Heroes Fight for Right
Heroes do not run from conflict. They stand up for themselves, their principles, and for others who cannot fight back or choose not to. Physical violence is their weapon of last resort. Complex heroes try to outrun, outmaneuver, and outsmart their adversaries.
Heroes Inspire
Readers want to be inspired. They want a hero who says the things they cannot say and does the things they cannot do. Heroes inspire when they are driven, brave, empathetic, noble, creative, & selfless. They should inspire by their words, thoughts, and actions.
Heroes Must Have Heart
Heroes are empathetic. They recognize injustice, inequity, and injury. They protect those they care about and also those who are unable to protect themselves. Heroes perform acts of self-sacrifice, not for personal gain, but because they have a hero’s heart.
Heroes Are Driven
Heroes are Problem Solvers
Check your Deus Ex Machina at the door. Admirable heroes do not win by luck, circumstance, or by letting others fight their battles. Intriguing heroes use their knowledge and experience to find creative solutions to their problems and to defeat their foes.
Heroes seek Allies
Today’s savvy readers are looking for complex and realistic heroes. To quote Sansa Stark: “The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.” Your hero must lead the charge, but she is not omnipotent. Heroes seek allies to learn from, lean on, and leverage during their journey.
Heroes Climb Mountains
“He was the fastest, so he won the gold medal” is not a compelling story. Every hero worth reading about must go on a journey and the journey must be difficult, dangerous and have numerous opportunities to fail. Mount Everest is your plot, now make your hero climb.
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