Who needs heroes? (I do)
In previous posts, we discussed villains and heroes. Now we come to a more personal question. Who needs heroes?
This question drives my writing and my explorations into character.
I am flawed. I struggle. I move forward a little bit, and then I fall. I get tired. It’s hard to get up and continue. What do I need to go on? Pretty much, I just need a hero to look to. (more…)
What makes a Hero?
Aslan, from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
A hero is someone that inspires hope. A hero stands in contrast to a villain, who inspires hopelessness. Villains are explored in a previous post.
Based on this simple definition, the hero type can be broken down into several categories. This post contains short videos that I believe demonstrate the aspects of heroism that I look for in my characters.
There are many real-life examples of heroes. This post is limited to fictional heroes and heroic qualities that I find inspiring.
Everyday hero
These everyday heroes may not change the world, but they can change your world.
Consider Kermit the Frog in The Muppet Movie (1978). (more…)
What makes a villain?
Alien vs. Darth Vader. Image courtesy TheForce.net discussion boards.
A good villain is the embodiment of that which makes you feel helpless.
With that in mind, three types of villains emerge:
Inhuman forces of nature
Shadows and hordes
Inhuman forces of nature that run rampant are always scary. A few examples include: (more…)
The Hidden History of Oz 