cliche hero saves world, thoughts about it - Page 2 - Writers Forum

bobothegoat · 09-07-2005, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwedishFish

I think we mentioned an interesting point. Make the hero the villain. This crime he commited could actually be a trigger within him. He finds that he likes to do bad things. Slowly he does more and more, realizing his evil potencial and it hits him- Since I am so good at being bad, I'm going to take over the kingdom. He kills the king and is on top of the world then BOOM! A hero rises up and gives him a run for his money. He does all he can to kill the hero, but the hero is always just a little smarter. He begins to question his own chosen path. Should he have turned evil? How he resolves this conflict would be interesting.

That does sound like it could be a good story.

Quote:

Sad case? Why would someone have sympathy for a character that goes and does wanton deeds of evil?

Try and portray him as a "good" person before his evil deeds. OR, if the motivations and circumstances for the character is done well enough you could feel sympathy for him because you feel sorry for him. Those circumstances may have been beyond his control, or perhaps he made a mistake and you could be rooting for him to make it right, to be absolved-- whatever.

Or you could be rooting for the hero that keeps thwarting this villian if the villian is that bad.

Hand · 09-08-2005, 02:27 AM

I tried writing a story like that, except it was about a James Bond-type hero that realised villainy was more profitable and fun to do.

Then they released Goldeneye, and I had to mothball it.

Saponification · 09-08-2005, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hodge

I dunno. People who are capable of seeing things in shades of gray, I guess. Maybe people who recognize that no one's perfect or that in the right situation, that "evil" character could be them.

Or maybe just people who care about people.

Mmm. Yes.

Give the "bad guy" a motivation people can relate to and identify with. Reality isn't black and white, so literature shouldn't be. The media can make reality look black and white, but it never, ever is.

lisajane · 09-08-2005, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilyak1986

Lisajane, I have not seen a compliment directed my way or anyone's way from you lately.

And when I find something to compliment on, I shall.