Friday, September 16, 2005
Active / Passive Characters
Giving a main character a compelling goal is the first building block to energizing a story. Character goals give the reader something to root for (or against, in the case of a villain). Character goals also give the reader a yardstick with which to measure pacing.
The second building block is activating the character's pursuit of the goal. In other words, the character must make things happen. The reader will get bored with a character who has a strong goal but who sits around waiting for something to happen to bring it to pass. An active main character takes charge of the story by doing something to get his/her goal. She may make mistakes, or even take the wrong action--but the important thing is she's active.
Passive characters may evoke sympathy and engage the reader's believability. After all, who hasn't at one time or another felt paralyzed by uncertainty and doubtful circumstances? But the reader will find her interest drifting after awhile away from passive characters toward more active characters. If the main character is passive and the reader finds an active supporting character, then the latter character will take over the story in the reader's mind.
When a story situation seems to trap a character in a passive role, turning the situation upside-down can unlock unexpected paths of action. This is a great way to breath fresh life into cliched storylines.
For example, in the movie Ransom, the wealthy protagonist's young son is kidnapped and held for ransom. The hero has a compelling goal--get his son back--but the situation places him in an inherently passive position, with the villains in control of the story. All he can do is wait by the phone, and follow directions. But the hero turns the tables on the villains (and the plot limitations) by using the ransom money to hunt them down until he finds his son alive and well. He takes action and makes things happen to reach his goal.
The second building block is activating the character's pursuit of the goal. In other words, the character must make things happen. The reader will get bored with a character who has a strong goal but who sits around waiting for something to happen to bring it to pass. An active main character takes charge of the story by doing something to get his/her goal. She may make mistakes, or even take the wrong action--but the important thing is she's active.
Passive characters may evoke sympathy and engage the reader's believability. After all, who hasn't at one time or another felt paralyzed by uncertainty and doubtful circumstances? But the reader will find her interest drifting after awhile away from passive characters toward more active characters. If the main character is passive and the reader finds an active supporting character, then the latter character will take over the story in the reader's mind.
When a story situation seems to trap a character in a passive role, turning the situation upside-down can unlock unexpected paths of action. This is a great way to breath fresh life into cliched storylines.
For example, in the movie Ransom, the wealthy protagonist's young son is kidnapped and held for ransom. The hero has a compelling goal--get his son back--but the situation places him in an inherently passive position, with the villains in control of the story. All he can do is wait by the phone, and follow directions. But the hero turns the tables on the villains (and the plot limitations) by using the ransom money to hunt them down until he finds his son alive and well. He takes action and makes things happen to reach his goal.
