: Re: What is the motivation to use a useless dolt as a protagonist? I want to root for the protagonist. I want to feel the weight of his burdens so I can turn around and celebrate with him when

If your protagonist is infamous or an anti-hero, representing him as a dolt can actually add to the reader's interest, primarily through comic relief.

For instance, many of the late- medieval/early-Renaissance Christian monarchs were nothing short of concentrated evil. However, a historical fiction novel set in 15th century Rome pretty much has to have the Pope either as the protagonist or antagonist. Good luck trying to sell a book with, say, Pope Sixtus IV, the author of the Spanish Inquisition, as the antagonist.

However, to focus on his few positives while poking holes through his ridiculous rationalization process can make the reader kind of feel sorry for him. Add in the monarchs as the antagonists. Then, focusing on a personal transformation can lead to a happy-ish ending (in this case, reserving a piece of the Holy Roman Empire in modern Germany and Poland for the Jews).

Coming-of-age awkwardness in either film or fiction is not uncommon. In the end, boy gets girl or vice versa. Again, we feel sorry for him, start to root for him with comedy thrown in, and want to see his transformation that makes him desirable.

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: Need to own copyright on illustrations if planning a series? I am writing a children's book for the first time. I anticipate this becoming a series. I have an illustrator to do the artwork.

@Caterina108

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: Do I need the copyright to mention Tim Hortons? So I'm writing a book, (duh) and I want to include a mention of a Tim Hortons cup, (Canadian coffee place) just to hint at the reader that

@Caterina108

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: How to write about aliens without making the work seem Sci-fi? I am writing scenes of a work where the primary setting and theme is a medieval style world. I believe the genre should be described

@Caterina108

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: The fact is that females are grossly under-represented across most fiction. There have been various studies to mathematically prove this (here's one: https://seejane.org/research-informs-empowers/data/).

: Re: What is the motivation to use a useless dolt as a protagonist? I want to root for the protagonist. I want to feel the weight of his burdens so I can turn around and celebrate with him when

More posts by @Caterina108

: Need to own copyright on illustrations if planning a series? I am writing a children's book for the first time. I anticipate this becoming a series. I have an illustrator to do the artwork.

: Do I need the copyright to mention Tim Hortons? So I'm writing a book, (duh) and I want to include a mention of a Tim Hortons cup, (Canadian coffee place) just to hint at the reader that

: How to write about aliens without making the work seem Sci-fi? I am writing scenes of a work where the primary setting and theme is a medieval style world. I believe the genre should be described

: The fact is that females are grossly under-represented across most fiction. There have been various studies to mathematically prove this (here's one: https://seejane.org/research-informs-empowers/data/).

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