Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [hero]

This tag should be used for questions that deal with the archetype of the "hero" as your protagonist, for example when referring to the Hero's Journey by Campbell.

This tag should be used for questions that deal with the of the "hero" as your protagonist, for example when referring to the Hero's Journey that was characterised by Campbell.

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How do I avoid the "chosen hero" feeling?

In many works of genre-fiction (I'm talking mainly about fantasy and sci-fi, but others genres can apply), and across many forms of media, the main characters ends up being special in some ways. Maybe it's the abilities the MC has, maybe there is a…
Liquid
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Effective hero journeys that don't kill the villain?

Are there good examples of the hero's journey that don't include any physical deaths within them? My hero has crisis and 'death' of self/ideals/psyche; hero prevails in the end, all good. But, I just can't seem to bring myself to killing anybody.…
SFWriter
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Does the hero have to defeat the villain themselves?

I'm writing a story where the villain is a powerful crime-boss. The hero is a young woman who is forcibly recruited into his mafia and is looking for an escape. In the end, I want to have the villain be taken in by the police, but I don't want the…
R.J. D.
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Alternative for the Hero's journey (since it is about Ego)

According to psychologist Carl Jung, there are divisions into one's mind. The "Self" (often described as "Higher-Self" or "Soul") is what hold all of those divisions together (or try to). It is what gives balance and stability of who you truly are…
Hanilucas
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Why would my "Hero" start his Quest to save the world?

In my first big novel-kind-of-thing I'm currently working on, I have a run-of-the-mill, super-non-special "Hero" - the Antagonist. A Jon Doe, someone, who knows how to handle everyday stuff and can defend himself in a brawl. Pitched against him is…
Olaf Klausson
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Can a superhero story work in novel format?

I have an original idea for a Marvel type storyline with a few sub-plots that you would see in a typical romance/contemporary drama narrative. Would something like this work in novel form? I can't seem to find many examples of…
hydenseek
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How to develop my reluctant character?

I am writing a novel which is about a naive, good-for-nothing boy who is also suffering from low self-esteem. One day, due to some events, he gets some special powers and is unwillingly forced into a war which he never wants to fight in, and faces…
Akshat Singha
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Would this character be classified as an antivillain, antihero, or something else entirely?

From an analysis standpoint, I'm trying to determine what classification the antagonist and protagonist in my story would fall under in terms of the classic literary labels of "hero," "villain," "antihero," and "antivillain" (or whether they fall…
stix
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How do you write a strong female character?

I've heard people talk about how they don't like the 'strong female character' story in hero movies because they're written bad, but how is a good strong female character written?
Chelsea Fay
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Turning ideas into hero's journey story

I want some advice on how to come up with a good story idea I have to create a story that has the 12-stage hero's journey structure, with a Byronic hero. Right now I can't seem to think of any good story ideas except for the 'hero goes to find an…
writer58
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What is the origin of the Hero's Journey?

I'm curious as to whether or not there was one story seen as the 'first' example of the Hero's Journey. Most Googling returns academic theory (Campbell's steps) rather than examples. But I'm curious if there are any early stories from either East…
peanut
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What if the hero doesn't win?

I'm just an amateur writer. One thing that's strange to me is that there seem to be "rules" about writing. The story should consist of five parts, etc. To my untrained writing brain this seems to stifle creativity, and enforce a science-like…
Ken - Enough about Monica
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Who is the protagonist in the Hobbit movies?

You might think it is Bilbo (because it's his POV), but doesn't he play a rather minor role in the task to reclaim the mountain? Isn't Thorin the one who is the causer of effects, who makes decisions, who faces a transformation of character at the…
Alon
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