PRIEST: Novelist | Compelling Characters

Many insist the most important aspect of a good novel is having a series of good characters. We know many throughout history that have captivated us for years -- if not centuries. From the ancient Greek myths to the latest blockbuster movies, we find examples of good characters. What makes a good character? More importantly, what makes a good character great?

Let's ponder these questions together.

In the first part of our quest, we will get to know our characters better. The Character Dossier will assist us in analyzing who these people are and allow us to flesh them out. The second part seeks to answer "why" the characters exist at all. What do they represent? All characters are symbols. We will examine what these symbols mean, not only to the reader but to the writer as well.

The third part is a study of heroes and their roles in storytelling. We will take a look at mythical heroes, tragic ones, classical ones and our modern ones. I would also like to share some of my personal observations regarding the modern hero and its role in our society, with some examples and comparisons to those of legend.

So that's the Character Section in a nutshell. Now let's get to work on those Compelling Characters!

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