tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post9201416034635890725..comments2023-04-14T09:06:17.079-05:00Comments on Can I Get a Side of Reality With That?: My bone to pick: the "worthless" protagJEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043891292719086478noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-452187038686339732012-06-03T23:00:38.749-05:002012-06-03T23:00:38.749-05:00I'm not a big fan of the not good at anything ...I'm not a big fan of the not good at anything bunch, either. I think a normal, regular, every day person, who is maybe good at some things, not good at others, is more interesting. Compelling post.Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-72362800374048220112012-05-25T17:56:52.963-05:002012-05-25T17:56:52.963-05:00YA paranormals are really bad at this. No wonder t...YA paranormals are really bad at this. No wonder they don't appeal to me anymore. <br /><br />Love Katie's comment. Everyone is special. Our protagonists should be at the beginning of the book. That is their normal.Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-22242503932616900482012-05-25T16:55:57.915-05:002012-05-25T16:55:57.915-05:00I can see this. I also know that I have enjoyed b...I can see this. I also know that I have enjoyed books that had protagonists who didn't realize their worth and then discover it. <br /><br />Great post - glad I found your blog.Tasha Seegmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489911822054861132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-54912558505434861242012-05-25T10:31:51.833-05:002012-05-25T10:31:51.833-05:00I think there's a place for Swiggy in fiction,...I think there's a place for Swiggy in fiction, but I also agree with the comment by mshatch, that the majority of teens are ordinary and somewhere in the middle, not the best or the worst.<br /><br />There's also a place for protags who are already good at what they do, but may still be trying to find out who they are inside - look at The Hunger Games. Maybe girls respond so well to Katniss because she's a kickass character even before she wins the Games. She's an ordinary girl with fears and dreams, but she's also got survival skills.<br /><br />Fiction is a big world, and there are places for all these "types" -and readers who want to read them.Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-87365860740693349002012-05-24T17:01:32.341-05:002012-05-24T17:01:32.341-05:00You're right, it gets old to read all the time...You're right, it gets old to read all the time and I see it a lot too! I agree with Dianne, have some depth before jumping into the story!Christina Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01799776834213400246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-36411730841253409442012-05-24T05:55:21.394-05:002012-05-24T05:55:21.394-05:00You are right. Every protag should have some depth...You are right. Every protag should have some depth BEFORE the inciting incident that changes his or her life.<br /><br />You've given me something to think about regarding my current WIP. Hmm. Not that I was trying to portray my guy as "worthless," but I wonder how I could tweak him in the opening chapter to make him a little more unique BEFORE the event in the second chapter. Thanks, JEM!Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-91459417711238798202012-05-23T11:41:36.712-05:002012-05-23T11:41:36.712-05:00Thoughtful post! I agree that reversals that big (...Thoughtful post! I agree that reversals that big (worthless loser becomes savior of the world) feel very inauthentic and escapist. The best stories have mixed-bag characters with both weaknesses and strengths--and being interesting and intelligent sure ought to be considered an important strength. <br /><br />I too, like stories in which the protagonist grasps his or her strength in kindness, compassion, humility, service, loyalty, perseverance, wisdom, and the like rather than simply kicking goblin butt or winning the soccer/ cheerleading/ debate/ dance/ music/ competition.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251579663264888445.post-86275829914904068212012-05-23T09:43:48.016-05:002012-05-23T09:43:48.016-05:00I think there's a difference between "no ...I think there's a difference between "no good at anything" and ordinary. Usually, there's a couple of in kids in every class who are spectacular at something, the basketball star, the math wiz, etc. And there's a couple of kids who are pretty much losers and everyone knows it. Then there's everyone else who may be better at some stuff than others but don't really stand out in anything. As I recall most of the kids were like that so the "no good at anything" kid really should be quite rare and would probably have a lot of baggage that made him/her that way. <br /><br />Fortunately, I haven't read too many stories like that recently but if I did I think I'd get pretty tired of that type of character pretty quick.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.com