Paths to Narnia | How to open the Wardrobe

The Checklist I - Character

Names

1. YC's name! Names - must - fit. Wherever they are from, names always were bound by place, time, and tradition.

2. The epithet is something to earn or be given with reason. Not all kings and queens get one. The Pevensies are an exception here, but they also had to earn these titles - Peter the Magnificent, Susan the Gentle, Edmund the Just, Lucy the Valiant.

Gender

3. What is YC's gender? Are they female? Then the following is even more important for you as there are only few male original characters. Frankly, to this date I've only seen a single story with a male lead.

Nationality and Ethnicity

4. Is YC a Telmarine? Great. Living with Narnians then? Not so much. At least, not without an explanation. Orphaned and left for dead or similar? Cliché but it might work - it did for me. Context and background are key.

5. Is YC in TLWW and a Narnian? If they are human... impossible. That would make the whole original plot obsolete. By the way, the White Witch would kill them before they could meet the four Pevensies.

Suggestions:

Make them Archenlandian or Calormene, for crying out loud, they may meet the freshly crowned kings and queens. Maybe they are a noble from a neighbouring kingdom or sent for marriage purposes. Or a lady in waiting of such a noble. Or a servant/maid in the entourage of a princess/prince. Or a gift from Calormen - they don't value women and people from low birth after all. Or the C is a spy and falls for a king or queen. Or they are part of a group of travelling entertainers. So many possibilities, so little of them experienced yet. Sure, why not write yet another story about a mysterious person from London who fell into Narnia and had to learn how to protect the kings and queens.

6. Does YC have to be entirely human? No. While I can't imagine a character with an LI as a satyr or centaur, I certainly can imagine them to be a mermaid, dryad, or naiade. It's up to you to flesh the species out. Maybe they can change form or are half-breeds in the time of Telmarines – like Dr Cornelius. Or you insensate a plot similar to the Little Mermaid.

Just, please, no sirens with shark teeth – except they are cursed. I can't, I won't imagine anyone falling in love with someone like this. Yes, love is about the character, their essence, their soul... but someone looking horrifying would send me running before I get to know them.

There are no angels in Narnia nor elves! There are vampires, werewolves etc. but not quite as human as modern literature suggests. So, nope.

Exception: A curse. That is tricky, though – how would YC come to be cursed? Why, and by whom?

One last thing: Don't make YC the last of any race. Cliché.

Skills

7. Can YC fight? Why and how did they learn? Don't tell me, a person from our world would learn that in the nineteenth century. It is improbable and unusual for the time, especially for girls. If they are from Narnia or Telmar the time is comparable to our medieval. Women didn't learn how to fight, mostly not even how to defend themselves.

8. Your character doesn't know how to fight? Alright. Consider the circumstances and if it would be logical for YC to learn during the story.

Example:

They have been living with Narnians, so they may know self-defence. Depending on which species they live with, they might be taught a certain weapon.

They are a Telmarine servant or noble: Nope - based on a female C. Is YC male, this may change. Consider the role expectations that come with time periods like the medieval (Narnia) or the era the Pevensies are from (World War II).

Exception:

A parent or educator insists because of past experiences or danger in the area.

YC can't learn how to fight within mere days! It takes years to master martial arts, archery, sword fighting or any type of combat. They may learn a few tricks in a few days. Consider the body strength alone that is necessary and the strain and time it will take to gain that before actually learning how to fight in hand-to-hand combat.

Natural talent? Good for them but the learning progress still takes time! Why not make it extra hard for a change? Or why let them not fight at all? Give them a task like Lucy's, for example. Let them recruit someone, have them go spy or recover something.

9. Can they ride? Why and how?

10. Other talents? Great, just please consider diversity. Singing and painting have become rather cliché. It's all bad without context. So, take it, give it reasonable context and there you go, even with a cliché.

Appearance

11. Faceclaims! I can't stress this enough: So many claims are overused. Put in the time to search another, maybe a look-alike. E. g. no Adelaide Kane. I'm a huge fan but... I, for one, can't distinguish the stories by the main character anymore. Can you imagine why?

12. Rivalling Susan's beauty? Lucy's believe and relationship with Aslan? Edmund's talking horse? Peter's cool sword? Nope, get your own thing, by the mane!