: Re: How to make a character work for an idea? One of the main rules for developing a good storyline is to make sure that the characters work for their achievements. Perhaps before they can slay

There is a theory that the fantasy aspects of classic myths and fairy tales are actually dramatizing internal psychological conflicts and their resolutions. The hero is fighting a monster, but's its really an elaborate metaphor for fighting off depression, or overcoming selfishness, or what-have-you. The same can work in reverse. The hero may superficially work in an office, but inside his psyche, he's having epic battles. This can be treated more literally and externally (e.g. the "villain" is the boss, the "wizard" is his business mentor, the "princess" is his co-worker) but it can also be purely metaphorical and internal.

In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy fights and kills a witch, but the real challenge is overcoming her insecurities, and learning to have faith in herself. Conversely, Remains of the Day takes place entirely in a bland, mundane, heavily bounded setting, but the main character's repressed inner life is filled with (psychological) dangers that are never acted out, but only hinted at. Done properly, even the most strictly realistic story can have many of the same pleasures as great fantasy. Note that the work put in by the character doesn't even need to be directly related to the goal in order for the audience to feel emotionally satisfied. They just want to see the work put in somehow.

In your story, your main character needs to overcome something in order to reach his resolution --a great idea. That something doesn't need to be a literal dragon. Rather, it could be something internal --his own insecurity, or his ego, or his selfishness, or some other deep seated, hard-to-dislodge character flaw. Only after he changes and grows as a person does the needed idea flow forth.

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: I would credit the actor but not their role if that's possible, credit them by name as part of an "and others" section for the parts with no lines. Or maybe disguise their role, instead

@Sarah872

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: First draft Word count. Do you find your first draft is longer or shorter than your completed work? I understand that I will be cutting alot of unnessary words, but I also have a list of

@Sarah872

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: "the antagonists are all irredeemably evil" that causes me issues, people, real people, are never all of one thing. Part of showing that the protagonist is human is showing that those he opposes

@Sarah872

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: Early investment in a character who "learns better" I'm looking for ways to build early reader investment in an unlikable character who "learns better," but not until fairly late in the book.

: Re: How to make a character work for an idea? One of the main rules for developing a good storyline is to make sure that the characters work for their achievements. Perhaps before they can slay

More posts by @Sarah872

: I would credit the actor but not their role if that's possible, credit them by name as part of an "and others" section for the parts with no lines. Or maybe disguise their role, instead

: First draft Word count. Do you find your first draft is longer or shorter than your completed work? I understand that I will be cutting alot of unnessary words, but I also have a list of

: "the antagonists are all irredeemably evil" that causes me issues, people, real people, are never all of one thing. Part of showing that the protagonist is human is showing that those he opposes

: Early investment in a character who "learns better" I'm looking for ways to build early reader investment in an unlikable character who "learns better," but not until fairly late in the book.

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