: Re: Why should I try to create realistic fantasy characters? One use for fantasy is wish-fulfillment. With that in mind, why is there a need for realism in creating a character in a fantasy novel?

@Gretchen741

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You don't have to make a character realistic, but you do have to be careful how you make a character unrealistic if you choose to do so. There are plenty of examples of unrealistic stock characters. A 'manic pixie dream girl' is one example of an unrealistic wish-fulfilment character that's relatively common in fiction: she's beautiful, playful, and adores the hero for no apparent reason (because he's so wonderful). She's completely unburdened by family, obligation, or interest that doesn't involve the hero. Her entire purpose is to help the hero find happiness.

The problem is that if you aren't careful, any unrealistic character (especially of the wish-fulfillment variety) can make your story tired, clichéd, and boring. If you're writing for yourself, that's fine. If you're writing for an audience, not so much.

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