The Hero's Sitting and Reflecting
I am not a hero. I've always wanted to be. Who doesn't want to save the world or defeat the bad guys? But I'm never the one who does that, and I've finally figured out why.
I stay where I am.
I was reading a book about writing and story telling and plot and character arcs, and there's an event that happens in the life of a character where the character takes action.1 When the gate opens or the jet is taking off, if the character just sits there trying to figure out what to do, the actor playing that character is going to be in the credits as, "Red Shirt Guy #2."
Some people see the hill and take the hill. I like a good survey of the hill. I feel more comfortable knowing the history of the hill and it's my habit to run the hypothetical outcomes of taking the hill. How will it affect the water table? What indigenous life forms might react strongly to the hill being taken?
I waffle. I think. I plan. I reconsider. My old game master used to say, "Think. Plan. Do." I think-plan-think-plan-think-plan, then get overwhelmed and give up. Or time runs out.
The last character I played went off to fight an epic battle and traveled across the world, then realized Important Stuff was happening back at home. I spent literally that entire campaign traveling between the key battles, and therefore participated in neither of them.
That was right before I went home and just stayed there.2
You can't be the hero if you just go home and stay there.
I've been trying to think if there are any stories of heroes who have been literally dragged into greatness against their will (or at least while bucking against reluctance and indecision). I can't think of any.3
And I'm talking about heroes, not just famous people. Lot's wife is famous. Hell, she's iconic. She got literally dragged to safety by an angel, and I completely relate to what happened next. She's thinking about the blanket her grandmother quilted and the kitten that climbs in her trash to steal scraps. The neighbor's new baby, and "What do I really know about this angel anyway, and maybe it won't be as bad as he says." Then wham.
Not that kind of pillar of the community.
I often listen to books about strong characters who save the day, and at some point in the story I think, "I would never do that. Why is she doing that?" And it's because I tend to think that the way I think is the way other people think. And it isn't.4
And is this why I don't ever finish my novels? Are my characters all frozen like pillars on my thumb drive waiting for their big chance to act?
Can they be heroes if I'm not?
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1 That verb is important, because when I first wrote it, I wrote "decides to act." Here's the thing. You can decide and re-decide a thousand times. Then I wrote "choose to act." That sounds stronger, but let's be honest. The character has to actually do something or nothing is going to happen.
2 Not my character. Actually me. I went home and never left my house for several years.
3 If you know of any, please let me know in comments.
4 I'm pretty sure that realization is bigger than it appears. Like things in the side-view mirror.
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This has been my entry for Week 12 of therealljidol. The prompt was, "Salty." Thanks for reading.
I stay where I am.
I was reading a book about writing and story telling and plot and character arcs, and there's an event that happens in the life of a character where the character takes action.1 When the gate opens or the jet is taking off, if the character just sits there trying to figure out what to do, the actor playing that character is going to be in the credits as, "Red Shirt Guy #2."
Some people see the hill and take the hill. I like a good survey of the hill. I feel more comfortable knowing the history of the hill and it's my habit to run the hypothetical outcomes of taking the hill. How will it affect the water table? What indigenous life forms might react strongly to the hill being taken?
I waffle. I think. I plan. I reconsider. My old game master used to say, "Think. Plan. Do." I think-plan-think-plan-think-plan, then get overwhelmed and give up. Or time runs out.
The last character I played went off to fight an epic battle and traveled across the world, then realized Important Stuff was happening back at home. I spent literally that entire campaign traveling between the key battles, and therefore participated in neither of them.
That was right before I went home and just stayed there.2
You can't be the hero if you just go home and stay there.
I've been trying to think if there are any stories of heroes who have been literally dragged into greatness against their will (or at least while bucking against reluctance and indecision). I can't think of any.3
And I'm talking about heroes, not just famous people. Lot's wife is famous. Hell, she's iconic. She got literally dragged to safety by an angel, and I completely relate to what happened next. She's thinking about the blanket her grandmother quilted and the kitten that climbs in her trash to steal scraps. The neighbor's new baby, and "What do I really know about this angel anyway, and maybe it won't be as bad as he says." Then wham.
Not that kind of pillar of the community.
I often listen to books about strong characters who save the day, and at some point in the story I think, "I would never do that. Why is she doing that?" And it's because I tend to think that the way I think is the way other people think. And it isn't.4
And is this why I don't ever finish my novels? Are my characters all frozen like pillars on my thumb drive waiting for their big chance to act?
Can they be heroes if I'm not?
---
1 That verb is important, because when I first wrote it, I wrote "decides to act." Here's the thing. You can decide and re-decide a thousand times. Then I wrote "choose to act." That sounds stronger, but let's be honest. The character has to actually do something or nothing is going to happen.
2 Not my character. Actually me. I went home and never left my house for several years.
3 If you know of any, please let me know in comments.
4 I'm pretty sure that realization is bigger than it appears. Like things in the side-view mirror.
---
This has been my entry for Week 12 of therealljidol. The prompt was, "Salty." Thanks for reading.