December 17, 2019
You know, one of my favorite things to do is ask other authors about their main characters and what they’d do in hypothetical situations. Yesterday, I asked, “If your main character found a genie’s lamp, what would their first wish be?” And the answers I got told an interesting story.
The most common answer was that main characters in books wish for things that would be beneficial for others or even mankind as a whole. Save her brother and sister. A cure to cancer. Ending the war. Justice to the needy.
Characters are an extension of us, authors breathe life into them and they represent the good and bad we feel. Sometimes, these are exaggerated. I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. Pure evil and pure good doesn’t exist too often in the real world, but in the literary world benevolence is often seen.
This morning I asked a similar question, “What’s your Christmas wish?” The answers I received weren’t necessarily greedy or anything, but they seemed to be more for personal gain as opposed to benefit others and the world as a whole. Many of the wishes I saw pointed to our aspirations and desires. Finishing a book. Getting it published. More reviews. Fame.
These aren’t bad things! There’s nothing wrong with them at all! In fact, I want them as well. Probably all the ones I just mentioned. I just find it fascinating that authors tend to write main characters that want not for themselves, but for the good of others. The most “personal gain” thing they wish for is to save/bring their beloved back to life. I’d argue that still is a selfless wish. As real people, however, we wish for things that would benefit us, and of course our families.
We authors spend so much of our lives building worlds full of imagination and life. Beacons of good and caring lights up the environment which might otherwise be dark. Let’s not forget this Christmas to perhaps wish for similar things to our characters. Health and well being. Peace on Earth. Remembrance of those who have passed.
So, as you’re sitting down for Christmas dinner this year, please spread some yuletide cheer and bring up some of the good things you’ve learned this year and throughout your lifetime. Wishes that not only would bring you joy, but would bring others joy as well. Maybe you’ll get lucky and steer clear of talking about politics.
Oh, what do I wish for? A new Macbook. See? I’m definitely not preaching; I’d use my Christmas wish for for personal gain.
As always, please leave a comment below and let’s talk about your wishes, personal or for all mankind!
💕 Kaitlyn
Excellent insight! I too wish for new/better equipment and published success, like many others, no doubt 🙂
Thank you! I hope you have a great holiday!
Absolutely love this! I never really realized how altruistic our characters can be while we unwittingly reserve some selfishness for ourselves. Great read!
Thank you, Riva! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s pretty neat, right? I was surprised at the answers that I got to the questions!
Well my MC character would wish for her murdered tribe to be still alive. Her goal in my story is revenge against the enemy tribe that did it. My own personal goal as a writer is to own a computer. I write by hand lol.
Revenge against the enemy can be a good thing! Especially since it sounds like they deserve it. I applaud you for writing by hand, there’s no way I could handle that!
I too wish to have more ideas to improve my one true love for blogging. I mean I wish to have a golden blog writing hand this Xmas. Could you get me one?
You just have to look deep within your heart. There you will find the golden blog writing hand you so desire!
Hello Kaitlyn: I am not a writer, but if I were I would write about things I have already wished for and the result. My only problem is that when I attempt to put down on a word document on my computer, the story becomes too unbelievable, so I give up trying to write it.