Monday, October 12, 2015

The 8 Necessary Character Roles in Fiction

You have the onerous task of creating a world, filling it with believable characters, and telling a damn good story. Hey, nobody said writing a story was easy.

I’ve written about Worldbuilding before, in 3 parts here, here, and here. Today, I want to introduce you to 8 necessary roles needed to flesh out your characters.

The 8 Necessary Character Roles:

Protagonist: Usually the main character. This is the character with a problem that
must be solved, but to do so must get past or through a series of obstacles.

Antagonist: This is the character working directly against your protagonist. Many times, the antagonist is just as able as your main character, and many times his or her exact opposite. For the antagonist to remain compelling, he or she must have as much care taken in creating a backstory, reasoning, and desires as the protagonist.

Mentor: Plays the “outside conscience” of your protagonist. His or her voice encapsulates the lesson of the story as well as the theme. While it may be tempting to make the mentor perfect, there is great drama available when the teacher/ moral compass is also flawed.

Tempter: This is the antagonist’s right hand. The tempter spends his or her time manipulating your protagonist away from the story goal or to go against the theme you’re presenting in the story. While this sounds like the job of the antagonist (and very well can be*), having another character who is part of your protagonist’s close group can prove just as exciting, and again, there is drama to be found here.

Sidekick: Throughout the course of your story, your protagonist should come against incredible odds. The sidekick can have several jobs. The main one is being an unwavering ally to your protagonist, through thick and thin. While the sidekick can (and should) become frustrated with your main character’s decisions at some point, he or she will never leave your protagonist’s side. Another job is to be the comedic relief. If your story is super serious, the sidekick can provide an injection of laughter, or give a ray of hope in bleak times. Yet another job the sidekick can provide is giving your protagonist access to a secondary set of skills. For example, your main character is a master thief? Maybe his or her sidekick has an in to high society, where your master thief can thrive.

Skeptic: This is the lone objector to the protagonist’s method(s). He or she does not believe in the theme of your story, nor the importance of your protagonist. In fact, unless there are previous or built-up loyalties to the protagonist, the skeptic may well go his or her own way. It’s even possible the skeptic wants your main character to succeed, but not at the cost of their own goal(s).

The Emotional: This is the character that reacts with his or her gut. This means being reactive and impulsive, sometimes succeeding in ways that a thinking character would never try. This also means they can find trouble by not thinking ahead.

The Logic: This character is a rational thinker who prefers to plan things out ahead of time. Answers with a matter-of-fact attitude, and usually knows more than he or she lets on. Has trouble considering things from an emotional angle.

A Little Extra That Helps Me:

Now you know the 8 main roles used in fiction. Keep in mind, there does not have to be a separate character for each role, but all 8 roles must be embodied somewhere. As for character creation itself, here is the template I use when beginning a new story:
Have fun, too!

Character Name:
Age:
Archetype: (please see the 12 Jungian archetypes, very helpful in determining goals) soulcraft.com

Quirks: I use three
Flaws: Three again
Skills: Make sure these help the character in the story

Thanks for reading, and much luck in your adventures!

James Neal writes fantasy, both novel-length (Of Blood and Blade) and shorter stories (Paints the Invisible Eye).
He’s also on social media, so are cafeteria tables, but we digress. Click to join him on:





Thursday, October 8, 2015

5 Lines of TV: Arrow S4E1

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The original post incorrectly stated the last speaker as Damian Dark, edited to reflect the correct spelling: Damian Darhk.

5 Lines of TV: Arrow S4E1

Image property of CW Network
Taking popular shows and giving you five lines of dialogue. Quick and easy to digest. Like the idea? Comment! Have a favorite show? Let me know!

“We’re really going to have to work on your definition of cool.” Black Canary

“I thought that tasted funny.” District Attorney Kate Spencer

“The Arrow’s dead.” “We’re hoping that’s not the case.” Oliver Queen/ Laurel Lance

“The monster you were inspired new monsters.” Captain Quentin Lance

“You can’t be the arrow, he died. So who are you?” Damian Darhk

What are your favorite lines from the last episode? Fave of all time?

James Neal writes fantasy, both novel-length (Of Blood and Blade) and shorter stories (Paints the Invisible Eye).
He’s also on social media, so are energy drinks, but we digress. Click to join us on:




Tuesday, October 6, 2015

5 Lines of TV: The Flash S2E1

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5 Lines of TV: The Flash S2E1

Image owned by CW Network
A new division of American Dirt, 5 Lines of TV takes popular shows and gives you five lines of dialogue in an attempt to describe the essence of the show. Like the idea? Comment! Have a favorite show? Let me know!

“I think I’m going to call it “The Boot.” Cisco Ramon

“In this city I expect flying, evil monsters.” Detective Joe West

“Dr. Stein, you are a genius.” “I think that’s already been well established.” Cisco Ramon/ Dr. Martin Stein

“So stop with all this hogging of the blame.” Detective Joe West

Image owned by CW Network
“You of all people know I wasn’t the hero that day. Ronnie saved my life.” Barry Allen

Bonus Line:

“Run Barry, run.” Detective Joe West

James Neal writes fantasy, both novel-length (Of Blood and Blade) and shorter stories (Paints the Invisible Eye).
He’s also on social media, so are frankfurters, but we digress. Click to join us on:






Monday, October 5, 2015

5 Lines of TV: Gotham S2E3

Image Property of Fox Television

5 Lines of TV- Gotham S2E3

A new division of American Dirt, 5 Lines of TV takes popular shows and gives you five lines of dialogue in an attempt to describe the essence of the show. Like the idea? Comment! Have a favorite show? Let me know!

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” Jerome Valeska
Image Property of Fox Television

“C’mon Master Bruce, time to leave.” Alfred Pennyworth

“I will not let him hurt Alfred.” Bruce Wayne

“Am I a hero?” Theo Galavan

“Your legacy will be death…and madness…” Paul Cicero


Image Property of Fox Television


Guns in America: An Opinion Piece Meant to Discuss, Not Cuss

Image found at: https://www.deepdotweb.com/tag/guns/

This is an opinion piece, meaning I’m making claims based on MY personal experience more than through the use of data. In fact, the only outside source I’m using today is list25’s Countries With the Highest Murder Rates in the World. The top 25 most murderous countries, and the U.S. isn’t on there. This data is from January of 2015.

Guns in America is one of the top divisive topics on American minds right now, especially since yet another shooting just happened at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

I am a gun owner. I was raised in a family that owned guns. I was taught the power of guns in a ridiculous, overemphasized manner- my father shot a bird at close range and told me to note the damage a bullet had done to its body. He then told me a bullet will do the same to me, or somebody else. You know what, I decided I didn’t want to shoot anybody. I also decided I didn’t want to hunt unless it proved necessary.

My children know I own a gun. They have held it without bullets in the magazine, and with. They have watched me shoot my Taurus .45 at targets (not live birds). They know what a bullet will do if it hits them, or somebody else. My children know not to touch my gun without my express permission, and know they must ask each time.

I know not everybody gets raised that way. I’m aware there are sick people who want ten minutes to three weeks of fame. I know some people really do just want to watch the world burn. Those are the scary people, and yes, they’re getting ahold of guns.

These are the type of people who, once they do something wrong, must be put down. Like a dog who bit a child, it’s too late to save them after the fact. Those who haven’t done terrible things yet, I think, are being misled by media into thinking they will mean something if they just do something horrible. I think most of these people have a mental illness that wasn’t diagnosed because America is so terribly afraid mental illness.

I think guns are a tool, in and of themselves not responsible for heinous acts and atrocities. There is an underlying cause, a basic un-appreciation for human life in general that’s infected America. Taking away guns will not cure this ill. It might slow down one or two of the crazies wanting a showdown, but it won’t suddenly stop. If need be, these types of people will pick up a kitchen knife and start slitting throats. They will use a lead pipe to bash in heads. Whatever it takes to make the news. Whatever it takes to be remembered.

At the same time, I can only fit 10 rounds into my .45. Maybe hunters and gun enthusiast could afford fewer rounds per magazine. Maybe, if these were more limited, the animals would have to take a break to put in a new magazine and be taken out earlier. For me, in my own house, if I miss an intruder 10 times, I am going to die anyway.

Some people want to remind us that the 2nd Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms even against a tyrannical government. While true, it also states that this is as part of a well disciplined and efficient militia. So, perhaps we’ll have to leave the current and future militias alone, but the rest of us, we don’t have the manpower, discipline, training, or guns to take down the government should it become tyrannical, at least not the general citizen. We’ve been allowed to bear arms anyway. It’s time, finally, to admit we need to do so responsibly. I don’t know what all that should entail, but we’re not cowboys anymore. Thanks for reading, and please, stay safe out there.

James Neal writes fantasy, both novel-length (Of Blood and Blade) and shorter stories (Paints the Invisible Eye).
He’s also on social media, so are fire ants, but we digress. Click to join him on:




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Finale

I'm Retiring American Dirt Hey everyone. James here. This is my final post on American Dirt. It's been a long ride full ...