I've had a discussion with a couple of my friends about parents of our main character (MC). There are good things about parents in your books, and there can be bad things. First, the good stuff.
1. Having good, helpful parents can be very un-cliche. In most books you'll find that the main characters are orphans. Examples are Eragon, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Fly by Night.
2. Sometimes, if a character has parents they are unfortunately portrayed in a very bad light, as in 'holding the character down' and stuff. It's a very bad stereotype, not to mention a lie. It's a mold that needs to be broken, and having good parents is the perfect way to do it!
3. Parents can provide another side to your MC. If your MC has a very strong relationship with their dad, it will be more touching if something happens to their dad. Therefore, your reader will feel more with your character.
Then the negatives.
1. Parents, as bad as it may sound, can tie down the MC. After all, it would be easier to have your character race around Washington DC with evil gangsters chasing them without having to wonder, 'And where are their parents?' Do you know what I mean?
2. It's more exciting for you MC to be orphaned. It adds another element. Without parents to protect and provide, your character is on their own.
3. You might feel more sorry for the character if their parents have been murdered by an evil organization.
I personally prefer to have parents in my books. In my NaNoWriMo novel, Elizabeth's mom and dad are divorced. (SPOILER--if you want to be surprised if you ever read my book, skip over this part) I'm planning on having them back together by the end of the trilogy. (END OF SPOILER)
Besides, my dad is my proofreader, and if my MC is anti-parent without reform, I might get a talking to! Jk, lol.
But seriously, when I'm a mom, I wouldn't really want my kids to read a book where the parents are depicted as a hindrance and 'holding the character down'.
Izori
4 comments:
I agree entirely.
That is right, but also it is very common for people in books to have no parents. I think parents as a whole are really hard to write. Sometimes they would be way too Von-trapish. Then again it's stupid to make the parents oblivious and super "Okay honey, whatever you want." Then again, I usually find it easier to write parents in a modern day scene rather then a fantasy or historical scene.
Yes... very good. You're exactly right on that last point! I wouldn't want that either. :) But it can be so hard to write that relationship realistically while having the story go the way you want... Also, I always like the backstory that can be put in as to why the MC does not have any parents! :)
Personally, I find parents not to be a very big hinderance in writing, regardless of genre, especially fantasy.
In modern-time stories, you can very easily and realistically slip parents in, or just one parent as well. True, you do have to be careful how you portray them, so as to have a positive yet realistic portrayal.
In fantasy, it isn't typical to have parents play a large role, but I don't see any real obstacle there if you so desired to do so. Mothers can be an excellent substitute, or even a temporary substitute as the main female character. Separations, captures, escapes, and other such events can very easily be centered around either parent. I also find that a mysterious history with a father, is an excellent tool to work with occasionally. Just some thoughts. ;)
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