10 Main Character Mistakes New Fantasy Writers Make

Summary

This video offers practical writing advice for fantasy authors, focusing on character development, plot structure, and worldbuilding. Key tips include creating a world that challenges the protagonist's growth, introducing characters with impactful scenes, and ensuring that character traits are demonstrated through actions, not just told. The video emphasizes the importance of giving characters strong, personal goals and ensuring the climax is resolved by the character's transformation. It highlights the need for a character’s journey to align with their internal growth, leaving readers with a fulfilling and climactic resolution.

Takeaways

• 😀 Worldbuilding should align with the character's growth and plot to challenge them and reflect their internal transformation.
• 😀 A strong character introduction should reveal what matters to the character, their worldview, flaws, and provide a reason for readers to care about them.
• 😀 Avoid simply telling readers about your character's traits; instead, show these traits through their actions to make them authentic.
• 😀 A character's goal should be deeply personal and emotionally charged, reflecting their internal struggles and creating a sense of yearning for the readers.
• 😀 The protagonist should be the one to solve the climax, demonstrating how their growth and transformation directly impact the resolution of the story.
• 😀 First impressions matter significantly; ensure that the introduction scene establishes why the character is compelling and worth following.
• 😀 Characters should make decisions that others wouldn't, showing unique qualities and sparking reader investment in their journey.
• 😀 Don't hype up a character without showing the actions that justify their traits, particularly key qualities like bravery, intelligence, or leadership.
• 😀 To avoid weak character goals, give them depth and specificity—don’t settle for shallow or surface-level motivations.
• 😀 Align the character’s internal transformation with the external plot resolution to create a powerful, satisfying climax that feels earned.

Q & A

What is the most important element to focus on when creating a fantasy world for your characters?

The most important element is ensuring the world matches the characters and plot, providing challenges that will push the character to grow and evolve. The world should challenge the protagonist to the maximum extent, reflecting their development throughout the story.

How should a writer introduce their main character in a way that grabs the reader's attention?

The main character should be introduced through a 'characteristic moment,' a scene that immediately establishes what's important to them, their worldview, flaws, and goals. This helps the reader understand why they should care about this character.

Why is it important to avoid telling the reader about a character's traits instead of showing them?

It’s important because showing a character's traits through their actions makes them more believable and engaging. Simply telling the reader about a character's traits without demonstrating them through actions can lead to a weak and unconvincing portrayal.

How can a writer effectively introduce a character who embodies a particular trait, like bravery?

A writer should show the character embodying the trait in action. For example, if a character is described as brave, they should take actions that demonstrate courage in a way that resonates with the reader, rather than simply telling the reader about it.

What is the problem with giving a character weak or shallow goals?

Weak or shallow goals lack emotional depth and don’t engage the reader. To create a compelling character, their goals should be deeply personal and emotionally significant, making the reader invested in their journey.

How can a character’s goal be made more emotionally compelling?

A character’s goal can be made more compelling by tying it to deep, universal human desires such as redemption, love, or personal growth. For example, a character seeking revenge could be reframed to have a deeper emotional drive, such as overcoming guilt or seeking redemption.

What common mistake do new fantasy writers often make with character introductions?

New fantasy writers often make the mistake of introducing their character in a bland or unengaging way, without using a scene that immediately highlights what is unique and important about the character, and why the reader should care about them.

How does the character's transformation relate to the plot’s climax?

The climax of the story should be resolved by the main character, reflecting the growth and transformation they've undergone throughout the plot. This makes the resolution meaningful and satisfying, as it aligns the character's internal journey with the external conflict.

What is a key way to ensure that the character’s journey is satisfying?

The character should solve the central conflict of the story through their personal growth and the lessons they’ve learned, rather than relying on external factors or other characters. This provides emotional closure and ties the plot directly to the character's development.

Why is it essential for the protagonist to solve the climax of the story themselves?

It’s essential because the reader follows the character’s journey to see how they grow and change. If the climax is resolved by something or someone else, it undermines the protagonist’s development and the payoff of their personal transformation.