Ally

Character Archetypes Series: #4 Ally

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In the fourth article of Character Archetypes Series, we talk about Ally.

Our Hero has just crossed the First Threshold and has definitively abandoned the Ordinary World. He is now in the company of the Mentor, a fundamental character he met in the first stages of his Journey. He is, in fact, who pushes him to embark on this path.

However, this is not the only important character that the Hero meets. By approaching the first challenges that the character of the Ally is introduced.

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