Writing Tips and Reviews

Antagonists and Protagonists

A matter of perspective. Whoever the story is told by, is the protagonist, while the one they are up against, is the antagonist. Protagonist = good and antagonist = bad. In a way this true. If you're into the whole "pure good and pure evil" thing that kids like. But is this really the case all the time?

Antagonists:

An antagonist is simply the other side, good or bad it doesn't matter. They're the one who the protagonists fight against. They can be likable or unlikable, as long as they are a well written character to be even considered anything. An antagonist who is boring, shows not even a trace of being a threat to the protagonist and is completely forgettable is a terrible idea. Antagonists who don't play a single part in the story shouldn't even be the antagonist. They should be demoted to side character if they're useless. Same goes to the protagonist. If they're useless, develop them or throw them out.

Anti heroes are fun because they're like the bad guy while working for the good guys, or a good guy who works for the bad guys, I don't even care anymore. In any case, there has to be a reason they're in that position, not "I like anti heroes" or "it's cool". Those are stupid excuses. An anti hero needs reasoning, they can even be put into the protagonist or antagonist role. That just solidifies that protagonists aren't all good and antagonists aren't all evil.

Protagonists:

A protagonist is the character and group that the audience follows. They're usually the one that the perspective follows at most times, if you do all the time, then development can't happen without that character around. You know what tv series I'm talking about.

It's common belief that this character has to be the best, the strongest, the most skilled and just all around the greatest character in the story. Which is completely stupid. What about characters who are cowards? Not physically strong? Can't use magic or the system you're using? Can't use every weapon professionally in the known universe with little experience? MARY SUE. Isn't a literal god and has the power to destroy the universe when they're born because MARY SUE? Ever think of that?

Darcy Kalakei from my series Cries of Empheria is an example of not being all that but is still the protagonist. He's shy, he can't really fight on his own, he's pretty much terrible at physical fights, but he's still a protagonist. Because it's not power and abilities that determine status in the story. It's the perspective. A character doesn't need to be all that to be either a protagonist or antagonist.

Real Life Example:

As a living being you see the world through your eyes. You are the protagonist of your story, whether you are a good person or a bad person depends on you. But let's be real, all little kids think they're the good guy all the time, it's adults who see who was right and who was wrong and can admit to mistakes. No matter what, in your life you are the protagonist, your brain focuses on your story. To others, they are the protagonist of their story.

Say you get bullied, you are the protagonist, well, that person is now the antagonist. Who was in the right depends on the situation. Did you they hit you beside they needed someone to take their anger out? Or because you insulted them first? Let's be real again, kids will never admit they started it, they only tell the story from when they became the victim.

It's all about perspective, good and evil come from motivations and actions, there is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, I'm tired. I have a Tales of Zestiria fan fiction to write, bye.

Tip of the day: When writing a fan fiction, stay in character and in rules of the world. If something new is added, then explain why it's there. Deus ex machinas are a sigh of terrible writing. Always introduce something early on to avoid this.