Mariana Maurício don’t forget her band Ts, combat boots, hatred of anything remotely girly, skinny jeans(preferably ripped), “flawless” no makeup face, harem of all main guy characters, and over the top backstory of abuse(she doesn’t even act like she’s abused, like seriously most abuse victims don’t talk back to their abusers in fear of more abuse, and if this has been happening for all of her life she would think what is happening to her is normal and not know that she’s being abused. Correct me if I’m wrong about this)
@sotomayorsofwv43814 жыл бұрын
Here’s my problem: we want main characters who have flaws. But then when there is a main character with a flaw, people throw a fit, say the character is not likeable, etc. it bugs me because if you give them time, the characters might grow.
@Gamelover2544 жыл бұрын
Exactly my problem with people who don’t like Korra.
@lyragillespie35114 жыл бұрын
My problem with Locke Lamora is that...these "flaws" are exaggerated. Quite. Excessively. And that is a trope that I hate, along with the excessive, really unnecessary swearing. If you remove the swearing, the book would've been shorter (and maybe more sensible). When main characters talk like that, it kinda proves that they dont know how to communicate like a real human. It was just too much of everything bad, tbh
@damijinadu41844 жыл бұрын
Omg I was gonna say legend of Korra but someone already said it, it’s so annoying when people say they want a flawed character but then get mad at the character when they act like an actual human being.
@drfifteenmd75614 жыл бұрын
@@damijinadu4184 Female characters are difficult to have audience receive well to. Anyone can say Katara is a good character, but not everyone will say that they like her.
@damijinadu41844 жыл бұрын
Dr. Fifteen M.D I think you meant to respond to the other person😂 I don’t have a problem with people who don’t like her, I just don’t like people who say she’s a bad character because she has flaws.
@leech13554 жыл бұрын
I don’t need a protag to be relatable or need to sympathise or root for them. I just need two things: 1) enough depth to believe they are real 2) to find their world view interesting
@solangeloshipper95294 жыл бұрын
Leech maybe you’d like the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
@rat_54 жыл бұрын
@@solangeloshipper9529 Read my mind. Username is a mood
@leech13554 жыл бұрын
Solangelo Shipper I think I might’ve read the first one many many moons ago. Did it involve Medusa in a greenhouse or something
@rat_54 жыл бұрын
@@leech1355 Something like that. Medusa was part of the first book as a small villain for like a chapter or two
@happi94064 жыл бұрын
I disagree. While I think these two traits add up to make a fantastic story and book, a relatable character can make the plot that much better. Many - most readers want to be able to judge characters based on the decisions they would make if they were in their shoes. While dramatic irony often throws a wrench in a reader’s decision making, it does not change the fact that a relatable character will improve a story drastically. This can come with a downside, though - if a character is too relatable and the story is too straightforward then it could cause the book to be predictable. While a predictable book isn’t always bad, a little surprise can make a book that seemed predictable be completely unique and engaging.
@katjalouw9184 жыл бұрын
I would love to see more strong female characters who aren't necessarily physically strong. I feel like there's a huge trend (especially in a genre like ya fantasy) where authors want a strong female protagonist but end up making her badass to the point where she feels like every other assassin or warrior character. I would love to read about a heroine who is the chosen one or something, but wins because of her wisdom or her ability to stay kind despite everything thrown at her. I don't know. Strength is more than being able to swing a sword.
@aridaiescamilla4974 жыл бұрын
Yessss please!! Do any of you have some good example? I really want to read something like that
@bluebrightstar11174 жыл бұрын
kettricken and Althea from the realm of the elderlings by Robin Hobb are both strong female characters without being physically strong or emotionally distant
@melamela76804 жыл бұрын
I would recommend Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. The MC is one of my favorites ever, and she has a fantastic character arc and development.
@luluuwr4 жыл бұрын
@@aridaiescamilla497 Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series is a pretty well known, one (she's pretty good physically but prefers to plan/use wisdom), Violet Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events series is great, she's an inventor! These are both pretty well known middle grade series tho
@zombiegaby4 жыл бұрын
Yes totally! Its not a book, but the show The OA has that kind of protagonist done soooo well! I highly recommend it if you want a feminist show that isn't just a female protagonist in a male role (if that makes sense lmao)
@esztervizhanyo17084 жыл бұрын
"A massive way to make a character feel human is... to give them emotions." It’s funny because it's true
@martvil20184 жыл бұрын
Merphy before: politely suggesting everyone to read Lies Of Locke Lamora Merphy now: aggressively telling EVERYONE to read Lies Of Locke Lamora
@edmontonboy994 жыл бұрын
There’s not gonna be a Merphy video without it, eh?
@Titanic_Tuna4 жыл бұрын
It's a very drawn out Character arc.
@lucyym63564 жыл бұрын
“I read a lot of books, right?” Did Not See that one coming ...
@steamstoveprincess88634 жыл бұрын
Lol
@corenlavolpe61434 жыл бұрын
Oh boy what a twist! Haha
@Hanin_Isa4 жыл бұрын
IDK if anyone has already mentioned this, but two things bother me about many female protagonists in TV shows/movies nowadays: 1- The "Oh! I'm so clumsy and quirky and relatable!" type. And 2- When women are made as these unstoppable fighting machines... in favor of making the guys look like clueless idiots who can't put two and two together. Even though in other situations, these guys are shown to be smart.
@premiersportingkc34434 жыл бұрын
Dude, say "women" instead of "females." Using "female" outside of a scientific context makes you sound like an incel. Notice how you used "guys" instead of "males"? Why not do the same for women?
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
Cyrese Parrish Facts!! Saying “woman protagonists” or “woman mc” sounds weird.. in fantasy there are many different races for one ..and two, in any genre there are also young protagonist.. you dont call a six year old a “woman” And yes, I am a female
@lolimsooedgy78094 жыл бұрын
how about a twist the 'strong women' type is not capable of controling her emotion bcoz she wants people to know that she is strong
@RenegadeShepard694 жыл бұрын
@Cyrese Parrish Ikr the english language is so varied why restrict ourselves like that. Out of "fear of sounding like X". He is not gonna sound like anything that he isn't if we're listening to him her they. If I pay attention to what a person is saying I'm not gonna mistake what they're saying. Maybe it's because I'm from a different native language and culture whereas we don't cut words that we "deem bad" we don't moralise every aspect of language here, it's all about context, like literature. M/F and M/W serve different purposes, they are not inherently pejorative or necessarily always interchangeable. @PremierSportingKC Add some nuance to your soul! The OP wasn't talking about incels.
@RenegadeShepard694 жыл бұрын
@@dhenderson319 Huh, that's a good point. Didn't think about that. Especially in YA i don't think I see people using "men" when talking about boys, or "women" for the girl characters. They are just male and female. It's a rich language, like I said in the other comment, and it's good staying rich that way, as that's what got me to read in english!
@annabelecassarole80204 жыл бұрын
The Three disliks are from : Not like other gril I'm Not pretty (but is accutaly butifull) So badass that it stops being badass
@lowercase_ash4 жыл бұрын
Yes, I agree SO much!!! 👍
@jellybonesmasterfue454 жыл бұрын
6 actually...
@annabelecassarole80204 жыл бұрын
@@jellybonesmasterfue45 sorry when i wrote the comment it was 3, guess "the winny chosen one" "Mary Sue" and "what was their name again?" came as well.
@peripheralzx113 жыл бұрын
What about the other twenty-one?
@lottevanderpaelt16844 жыл бұрын
I absolutely hate how in so many ya books (and films for that matter) the female main character is 'so pretty but she doesn't know it and why would anyone ever be interested in her?'. Please, you can create relatable main female characters without using this overdone trope.
@forwhy87234 жыл бұрын
You know what else is overdone? People complaining about this trope. It's a cliché in itself.
@michellesmirnova44714 жыл бұрын
I would love to see this trope done differently. Because, as it is being done now, it’s basically just “uwu I’m actually really gorgeous-looking but I don’t see it”, which well is unrealistic and plain annoying. A character that’s NOT “gorgeous-looking” would be nice to read about for a change. That being said, I would love if it was more along the lines of “this character has a lot of great qualities that people love about them but they’re too insecure to see it” because it would make for an incredibly relatable character. For example, you could have a scene where a character says something like “you have a nice smile” or “you’re very kind”, and our main character reacts kind of like “really? Nobody ever said that to me, I thought people thought I was ugly or not kind at all”. So basically, what I want is for this trope to be done in a REALISTIC manner.
@aicha4544 жыл бұрын
I consider it a part of "not like other girls" syndrome and it gets really annoying. Especially when she has boys falling for her left and right! While it is a reflection on real-life (I do have some gorgeous friends who don't see themselves as pretty), constantly recycling it gets old. A character can have self-esteem issues but not like how most YA books/movies do it.
@katarakitten90884 жыл бұрын
@@aicha454 I'm not sure where this fits in, but I'm writing a character where yes she is a warrior, but really enjoys makeup, loves food and chocolate, a crack head , and a proud single Pringle, but not an a-hole and insecure where it's annoying. She's still very much in the works, but I really wanted to do something different with her
@SSLLatia4 жыл бұрын
@@michellesmirnova4471 another option would be if a character is really pretty but doesn't care in the least. to the point that she gets annoyed that this is all everyone notices about her and gets bored when someone comments on her beauty. she wants to be seen for herself on not for superficial beauty. or someone who is that annoying "i don't know why all the boys constantly declare undying love for me, i'm not that pretty" girl has someone slap her into reality by pointing out how ridiculous it is and help her become a truly rounded person. so many options to turn this trope on it's head
@luminaryprism754 жыл бұрын
Damaged characters are always hard to write, I think. It’s hard to find a good balance between their fear and turmoil and pain and their mission and determination and journey. I think that’s probably why a lot of authors will go really shallow with it and not even attempt to layer their characters with trauma. Which sucks, because I love damaged characters, they tend to be my favorite.
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
I tried to damage my character but i am not sure if they are damaged enough I killed her dad Her mom is emotionally absent still mourning his death She started to act out She had a best friend who was he neighbor then they started dating and he cheated on her But i feel like how she expresses it might not come off genuine enough
@rat_54 жыл бұрын
@@dhenderson319 You forgot the part when she hooks up with a bad boy as a sign of protest and to seem less "goody two shoes" but ends up falling in love but he only saw her as a hook up but then he realises he actually fell in love with her.
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
@Pri LOL... wrong story.. What I stated was pretty much only my mc’s backstory There’s no bad boys at all in my story or falling for the wrong guy love triangle not realizing u were in love mixup (the only other guy that’s involved is in her past as backstory and they have both moved on) I hope not meeting that checklist was a good thing
@rat_54 жыл бұрын
@@dhenderson319 Oh that's a good thing. I was just joking 😅 Hope you didn't get offended
@liz4284 жыл бұрын
katniss everdeen is one of my favorite characters for the sole reason that her trauma is portrayed so well.
@3dstuff6544 жыл бұрын
What about a " dear authors, depression" most books just make thier characters cry and feel sad instead of exploring the characters feelings, and depression is rarely touched upon properly
@luketufts68274 жыл бұрын
Probably would be done in a “dear authors, mental illness “ video.. either way, it would be more gushing about Kaladin 😆
@juliakra014 жыл бұрын
@Hans Hanzo, that’s what I’ve been saying about depression, you don’t cry all the time, you’re numb. And granted, everyone has a different experience and battle with depression, but for me it’s numbness so deep that any emotion, even bad ones, are better than nothing, and tears are a rarity.
@fantasyalover47824 жыл бұрын
I think the book "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour does a good job portraying someone that is deppress.
@moriahruiz24904 жыл бұрын
Because I only knew depression from main stream media and books I didn't realize that I had depression. I didn't have the necessary information to help myself. I really do think authors and movies need to portray metal illness better. To know that depression isn't just feeling sadness all the time. Its feeling unmotivated, tired all the time, unable to concentrate well, self isolating, and etc.
@VenomQuill3 жыл бұрын
I know this isn't a book, but what came to mind first is Doki Doki Literature Club. I'm serious, I promise. I've seen so much misrepresentation and _blah de blah_ that DDLC jumped out at me. -Please reccomend me better books. ;_;-
@karthikayanedathodathu13374 жыл бұрын
Main characters that we actually like? *did you mean: Percy Jackson*
@Anna953c4 жыл бұрын
My first thought!
@karthikayanedathodathu13374 жыл бұрын
@@Anna953c great minds think alike
@solangeloshipper95294 жыл бұрын
Yasss🌚🌚
@Anna953c4 жыл бұрын
@@solangeloshipper9529 Love your name😅
@rat_54 жыл бұрын
That man is God's work. Literally.
@ti_sathiya4 жыл бұрын
What is a Merphy video without her talking about The Lies of Locke Lamora...
@or94224 жыл бұрын
no
@wattpadusergeek3424 жыл бұрын
It wouldn’t be a Merphy video.
@surprisedchar24582 жыл бұрын
Incomplete
@toenailairconditioner74064 жыл бұрын
"I read a lot of books." wHO woULda ThUNk iT?
@dimwitteddingo3 жыл бұрын
@@uu1545 Do you understand sarcasm?
@snuffy_04204 жыл бұрын
Omg can you do dear authors parents? I feel like that one be interesting lol
@jessicap62764 жыл бұрын
Haha, that *would* be funny.
@janellelives51584 жыл бұрын
Parents are so often dead, unsupportive or abusive in the YA books I read.
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
livesimplywith janelle Lol i have all three My mc’s dad is dead and her mother is an emotionally absent drunk.. but she does get a lot of shit from her older daughter for her dont care attitude while she wallows in self pity for the father’s death years after.. but in the end she has character development.. (but ofc not a 180 since she has been lazy for years) And my love interest’s parents are not much better. They are alive and very involved in his life but the mother shows her love in her own devilish way ..the father more has goals for his son than love But I plan to give the mother character development later on also since part of the love interest’s arc is separating from his family and his mother really does love him So even tho the parents are not the best role models, i have watched videos that just encourage us to give meaning and depth to the cliches so i just hope i am doing that well
@RenegadeShepard694 жыл бұрын
@@dhenderson319 I'll tell you that what might seem cliche for some people for others is not, as reading these parents you are writing takes me back to many teenagers I met in my life, with similar lives. I didn't think of it as a cliche, I thought it hit home, and imo if done just with the right empathy to humanize them all I think it can even hit home Hard*, lol. Plus, it's interesting to actually see the not-so-ideal parents of a MC, usually those are seen through the hurt and trauma that character carries, which risks coming off cheaper and not as involving to me, because it's the characters' word against their non-character mom's and dad's, so it feels more psychological than an external, palpable conflict. Plus I'd like to add that it's nice to see the MC burdened by their dysfunctional families. It's one thing I don't see as elabored, the stress of having difficult parents on the MC. It can be slight gestures, I remember a boy with a tired and sad stare, writing lazily and unengaged in class, almost like brushing the words on the book, eventually stopping and just drawing for the remainder of class. Just an example I remembered now. But I'll not add more as it's your story, you got it figured out I bet, lol, just wanted to feedback a bit. Sounds good to me Dervii! As does your name too hah.
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
Elftzar Thanks for the feedback! I love getting insight for my ideas lol. I think i do understand what u mean by having the parents affect the child. I have the parents in my head and i have them on paper but i just hope what i have written works and does not come off as cheap. I think a lot of parents i see in fiction that are bad, it makes excuses for the character’s behavior. Like the bad boy with a troubled past. But what i see argued about a lot is that they don’t get reprimanded at all. My female mc has more of a sad past than an abusive one. The past affects her and her sister differently. I think many children act out after a loved one’s death and it makes her mother more human too, being that she was always weak and dependable and after her husband died, she did not have the drive to care for her daughters anymore. This forced my mc’s older sister to join the military early since they needed money. With no father, sister or mother, my mc became lonely and caused her to act when she was young which isolated her from her friends. She found comfort in her best friend which turned into a romantic relationship until he betrayed her. At first i didnt dive too deep into my mc’s backstory, but then i felt like i needed to make her more human, hopefully making it easier to see where her reluctance to trust comes from, and why she gives her all when she does trust someone. In present, you actually see her as a calmer person (compared to her past) after learning to forgive ..but you also see why she where her confrontational side comes from. But with her mother, my mc is passive. She gave up on trying to get anything ours of her. But her sister however is always confrontational and does not hide that she despises her mother. So i hope seeing both sides allows you to see the psychological aspect of all the family members. I think it shows contrasts with her and the love interest, while also showing parallels. His life was more sheltered. He was born into his destiny and was groomed for success. Nobility practices arranged marriages so that is how his parents came to be. They are a loving couple to the outside but their relationship is very dysfunctional. His mother does not want that for him so she gave him the ability to choose. But she said choose, she didn’t mean to choose form the lower class but he had his bad experiences with upper class women. So with that, it creates literal conflict between both families and the class system in general when his parents work together on something they can agree on. You get to see y the love interest wants real love, being a product of dysfunctional love and hopefully y they are willing to take risks for one another. That was another thing important to me: why you would be willing to risk your life for someone and to avoid insta-love. Sorry for the whole rant lol. I feel like just organizing my thoughts to type helps to understand my characters and identify what I’m lacking.
@Kishoto4 жыл бұрын
19:57 Merphy's voice: It's ok Merphy's thoughts: You are no brother of mine
@gabgonzales45704 жыл бұрын
This video is just Merphy fangirling over Sanderson's main characters.
@JustAnotherGeekX4 жыл бұрын
And talking about Lies of Locke Lamora for the 90th time XD
@ayaasaf93824 жыл бұрын
merphy: there is no character that everyone is going to love me: wait what about Sam from LoTR? *remembers that we talk about main character* me: ok yes, i agree
@raquelmarcalsantos4 жыл бұрын
When hobbies were mentioned I was like “IROH!!” And then I remembered he’s not a MC. 😔
@woodnoteflute4 жыл бұрын
Yass
@robloxgamingmored66774 жыл бұрын
Sam was easily the best character in LotR honestly I hated frodo :/
@annorakanon4 жыл бұрын
@@robloxgamingmored6677 Yeah, that's true. Frodo was a lot worse than Sam because he was kinda boring, and barely had any flaws. While Sam on the other hand was very likable, because he had a pleasant personality, and had a big impact on the story, especialy his friendship with Frodo.
@Emily-ju6wc4 жыл бұрын
Don't forget uncle Iroh from atla not the MC but the best character
@sarcasticeggs89984 жыл бұрын
I'm just going to come out and say it. Everybody bashed Stephanie Meyer for writing Twilight, but we have to agree that the only reason why Twilight ever succeeded was that Bella is the perfect "Insert Yourself" M/C. Bland enough so that young girls can project themselves onto her, but enough agency to actually move the plot forward.
@elizabethashley424 жыл бұрын
Meyer's worldbuilding was also surprisingly memorable, even if she completely squandered the opportunity to write the far more interesting stories she references within her own universe.
@allyli17184 жыл бұрын
Dimitri Nath yeah I’ve always felt like Twilight was the girl version of generic isekai anime.
@drfifteenmd75614 жыл бұрын
@@elizabethashley42 I definitely agree with the last point, I yearn for in depth stories of Rosalie, Alice, Carlise, Esme, Jasper, etc. and their backgrounds. They could have been center stage and the toxic werewolf-human-vampire love triangle could've been sprinkled in sparingly.
@organizer.spaztasticc35414 жыл бұрын
That still doesn't mean that I get annoyed when reading Bella's 'eh whatever' character, though... Everyone else has really interesting characters (Cough cough Jasper cough) but her, and while it may have contributed to Meyer's success, I just have to roll my eyes sometimes XD but I really do like twilight and I ain't afraid to admit it.
@benjaminlillis78073 жыл бұрын
@@organizer.spaztasticc3541 When I read this comment, I laughed. “Ha ha ha,” I chuckled.
@mphosoane71634 жыл бұрын
Please! Don't make the main character wattpad type of 'I'm so ugly!!!' And then you find out from other characters that she literally looks like a model
@pheela4 жыл бұрын
Mpho Soane "wattpad type" 😂😂
@nouch87254 жыл бұрын
this!
@lolimsooedgy78094 жыл бұрын
unless she likes people telling her she isny ugly that she is pretty like maybe doing it for her ego
@mphosoane71634 жыл бұрын
@Niche Key that'll actually be super funny
@wattpadusergeek3424 жыл бұрын
Oof. My heart. Lol. True. I just plainly point out that they’re hot. And they know it. Kind of flaunt it even. PS: Just in case you’re interested, the book is “Sparks and a Girl” on Wattpad and the flirty cute girl is Cass and she’s trouble. Oh, um, it’s an LGBTQ adventure/romance just in case you’re not interested in that.
@gabrielleduplessis73884 жыл бұрын
When I saw the flawed characters section of this video, I immediately thought of five from the umbrella academy/ dark horse series. We cannot fully relate to him, but we root for him because he constantly strives to protect his family and that is what anyone can relate to.
@allyli17184 жыл бұрын
Also he’s always done with all the academy’s family drama, which a lot of watchers relate to.
@j2dragon1094 жыл бұрын
@@allyli1718 I believe Gabrielle is refering specificaly to the orginal comics.
@Conflict-ff5pi4 жыл бұрын
To me a main character needs to be two things, regardless of the medium they're in: They need to be interesting, and they need to be understandable. They as a character need to be somebody that's inherently interesting to follow and their motivations need to be clear, the audience must understand why they're doing the things that they're doing, even if they might disagree. To me, relatability isn't all that important. You can pursue a main character with that in mind, but it isn't a necessity to me.
@RenegadeShepard694 жыл бұрын
That's a good way to put it. I think I agree. Understanding is the one thing I like to have as differentiation from the rest of characters too, yes. Maybe my main point, I really only demand that from MC lol, just let me understand what you want/need/seek more than I can understand the other characters. Push the side chars to the side when it comes to knowing them well, but everything else I don't mind, they can be more interesting or entertaining than the MC for me, as it balances the cast to me, leaving me with a taste of wanting more of the side char feels good, that "I wouldn't mind if he were the MC instead" every once in a while-- but not always! because I can always think back "yeah but I don't think I'll ever understand them as much as the MC". You know that feeling? But relatability indeed is never to me fundamental.
@user-nb2ub9hn8s4 жыл бұрын
Your comments about the flawed characters reminded me of Harry Potter. Remember how Harry was so angry and mistreated his friends a bit after the Goblet of Fire? I've seen people complaining how he was unnecessarily annoying but like, he's only 15! He went through a lot of trauma and people expect him to be an angel? I did get annoyed, but I remember I actually kinda felt bad for him, and I think he had the right to be angry. Also another example is Katara. These days it almost seems like a trend to make fun of her just because of a few emotional outbursts, and forgetting all the things she did for the team, on the other hand everyone praises Toph and blindly worship her while totally ignoring her flaws. I know a lot of hardcore readers say "add flaws!" but many times I just see readers complaining and criticizing the character's mistakes and flaws or even make fun of them, especially if the said flaw was emotion-related. I guess being a third party in a story makes people forget how much they allow emotions to control their actions and thoughts.
@tararobinson59234 жыл бұрын
THIS! I think Harry actually become a way more nuanced and interesting character after he had to deal with the trauma of Cedric’s and sirius’ death and his “annoying ness” was necessary for his healing. Also I feel you about Katara, too. It seems like people don’t really like to see strong protagonists suffer from trauma
@BlackXSunlight4 жыл бұрын
It's like do yall want a complex character study carefully seasoned with a pinch of trauma and slow-cooked over some suspense, inner conflict, and frequent failure, or did you want the cornflakes after all?
@ThePreciseClimber4 жыл бұрын
"These days?" Have you not seen Ember Island Players? It has always been a thing.
@janhavi19774 жыл бұрын
Yes! I feel so sorry for Harry in OoTP, and it baffles me that there are people who don't seem to feel much empathy towards him. After everything he's been through, he needs to vent but he's not going to vent to some stranger. He's obviously going to rant to his best friends because he trusts them to put up with him when he's at his worst. But I think what makes him great is that even though, he's clearly depressed and lonely, Rowling doesn't treat him like a victim. She has other characters (Ginny) call him out and Harry grows into a better person from that. He doesn't spend the whole book throwing himself a pity party, he fights back and tries to change his situation by forming the DA, and giving the Quibbler interview. Harry is such a great balance of inspiring heroism and realistic flaws. He's not too perfect, but he's not a complete jerk. You should check out this video, it's great. Someone finally made a video defending grumpy, Caps-Lock Harry! kzbin.info/www/bejne/anmcqaCOe6x1a5I Hard agree with what you said about Katara! She's another great balance of compassion and anger. She's the glue that holds the group together and without her they were screwed in that desert. Even though she's caring and nurturing, she can be incredibly aggressive when people she cares about are threatened. Unpopular opinion - I love Toph, she's a really cool character but I think she's a little overrated. I always felt Katara was way more complex and interesting, and she's actually one of my favorite female characters.
@user-nb2ub9hn8s4 жыл бұрын
@@ThePreciseClimber well there's a difference between the writers poking fun at themselves and the audience bashing the character. Idk why but I feel the hate for Katara as a character felt even more prominent. One time I talked with a person who literally called her a "Karen".
@michellesmirnova44714 жыл бұрын
Regarding the comment about characters breaking down, I honestly get what the commenter that found it annoying means. Yes, it’s realistic to break down, but what people don’t like to read about is a character that constantly feels bad about themselves instead of doing something about their situation. That’s not to say that it’s not realistic, in fact I love seeing characters grow from that to something more, but that’s the key - they need growth. Reading about a character just constantly complaining about their life puts the story “on hold” and is generally boring and annoying to read about. It’s similar to the miscommunication trope - it’s realistic a lot of the time, but that doesn’t mean it has to be in a story because it’s generally a cheap way of making a conflict. I feel the same goes for this specific “trope”.
@BlackXSunlight4 жыл бұрын
Yeah, the breakdown has to be earned over the course of a narrative, like hairline cracks in glass spreading until it shatters. Would rather see a character fighting against despair and self-pity until the moment everything goes to hell.
@orpheos94 жыл бұрын
Otherwise known as book 5 of Harry potter
@michellesmirnova44714 жыл бұрын
richdz Can’t say I agree but we probably have different visions/what annoys us of this trope. One example that I didn’t find annoying (because there was growth) but illustrates what tends to annoy me is the Shatter Me series, especially book 1.
@rzuue4 жыл бұрын
I think that what the tough, guarded and closed off MCs are often missing is awkwardness. I'm basing that off from my own experience bc there was a time I was very, very closed off and it caused me to become very awkward with any form of even slight skinship, with certain topics e.g. feelings but also others and with stuff that to others seemed rather normal. But the typical (y/a) closed off MC rarely has true awkwardness to them even though they refused close relationships for at least a while
@robertblume29514 жыл бұрын
An example I think does this well is Martha Wells Rakusa series. There is a lot of awkwardness to the main character that expresses itself through social interactions and inner dialogue about said interactions or societal expectations.
@chadnicholas88844 жыл бұрын
You know it’s gonna be a good video when two different Brandon Sanderson series are linked in the description!
@renagracesartain30894 жыл бұрын
I'm an author and a long time watcher of the channel, and Dear Authors is one of my favorite series on all of KZbin. The more I see, the more I find myself wanting Merphy to Beta Read my current WIP. This video -- even more than part one -- really pushed that to a new level. Not only do I learn something every time, but I also get a lot of encouragement about the work I'm doing! It's good to hear that people love internal dialogue. It's good to hear that little unrelated quirks (my "badass MC" likes knitting and sewing pockets on her work clothes) makes the character more tangible. It's good to hear that readers want to hear about big flaws like pride that clouds her mind so much, she makes genuine mistakes. All that to say, thank you Merphy and thank you to your community for how mindfully you read and consider the works we authors put so much effort into improving. Much love to everyone, and know (even though it's on a different account) I wait anxiously for every upload. Your combined effort for these videos is fantastic. As I plan to start making videos for AuthorTube, I look to creators like you, Merphy, and aspire to be similar!
@autumnquinn68644 жыл бұрын
One of my pet peeves is the “ It Girl” Like as soon as she enters the town/school EVERYBODY is all over her for no reason. Example: Bella from Twilight. She has no characteristics that make her THAT interesting. Harry Potter was constantly the #1 Talked about person in the school but it’s Bc of his backstory. There’s a reason for it
@Sean-jl6dc4 жыл бұрын
Autumn Quinn I agree for the most part, although as someone who grew up in a small town I can vouch for Bella (as bland as her character is) being super interesting to other kids at school, at least for the first couple weeks. Like, people literally flocked to the new kid at my school for no other reason than he was new. But yeah that interest should've dwindled pretty quick
@autumnquinn68644 жыл бұрын
[Seán] I definitely agree with u Bc I live in a small town and whenever new students arrive we all act like they’re Cher or something. But then the attention dies by the next few days lol
@fkdjdjcmckdjdjf37283 жыл бұрын
i mean, forks was a small town, so i think in small towns, 'new people' are attention grabbing, especially in high school when everyone's known each other for over a decade. i haven't read it in ages though so i would agree that it was a bit overkill
@carlajenkins19903 жыл бұрын
"Hello Mary Sue!"
@dynesteefields43964 жыл бұрын
I really want to see a character fighting against fate, not just some random bad guy. Let the MC's destiny (aka themselves) be their worst enemy.
@bluebrightstar11174 жыл бұрын
I think Fitz & the fool do this in the realm of the elderlings by Robin Hobb
@jadeenright62724 жыл бұрын
Did you ever watch Smallville lol?
@fangirlalltheway36274 жыл бұрын
I'm writing a story like that😉
@dynesteefields43964 жыл бұрын
@@jadeenright6272 No! But now I really need to!
@katarakitten90884 жыл бұрын
@@fangirlalltheway3627 me too, but with both the "villain" and the protagonist
@mattjshea4 жыл бұрын
I can see why some people might hate Kaladin and think that he’s being whiny or petty. But what makes me love Kaladin is that Sanderson does such a masterful job of helping us understand WHY Kaladin is the way he is. These traits don’t just come out of a vacuum, they’re response to life experiences that we as readers can understand and empathize with, even if we also know he is making the wrong choice.
@SSLLatia4 жыл бұрын
this is why i'm quickly becoming a huge Stephen King fan. His characters are memorable. you read about them and you can imagine them in your head, you could answer a questionnaire for them. the first book from him that i read was 11/22/63 and it starts with the character discussing his relationship with his ex wife and it gives you THE FEELS. it has nothing to do with the plot. and sometime later there is a moment where he remembers how they used to dance together and you just feel so heartbroken for him. again, it does not serve the plot in any way that he is a moderately good dancer. but i still remember that. And then i just read Gerald's Game and the whole time you are in the protagonists head. in that book you don't just get to know Jessie but all her "voices" so well and through them, you learn so much about her. and the funny thing is: I've had trauma as well and i used to have those voices and whole conversations as well. i had totally forgotten about that until i read the book. mind blowing. so i think that's where stephen kings real talent lies in, he makes you care about his protagonist.
@Crinbo4 жыл бұрын
Agreed. I don’t even find King scary, but he’s so so good at characterization. ESPECIALLY at flawed, gray characters. Or fundamentally good characters that make a really really bad decision. Jack Torrance from The Shining Jim Gardener from The Tommyknockers Paul Sheldon from Misery Harold Lauder from The Stand Dan Torrance from Doctor Sleep Eddie Dean from The Drawing of the Three Love it!
@patrickhf82984 жыл бұрын
That's ptimarly why he is one of my top 10 authors. The first SK book I read is IT, and I LOVED IT. And I think that was primarly because it was one of the first times that I felt that I could meet every single character of the book in real life. Even IT itself.
@j2dragon1094 жыл бұрын
I'd recomend skipping IT.
@Alexfolledemoi4 жыл бұрын
Female MCs' flaws in YA : She was....cLuMsY !
@JerkyMurky4 жыл бұрын
In sorry but you're wrong... Kaladin doesn't have a god complex, he has a savior's complex. A god complex is a narcissistic personality disorder... A savior's complex is what he has, and what your describing. "Taking on responsibility for everything outside of his control and believing he has to save everything and everyone." It's a pretty huge difference...
@SharonVictoria904 жыл бұрын
I came down to the comments to find this because I was sure someone had to have already commented on Kaladin having a saviour complex and his failing in that feeds his depression. A clear god complex that I can think of now is Light from Death Note since he thinks he gets to decide who lives and dies and what’s right and wrong.. big difference
@luketufts68274 жыл бұрын
Easy mistake to make, but yeah
@marialawal74494 жыл бұрын
Light from death note comes to mind immediately for God complex
@JerkyMurky4 жыл бұрын
@@marialawal7449 light, and patrick battmen from american psycho ate the first two that come to mind for me when it comes to god complexes. I would say dr strange usually has one in his depictions as well, till he loses thw use of his hands, then it becomes more of a saviors complex.
@JerkyMurky4 жыл бұрын
@@luketufts6827 oh no, its definitely an easy mistake to make but they are still vastly different. A god complex kaladin and a savior complex one are two completely different characters
@yihongchen84874 жыл бұрын
I feel like a lot of mangas have great main characters (or they just do great character writing in general). Two of the mangas in your TBR video are great examples of this: Monster and Assassination Classroom. Monster: Naoki Urasawa is a real genius. Monster has great character writing in general. Every character, major or minor, feels like a fully fleshed-out human being. While I personally like the arcs of Grimmer and Lunge, two side characters, the best, I must also say that the protagonist Dr. Tenma is an extremely well-written character. His duality with the main antagonist is truly fascinating. Assassination Classroom: It's arguable who the main character of Assassination Classroom is between Nagisa and Koro-sensei. However, both are incredibly well-written characters. Nagisa hits home the "flaw" point really well with his low self-esteem. His backstory (which I will not spoil) adds a lot more depth to his character. It makes some of his traits that seem exaggerated at first all feel natural. His friendship and duality with Karma are amazing as well. Koro-sensei is easily one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. He is a great example of the "mystery" point. Throughout the story, it's clear that he appears to be just a funny gag character, but it's clearer that he purposefully appears that way to hide something. When that thing (which I will not spoil) is revealed, everything in the story ties together and it's a truly beautiful feeling. There are two more that I wanted to mention. Although they were not in your TBR video I feel like they did character writing so well I had to bring them up. One Piece (Eiichiro Oda): It's incredible how a story with almost 1000 chapters can still be so good after so long. EVERY CHARACTER in One Piece is fascinating in their own way (ok maybe not every character, but pretty close). They all have their own ideologies, their own personalities, and their own dreams. Luffy is a fantastic protagonist that is truly relatable, has amazing traits but also great flaws, and is just super entertaining to follow. I know you love friendship, and the friendship between Luffy and his crewmates is some of the best friendships I've ever read. His duality with the main antagonist is also absolutely incredible. One-Punch Man (ONE): One-Punch Man has an amazing cast of unique and interesting characters that are either well-developed or set up to be developed in the future. Saitama, the protagonist, is no exception. At first glance he seems like a goofy and stupid parody character, which he certainly is, but he is also a deep character with a strong internal struggle against nihilism. His arc isn't nearly close to finishing but I have faith that he will develop into one of my favorites by the end of the series. And now I'll talk about a few novels... because I don't want to give off the impression that I only read manga. The Devotion of Suspect X (Keigo Higashino): Higashino is my favorite mystery writer, and the Devotion of Suspect X is his most famous work. Ishigami is a truly fascinating character. I don't want to go any further than that because I don't want to spoil anything. Confession (Kanae Minato): Another amazing bone-chilling mystery/psychological thriller. Moriguchi's arc is amazing. Again, don't want to spoil, so moving on. The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein): Yes I read books by non-Japanese authors. Also, I know you hate talking animals but this dog doesn't actually talk -- we're just in his head the entire time -- so I guess that's ok? Anyways, I never thought I'd relate to a dog so much but I really did. This book is incredible. That's everything on the top of my head. This is my first time commenting on one of your videos but I've been watching for a while now. Your videos are amazing, keep up the great work
@silentcookie72614 жыл бұрын
I already mentioned in the community tab that one of my favorite MCs in books is Percy Jackson. But to add on to manga/anime characters (I completely agree on Assassination Classroom and One Piece (the other two I haven't read at all yet or only partially), for everyone who doesn't know the series already: I just _love_ Edward and Alphonse Elric (and lots of the other characters as well) from Fullmetal Alchemist! They go through so much struggle and hardship while remaining so, so human, and you just _feel_ for them. You find yourself rooting for them and being completely invested in their fate. Characters and story of this series is just incredible!
@yihongchen84874 жыл бұрын
@Jishnu Suresh I haven't read AOT yet unfortunately, but I'll get to it eventually.
@yihongchen84874 жыл бұрын
@@silentcookie7261 I forgot about Fullmetal Alchemist because I watched it so long ago but you're absolutely right!
@jessilu5404 жыл бұрын
omg thank you for mentioning all these masterpieces! Especially the One Piece characters are so well written
@islasullivan34634 жыл бұрын
Have you read/see Fruits Basket because based on what you said you liked about the series above I think you would enjoy it. While I didn't read the book The Art of Racing In The Rain, I did see the movie adaptation and I loved it
@dramallamayup4 жыл бұрын
i agree with you about giving the characters hobbies or weird personality quirks 👍👍 it makes them unique and you can even make jokes about it. im gonna give as example the manga and anime series One Piece. there are many recurring jokes, like Zoro being v bad with directions and constantly getting lost, or Nami always thinking about money and treasure. well, the latter is more like an old habit related to a past trauma, and i think that's genius
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
I also like fairy tale with natsu’s motion sickness and grey’s stripping I think one that did this annoyingly is BLACK CLOVER: spoiler alert up to about the elf arc I haven’t watched in a while so forgive me with the names But the pink haired witch with her drinking Gosche (however that’s spelt) with his sister complex Charmy with her eating The space mage with his girl obsession Luck with his fighting Etc. They kept repeating their quirks so much when the anime just started and it felt like a guideline that was given to a new writer to identify characters Like his teacher told him to add quirks and make that their personality Like every time they are to say something as a group, they literally say their quirk Like when they got paid and everyone was saying what they’re gonna spend money on (my quirk) Or when they’re encouraging asta to cheer up about his arms i think (participate in my quirk) And then it gets annoying when for eg. Charmy not giving a rats ass about anything unless it’s food or sleep related that time yuno saved her But they did later work the quirks into the plot and i like that.. like giving the sister complex kid an arc where asta saved his sister And diving into the space mage’s past and introducing the dynamic with him and his brother and his brother’s fiancé At that time i was thinking.. this writer can write some sick plot What was with the repetitive kindergarten guidelines before?
@dramallamayup4 жыл бұрын
@@dhenderson319 ive never watched black clover but what you are saying seems v weird and not funny and quirky. and i agree with fairy tail, it's super enjoyable !!
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
dramallamayup honestly black clover gets on my last nerves but when the writing isn’t like guidelines for a five year old, the plot points are really intriguing and am just a sucker for magic and feudalism Can’t win em all It has its good and bad points
@dramallamayup4 жыл бұрын
@@dhenderson319 it's on my list and im not expecting anything spectacular but a show to have fun while watching 🤟
@dhenderson3194 жыл бұрын
dramallamayup awesome When u finally see it let me know if the quirks bother u or if it’s just me
@ishaanvishah18854 жыл бұрын
I also think that the unnamed protagonist from Rebecca was masterfully witten because of how twisted she was. Her anxiety, timidity and sort of parasitic attachment to maxim was so realistically woven through her actions and motives.
@becklebooks4 жыл бұрын
I love how you're like "I felt so understood in a book that's written by a 40 year old man" hahaha! It's awesome how characterisation can do that though! That happened for Sanderson, reading a fantasy book where he understood his mother more. It's just rad! I loved how Spensa was so vulnerable; the tough guy persona is a thing I love after it gets cracked open and we see the vulnerability inside of it and that was soooo explored in Skyward. It was a 5 stars for me because of this! :D And, added bonus, there wasn't girl/girl toxic hate and it became friendship instead. YAS. STRONG CHARACTER REC: Becky Chambers' Wayfarers books! "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet" is book 1.
@MrHangman564 жыл бұрын
one thing that i always love in a main character is when they'r a bit narcissistic, but have a bit of a right to be. they know what they're doing, they know how to handle a lot of situations, so hen they come across something unexpected it throws them off, but they're so sure of themselves they make a mistake because they think they can handle anything. a lot of Jules Verne protagonists have this kind of character flaw, and it's what makes them so interesting to read, because you're just waiting for their next mistake to come, but aren't really rooting against them.
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
Personally I find Harry Potter, at least in the early books, to be a blank character, but not in the sense that there's nothing about him, but instead in the sense that there's something about him that everyone can latch onto. He's good enough at Quidditch that sporty people can relate to him; he's bad enough at his studies that people who don't like school can relate to him; he's good enough at one thing in school (Defense Against the Dark Arts) that studious people can relate to him; etc. I find that a lot of people end up mistaking a "blank character" for a flat character, when in fact a blank character is someone that has enough going for them that everyone can relate to something to project themselves onto the protagonist. In the later books, starting in the Order of the Phoenix, I feel that Harry develops more of a unique personality, and we can see this especially in the Half Blood Prince where he's just so darn angry all the time. So this is really something in the first 4 HP books in my opinion.
@toenailairconditioner74064 жыл бұрын
you're saying that HBP was the one that Harry was constantly angry? nah mate, it was OotP.
@forwhy87234 жыл бұрын
Harry is actually witty and curious from book 1.
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
@@forwhy8723 Again, a blank character isn't someone with no traits, it's someone with a lot of traits. So he is witty and curious in book 1, but he is also bullied and ignorant.
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
@@toenailairconditioner7406 I would say that in OotP he was more depressed angry, but in HBP he was more enraged angry.
@forwhy87234 жыл бұрын
@@UdyKumra lol everyone has a lot of traits. We are not one thing. Also people are different around different people.
@prajwalkulkarni17474 жыл бұрын
I dont know much about writing but I think family is important for MC especially for childrens books Like most dont have any many are orphans oe single child or go on a life-changing journey alone Like sibling love mixed with saltiness and rivlary Parental over cautiousness and in general looking out for MC gives the book a real cozy vibe Also any threat to the family can resonate a 100 times more so the plot seems palatable And this can also show that MC feels suffocated in their family and furstrated in the sibling rivalry etc
@loveisanopendoor35324 жыл бұрын
Also when characters are active rather than reactive. I want my mcs doing things and causing issues and not because they’re reacting to what’s happening around them but them forcing and pushing the story along with their emotion or actions. Although there are going to be things they can’t control I think making it so that they react is progressive af. Love these kind of characters like Katniss from Hunger Games or even Anna from Frozen lmao.
@cyanic31484 жыл бұрын
"Kaladin! He has a god complex." *flashbacks to* "AND FOR MY BOON"
@sthirukk4 жыл бұрын
Omg, I haven't read stormlight, but this makes me want to pick up the book right now. Like, where can I buy that self confidence?
@marorozco97064 жыл бұрын
Oh no, boy. You don’t want to read that scene (it will outright kill you with secondhand embarrassment). But I do (highly) recommend The Stormlight Archive!
@UdyKumra4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video! I recently just put a book on hold because my protagonist had a lot of these "standard character" problems and I wanted to figure out a better way to write him. I then switched to writing a different book where the character had way more personality, and it's way more fun to write and feels like it's coming together much more strongly than that last book was. Watching this video has helped me to understand what exactly it was I internalized between that last book and this current one, and now I think I have some strategies in mind to go back and fix that last book. Thank you Merphy you're the best :)
@orpheos94 жыл бұрын
I really like warbreakers main characters. They all have strong personalities and in some cases great mystery to draw you in. Bonus points for female protagonists that get character development.
@kokorodaki40174 жыл бұрын
Yes yes yes! Write characters that people either love or get upset about! The fact that a flawed character gets any emotional reaction out of your readers is a big deal, even if it's because they don't like the character. At least they care about the character enough to wish they were better. I barely remember what Trish Prior from Divergent was like, and would've forgotten what she was like soon after finishing Allegiant. I absolutely loved Five from The Lorien Legacies though! Yeah, he was a jerk, yeah, he spent a ton of time working for the bad guys, but there was deep reasons for his flaws beyond just 'people suck, so I'm gonna be a sucky person too', and he came around eventually and it was glorious! Edit: Ok, so in writing this, I totally forgot it was meant to be about main characters when I started talking about Five. He's not a main character in the series (rarely even a POV). And off the top of my head, I can't think of a main character I've become emotionally invested in that wasn't written by Brandon Sanderson. I'm sure I've read some though.
@carsynagen35254 жыл бұрын
When she said show the MC break down... all I could think of was Luffy from One Piece. He's the "goofy, resilient, I can do this" Shonen MC who powers through for his friends. But in the Sabaody-Marineford saga, he takes L after L, until one is just too great. when the person he loves the most in the world dies after all his efforts, he doesn't get angry and power trip. He's broken
@darkdream14694 жыл бұрын
I will never forget that moment...
@BixLovesMiley4 жыл бұрын
I recently read a book with a friend that I didn't expect a lot of. It was a children's fantasy, (from a line of bilingual books to help german children learn english), and we read it for the plot. However I was genuinly surprised by the protaganist: she was headstrong, she was stupid sometimes and overlooked important clues, but what I liked most: she wasn't always the hero of the day. She had to step down and let her little brother take lead, because she realized: I'm better at protectig him on this journey, than at figuring out what we need to do next. And that was a very pleasant experience, because standartly the hero of the story does everything, because they are the chosen one, and their companion characters only give advice and back up.
@dsj13284 жыл бұрын
8:57 Superman actually is one of the most human DC characters when in the correct writer's hands. Superman, because of his power, is often faced with conflict that he can't just punch or laser-eye away. He is often a very down to earth character that really feels like a good-natured farmboy as he was raised, rather than an all powerful perfect god.
@LunarKnight224 жыл бұрын
Little late to the party, but I know one of the things I always look for in a character is actually in their dialogue. I like when I’m reading a book, or watching something in a movie or TV show, and the characters have a conversation and I stop and think “I’ve had that conversation.” When watching the TV show Psych, one of my best friends and I routinely realize that we have in fact had many of the conversations of the characters in that show have had. One reason I like Harry Dresden is because the way he and his friends and family talk, or even the way he talks to villains, I get and understand. It never felt weird. One of my favorite authors ever is an older one, David Eddings. his books came out mostly in the 80s and 90s, and he’s not as well-known as I wish he was. Well the cover of that first book I read by him, the diamond throne, drew me in there was one scene that the main character has in a tavern with a whore. He treats her like a human being, and doesn’t look down at her despite being a church knight and her being a common whore. And that was the moment I fell in love with the books and the author. There might be a status in his books, because it’s fantasy based, but when you get right down to it that status doesn’t really mean anything. People are people to the main characters in the book. And that’s some thing that as I’ve read most of his books, I’ve grown to love. So for me, if as I am reading to people talk and the dialogue sounds weird, it pulls me out of the book because it’s strange and doesn’t make sense. But if their words and thoughts feel like something I would think or say, and they’ve become real to me and I immerse myself in that book again.
@KFoxtheGreat4 жыл бұрын
Sam Vimes from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is my absolute favorite character of all time in any media. He has a wonderful arc starting as a hopeless alcoholic with no future and no apparent desire for one, but through circumstance and passion for those he loves (including the city he loves), he grows so much as a person and I just love him
@Morfeusm4 жыл бұрын
K Fox YAS Discworld! Finally someone who knows what culture is! 😉
@KFoxtheGreat4 жыл бұрын
@@Morfeusm I love it so much!
@Morfeusm4 жыл бұрын
K Fox me too, me too
@pythax15674 жыл бұрын
me 3 :D
@professionalmemeenthusiast21174 жыл бұрын
Yeah he's been my favourite fictional character for a long time. Although he becomes so much more competent and responsible, he does it because of his constant unchanging values and motives, so it feels like natural, logical character growth where you can empathise with his satisfaction when he achieves.
@evanhansen7244 жыл бұрын
8:26 Michael in the bathroom. Be more chill-the musical. I know this isn’t a book, but the song is when the main character leaves his best friend, (for other reasons but that’s the plot-) and he essentially has a panic attack. It’s so relatable, and refreshing. I hate the “best friend is so funny and qUiRkY and only exists for a comedy character”, Michael is real, a real representation of many people in High school. He has anxiety. He is a loser. But he grows. And that’s a small point in the story, but it’s so sad, and inspiring. Michael in the bathroom hit such a sensitive nerve, I legit cried. Like, bawled. Again, he’s just a side character, but he just- listen to Michael in the Bathroom, and you’ll get it. ~ Okay thank you for coming to my ted talk-
@rat_54 жыл бұрын
About the PJO universe. It is literally God's work for me. Some series I feel have amazing main characters are the series by Rick Riordan. Like they're powerful obviously, they are demigods afterall, but they have their fatal flaws and they acknowledge them and want to improve. And they are pretty relatable and humorous. They aren't just two-dimensional cardboard cutouts, they have depth and actual personalities. And this is mainly why Percy Jackson and the Olympians and the other books by Rick Riordan will always be my all time favourites.
@Pabloaxolotl56284 жыл бұрын
I don’t get why Rick Riordan is popular. I read his books and was disappointed with everything he did. Prose was absolute trash, like seriously some of the worst i have read. Characters were pretty bad for me, they felt like cardboard cutouts with a backstory, just because a piece of cardboard has personality doesn’t mean they aren’t cardboard. Setting, not the worst but not nearly good enough, and Plot, i mean it was fine but the prose just dragged it down to the point where i started hating it. If you have more reasons why you like the books, please share them.
@TurtlesAndTortoises3023 жыл бұрын
@@Pabloaxolotl5628 I think the prose was childish, it's a children's book after all and there was a lot I didn't like about the setting - I just hate it when things are too vague like what do they do in winter, isn't it freezing?? What do the beds look like? But that's not the point, it was very popular with children (including myself when I was younger) and the audience grew up with the books, it was sort of the modern Harry Potter, re-read Harry Potter and I guarantee you won't enjoy it nearly as much. People liked it because there was something for everyone, a lot of ethnicities and sexualities represented, even if some of the characters were as bland as fresh cream. People just filled in what they wanted to about side characters and decided the so-called Riordanverse was a perfect haven of wonderful characters. People really shouldn't worship him the way they do but he did a good thing and it's definitely admirable writing
@Pabloaxolotl56283 жыл бұрын
@@TurtlesAndTortoises302 I agree with you actually I was overreacting on my comment above. I would never argue that Harry Potter is like amazing its about as good as Riordan imo. Your points are absolutely correct it was written as a children’s book and thus should be judged as a children’s book. I read it expecting a profound revelation, but it is just a children’s book. I will commend the research, the myths were well represented and even an avid reader of myths such as myself didn’t know some of the myths in his books and they were just represented very plainly and simply. All in all his books are certainly not mind blowing but they are not as bad as i made them out to be above.
@TurtlesAndTortoises3023 жыл бұрын
@@Pabloaxolotl5628 I think the issue is people make it out be an extraordinary book series that even adults can enjoy but the adults that are enjoying it have grown up with it and that's why they still love the series. It's nice that you admitted to your mistake of overreacting, I admire that 👍🏾
@mephistopheles49104 жыл бұрын
6:54 - 7:18 Couldn't agree more. An author who can add humanity to a character without matching said character's physical attributes is a true gem.
@mstiltskin4 жыл бұрын
Really strong main character recommendation: Gen from the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner! He has humor, he sometimes breaks down, can be overconfident, has interesting backstory, you get to know him better throughout the series, and you get to see him change and struggle with the conflict between his morality and really difficult situations :)
@Sol-pc1jb4 жыл бұрын
Loving all of these "Dear Authors" videos!! I'm actually reaching the end of my novel and a lot of the things you (and other people) mentioned here really stuck with me. I'll make sure to revise my main character-and secondary characters, too, in the meantime-to make sure they are complex, interesting individuals. Thank you!
@eliseruiz89224 жыл бұрын
Dear authors: "please make Merphy your beta reader.
@michaeljenner23254 жыл бұрын
I really,really would do that but I already know she will hate my book. 😩
@danrobbins2359 Жыл бұрын
@michaeljenner2325 but she may hate it for reasons you didn't even expect!
@cha_rebuggi35474 жыл бұрын
I love Citra and Rowan from the Arc of Scythe trilogy (by Neal Shusterman). They’re flawed and unsure. They don’t always know if what they’re doing is right or wrong, especially Rowan is more in a gray zone. They make bad decisions and are sometimes hard to get to know. But they are so loyal to each other and to the values they were taught, that they are great main characters! Not only the main characters are very well written but so is the trilogy and the side characters! Plus a great and unexpected plot (Especially book 2).
@rrupps80744 жыл бұрын
I absolutely agree, Neal shusterman writes amazing main and side characters.
@janellelives51584 жыл бұрын
Ooooo I just bought Scythe a few days ago and am planning to read it soon.
@alejandroelcid4 жыл бұрын
A good series, or at the very least a good book, that has excellent characters is the Ranger's Apprentice. The characters are regular people, and any abilities they have has been earned through years and years of diligent practice of their skills. As an example, the main, main, character is a boy named Will who becomes a ranger apprentice and you see him as he grows and becomes skillful, yet he still has a long way to be as masterful as his mentor. My nephew loved the whole series and you constantly find yourself identifying the characters with people you know in real life.
@sabrina-kk1mf4 жыл бұрын
Merphy: Give them character traits of a real life human Edward: *laughs*
@Sam-zt8oj4 жыл бұрын
As someone has already mentioned pls do a dear authors...characters parents
@sunsetbutterfliesandfennec15314 жыл бұрын
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ipsumlorem75653 жыл бұрын
When it comes to giving a character personality, usually it just flows naturally to me. But sometimes I will need a bit more clarification on the perspective of the character and how they perceive the world around them, as well as their goals and how they function in life. The thing that seems to work the best for me when it comes to creating personality for a character is determining their birthday, and then making an astrology birth chart. It will then show me an entire list of planets (sun - outward personality | moon - inner self | rising - first impression | mars - anger, passion, ambition | venus - love language | chiron - what hurts the most for this character emotionally etc) and it will help me understand this character on a very deep, fundamental level. When it's a fantasy or sci-fi story, and the dates cannot be calculated, I usually just stick with sun, moon and rising signs, and then MBTI as well. This really really helps finding out the inner emotional and psychological workings of a character and it helps me find new ways to explore their perspective. If you don't believe in astrology, that's fine, but you have to admit that the insight on a character's personality can be really useful if you fabricate them a zodiac birth chart xD
@phillip85234 жыл бұрын
I feel like, for a main character to be good, there must be some opposition to them. Whether that be an internal struggle of good vs evil or something external, like a villain who opposes them. This struggle creates an opportunity for character growth and a questioning of their ethics/morals. Are they the hero or the villain? I always loved the batman vs joker dynamic for this reason.
@jamesduggan72004 жыл бұрын
Thx Merph, some of the comments were insightful. Clearly it's a topic about which readers care. Seeing the same top and bottom ten lists get tedious, so your series is a relief.
@gagesugden96124 жыл бұрын
Since you just interviewed Paolini, I think Eragon (post first book, where he's 99% cardboard, although even in that book he had to learn how to read which was an awesome chapter come to think of it) is an example of a great MC. How he faces challenges of teenage infatuation, physical disability, enormous responsibility/power thrust onto him without proper training, man it's great to see a "chosen one" MC actually struggle with that one especially. Many of the themes of the series are best explored thru Eragon's flaws - one amazing example is where Eragon tries to bless a child but accidentally curses her, then has to grapple with how to fix his mistake
@akgwriting94814 жыл бұрын
Agreed
@justonemorechapter10694 жыл бұрын
I know I will never stop hyping up Terry Pratchett , but I genuinely think Sam Vimes is one of the best protagonists I have ever read. He is incredibly relatable, and feels like a real person. He’s flawed, but you are also always rooting for him. Despite how much I love the side characters in the city watch, Vimes carries the whole thing. Plus the more you read of him, the better he gets.
@tonel.99674 жыл бұрын
I love Sam Vimes :D
@robertblume29514 жыл бұрын
I think the Witches are the only characters that can really stand up to him in terms of interesting and engaging characters in the series.
@professionalmemeenthusiast21174 жыл бұрын
Yeah he's always been my favourite fictional character. I think it's how straightforward and honest he is- he knows exactly the kind of person he is and works within that. You really feel you know him and could tell what he would do in any situation.
@robertblume29514 жыл бұрын
@@professionalmemeenthusiast2117 the moment he puts the axe through the table and tells the nobles they will have a king over his dead body and then it cuts to Vitenary saying if Vines didn't exist he would have to invent him is my second favorite scene in the whole series. The best scene is him shouting the bed time story to his kid from memory in the tunnels during Thud.
@professionalmemeenthusiast21174 жыл бұрын
@@robertblume2951 Yeah him using the bedtime story to fight off a demon is the most amazing piece of genius storytelling I've ever encountered
@cassiebrinlee57114 жыл бұрын
“There is no one main character that is going to make everyone fall in love with them.” I’m sorry, but have she must have forgotten about PERCY JACKSON. I have never met a single person that didn’t absolutely love Percy. And for good reason. Percy is wonderful.
@andrewjenkins99654 жыл бұрын
I'm so happy that you brought up Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. It's one of my favorites, and Norrell is a great example of someone who can be annoying or frustrating (and, like many of their peers, I expect in real life I would much prefer the company of Strange), but nevertheless interesting to follow. Clarke did a fantastic job at making her characters feel human (excepting, of course, the non-humans, though even the gentleman with thistle-down hair is a complex figure with his own layers and driving forces.
@PsychologyandChillwMichi4 жыл бұрын
The main character from The Parable of the Sower is very flawed and well-rounded, i loved reading her!!
@KFoxtheGreat4 жыл бұрын
I'm reading this now and couldn't agree more!
@PsychologyandChillwMichi4 жыл бұрын
K Fox ahhhh you are in for a treat!!
@kerneywilliams6324 жыл бұрын
Agreed. It also feels like the America right now, only written 30+ years ago.
@PsychologyandChillwMichi4 жыл бұрын
Kerney Williams yesssss i was telling someone else the only thing that she missed was youtube lol
@mistywafers76234 жыл бұрын
I'm really glad that you made the main characters thing. Not only did it help me develop my character (Delilah) and her friendship with her best friend (Michael), but it also kept my spirits up as I typed the saddest part of my story. Writing this comment also helped me realize I have been spelling Michael wrong for the entire story.
@lostschedule514 жыл бұрын
Skyward offers another example of good writing - don't be afraid to ask people! Representing a group without the proper research ends with stereotypes.
@kerneywilliams6324 жыл бұрын
A good booktube discussion to have that I haven't actually seen is 'how to research on a budget'. I've heard Brandon Sanderson talk and sometimes he use resources that aren't open to you and me.
@shwetakantharia573 жыл бұрын
I love it when characters just LIVE.I want to see them live normally,even if it's for a chapter or two. If characters are having an entirely different life,I want to see how they react to things.
@theunreadyone4 жыл бұрын
When the author has all the side characters talk about how smart funny cool and [insert positive trait] the MC is but never actually gives the MC any of those traits
@Emma-dh7by4 жыл бұрын
Really like this discussion with the focus on how authors can improve. I find it's often not too difficult to point out where authors are going wrong, but a lot more challenging to pinpoint how they can fix said issue.
@havewissmart96024 жыл бұрын
The main problem is that main characters are viewed in a very different air than side characters. For example, think of the most compelling character in Avatar: Zuko and make him the protagonist. He was already a secondary protagonist so nothing should change right? What I am saying is switch the name to prince Zuko of the fire nation and change literally nothing else. The only major difference would be that now iroh would narrate the history instead of katara. What happens? Aang becomes ten times more likable and Zuko ten times less compelling. That's right by just making Zuko the main character and changing nothing else, he would be less interesting.
@havewissmart96024 жыл бұрын
@Hans Hanzo Nah, I am talking if the show itself was named afer him. Like he legit was the protagonist
@darkdream14694 жыл бұрын
It could have been really interesting to follow a protagonist who first is on the 'bad' site, and see his development from someone who grew up in a extremely toxic family/culture to someone who fights against his own nation for the good of the world. If handled right, he even could have made a better main protag then Aang. (sorry for my English)
@havewissmart96024 жыл бұрын
@@darkdream1469 Then you would have to change a lot of things about the show. Zuko is a very well written character (and my favourite) but I have to admit that if he was made the MC I would take a lot of things about him for granted. I also think that Aang's whole arc would become more interesting. For eg: .In the current show there is always a thought in the back of our head like "of course the MC is the Avatar". The Avatar still feels like a chosen one because aang is the MC and we know he probably won't lose in the end. So when iroh and Zuko say that it is specifically Aang's destiny to defeat Ozai, we just roll our eyes and just accept it. Aang's spirituality can still be just accounted as 'MC is a goody two shoes' In the alternate show, the Avatar system becomes more interesting(if that's even possible) since now it is now more plausible that aang could die or be defeated or turn evil(jk). It is more clear that he really is not the chosen one. Simply speaking even if Zuko is my favourite character in the show, Alot is because of the writers using the fact that he is a side character and not main character
@akgwriting94814 жыл бұрын
Agreed
@mariadifranco91734 жыл бұрын
One of the best pieces of writing advice I've received was last year in my creative writing class. My professor told us that the more details (that matter) you add, the more universal it gets. It seems like a paradox, but it's true! So my advice is to add those details and not worry about being relatable, because that will come naturally :) happy writing/reading!
@Sam-zt8oj4 жыл бұрын
Maybe you could do a Dear Authors... Names Or something of the sort
@cryptid41313 жыл бұрын
Okay it's not a book but the Lethal Weapon TV show really caught me off guard with how complex and beautifully written the main character is. It's a classic buddy cop drama with a lot of crazy crime stuff going on and lots of humor, and for a long time I didn't really look into it because it was based on a popular movie franchise that I still have yet to see, but I'm so incredibly glad that I did. Martin Riggs is a deeply traumatized character and the show really highlights this and his slow recovery as he processes and begins to overcome all the terrible things that have happened to him in such a realistic and captivating way. I love going back and re-watching him from the first episode after finishing the show and just seeing how much he's changed. Just looking at the show before hand I never expected to find a character I related to on such a deep emotional level that every step of his recovery felt so very satisfying. I cannot recommend it enough, seriously. (Also the ending of season 2 and all of season 3 didn't happen okay)
@Morfeusm4 жыл бұрын
Me listening to this video makes me really appreciate Levin (Anna Karenina) even more, because he checks all the boxes (even has hobbies not related to the plot). I mean I am still Dostoyevsky fanboy but there’s something about Tolstoys characters which makes me want run from home to the next train station to maybe meet them (all puns intended).
@kimberlyw25914 жыл бұрын
Levin was one of the most solidly written characters I've ever read
@MirunaNero4 жыл бұрын
So, I don't read as much as I should and used to. However, I do write a lot more now. This video in particular has been super helpful to me as a writer. I've always had a lot of trouble with making characters flawed. I think a part of that is because I just get too attached to them and it pains me to make them anything less than ideal by my own standards. I'm not sure this video 'cured' me of that, but it's certainly giving me a lot more confidence and motivation to try and do that more. While I may not read nearly as much anymore, this channel is still incredibly helpful. I'm looking forward to watching more and probably sticking around.
@kulsum60314 жыл бұрын
me *thinks about Kaladin as she reads a comment* Murphy: *pulls out the way of kings* me: *surprised pikatchu*
@OrDiane3 жыл бұрын
17:20 (re: main characters should have hobbies or something to do other than the main plot) The first thing I thought of was First Law- Glokta and climbing the stairs. Not a hobby, but it is something he does that doesn't have to do with the main plot, that makes him feel so REAL, it shows so much about him and really goes a long wa in making a pretty monstrous character human and relatable .
@marianamauricio4 жыл бұрын
Yessss i was literally looking for another one of your videos to watch right now haha
@popuri484 жыл бұрын
I was expecting you to mention Kaladin. Such a great character!! Awesome video :)
@SnorriSnibble4 жыл бұрын
Murphy, have you watched Attack on Titan? I think you would really love that show, every time I see one of your videos and you talk about characters, plots and immersive stories I immediately have an Attack on Titan example in mind.
@selispeks4 жыл бұрын
These videos are super helpful. You, Reedsy & iWriterly have all been so amazing and helpful, and I'm so excited to start writing my novel again (I'm starting over for sure LOL)! I have COMPLETELY overhauled the main character's personality and I'm going to attempt to truly write MYSELF as the character because then I will understand the weaknesses and strengths so much better, and I think my artistic mindset will be a great POV for readers who enjoy art, film, photography and music!
@liz4284 жыл бұрын
me: sees thumbnail my brain: percy jackson
@eebertdeebert4 жыл бұрын
s a m e
@TheWilyx4 жыл бұрын
Gotta love all the little impersonations! The histrionic talent!
@yourewelcomebooks4 жыл бұрын
Is it weird that I like the villains antagonist more that I like the main (hero) characters..... I like my character to be flawed to have some questionable morals.
@notthenormal28184 жыл бұрын
Gotta love those power hungry serial killers😍😂😂
@kaylaHat4 жыл бұрын
Well sometimes the villain can be that interesting
@sarawehbexx4 жыл бұрын
same 😭🤣
@lowercase_ash4 жыл бұрын
Hmm if I ever finish my story I will recommend it to you bc that sounds exactly like my protagonists
@fkdjdjcmckdjdjf37283 жыл бұрын
there's a lot of push to not make villains basic, so i think that authors put more effort into developing them. also, since the antagonist is supposed to be the 'evil' or 'bad' character, authors feel comfortable giving them solid reasoning but questionable conclusions because obviously the author isn't excusing it, because, again, the character is labeled 'bad'. because the protagonist is supposed to be 'good', authors probably fear nuance because people will accuse them (or they think people will accuse them) of condoning that grayness. Just my take though
@nicspille80584 жыл бұрын
The main character Shadow from Gaiman's American Gods (haven't seen the adaptation) is so jaded because his wife cheated on him with his best friend while he was in prison and now she's dead. He seems so apathetic and somewhat personality-less, but really it's because he has nothing left to lose and the nuances that Gaiman hits with a character like Shadow was something i really enjoyed. Neil Gaiman is a gem, so I guess it's a "bad" example cuz of how obvious it might be, but what truly makes me love American Gods is the immense emotion packed into Shadow whenever he does absolutely nothing and shows no emotion at all.
@user-gf9ef2wv1u4 жыл бұрын
I reread and rewatch “Much Ado About Nothing” for the side characters. I couldn’t care less about most of the other characters aside from Benedict and Beatrice
@hopestarr98694 жыл бұрын
I wouldn't rate him amongst the strongest characters simply because I have yet to dive into books known for their strong characters, but I love Artemis in Artemis Fowl. Now rereading this series since childhood (finished book 5/8 so far), I absolutely love how he transforms over the series and goes through ups and downs. I think this is a great example of teen genius done right. He starts the first book being arrogant and calloused, doing objectively bad things, but even in this first book you get to see glimpses of change as he internally questions the things he's doing. The series follows his ark of learning balance, using his genius but also his heart. Sounds a bit cheesy when I say it like that but it really is written with nuance. Also, bonus points for an excellent slow building friendship. Hoping this continues through the last few books.
@yell0wcl0uds594 жыл бұрын
When you're faster than your notifications..
@aria82564 жыл бұрын
It's always refreshing to listen to your advise, Merphy Napier. In this series especially, but I do love your other videos as well. 😋🤗
@martlamperouge4 жыл бұрын
"There is no one main character to make everyone fall in love with them" I think we can all agree that sentiment doesn't relate to Percy Jackson.
@Pabloaxolotl56284 жыл бұрын
I personally hated the guy, he was an annoying brat which imo only appealed to young teens. To me he was an escapist protagonist and Rick Riordan is the reason why YA is a joke.
@martlamperouge4 жыл бұрын
@@Pabloaxolotl5628 Perhaps you forget that "young teens" is the target audience of the Olympian series. If you read the books as an adult, well, tough luck, those books weren't written for you. And please, don't insult Rick Riordan. He has done a lot to give kids a place to belong and a representation to relate to. If you can't appreciate that, the problem's with you, not with Riordan's works.
@Pabloaxolotl56284 жыл бұрын
@@martlamperouge I am not an adult, I am a 15 year old brat, who is never happy with anything. Although I like to think that I read on an adult level, my brain is literally not fully developed. I see the impact his works have on people but to me he merely didn’t succeed. I was more responding to your comment about the universal appeal of the character Percy Jackson.
@martlamperouge4 жыл бұрын
@@Pabloaxolotl5628 Hate to remind you, but you literally called Rick Riordan "the reason YA is a joke". And that has nothing to do with the appeal of Percy Jackson as a character. Because, no, he isn't. His stories are well written and engaging and his characters feel like real people. And guess what, books written for adults often have cardboard cutouts for characters as well, this is not just a general YA thing. You don't have to be bitter just because Riordan's writing style didn't resonate with you.
@Pabloaxolotl56284 жыл бұрын
@@martlamperouge Many people view YA as a genre below fantasy, and YA books that are actually good (for example Terry Pratchett’s YA novels or House With A Clock in its Walls) are viewed as not YA anymore due to their quality, this is mostly due to popular YA authors and people’s enthusiasm towards them. Books written for adults are by no means inherently better, a lot of books are bad that is just the way it is. However, there are YA books that are absolutely fantastic for adults or for children, these include The Wizard of Oz and the Alice books, both of which while written for children to be able to enjoy are better than 90% of books for adults
@celinefuchs40954 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this video! It was really interesting and helpful. My favorite MC would have to be Sage in The False Prince; he’s very snarky, has that constant inner humorous dialogue, full of life and insults, to both friends and enemies, yet has deeper emotions and values that we don’t see on the surface. Cat Royal is also a favorite; her loyalty to her friends often sends her rushing into danger without thinking and gets her in trouble more often than not. A third is Kelsey Hayes from Tiger’s Curse; I suppose she’s a little more “standard” than the first two, but I really relate to her, and she’s a great example of a character with a bunch of small interests (drawing, hair ribbons, Shakespeare, art history...) that hardly have an impact on the plot. (Well, the last one does.) Otherwise, I don’t know how to explain if she’s standard or not, besides the deep love she has for those she cares about, that she’d do anything for them but won’t hesitate to tell them if they’re being bull-headed...but she’s one of my personal favorites. Little Women is also a beautiful example of amazing main characters, with such real and relatable flaws.
@julzbehr66964 жыл бұрын
I, for one, like Shallan , I feel like many people don’t. In book 1 she’s Studious and ambitious and afraid. In book 2 she’s awesome. In Book 3 she breaks farther and farther into parts(I hate that, I don’t hate her). I don’t like all of her humor. It’s kinda annoying sometimes, yet from the beginning I understood that it was helping her somehow, cope with stuff. That reason is explored deeply and satisfyingly. I like it
@janhavi19774 жыл бұрын
I have similar feelings towards Shallan that Merphy has towards Spensa. Shallan is a character I relate to so much (not her traumatic childhood, just the fact that she loves nature and drawing). When I'm reading her POV, it's like "can Sanderson read my mind" lol. I think her humor is supposed to be super lame, haha. But I love her ability to see beauty in things other people don't.
@julzbehr66964 жыл бұрын
Me too, thank you. I feel understood
@jamstudentCP4 жыл бұрын
Harry Dresden (Dresden files) is one of my favorite characters for this. I hate him sometimes, but it's because his flaws are generally real. And he cares so much about what's important to him that it makes the reader care about it too
@alex2707dl4 жыл бұрын
I would love to see a 'Dear Authors: LGTBIQ+ representation'
@oliveramarcoangelo11334 жыл бұрын
YES! I WANNA SEE THIS
@steveminecraft85734 жыл бұрын
No offence but what does the 'I' stand for? I've never heard that include before, sorry.
@timetravelingconman4 жыл бұрын
it stands for intersex
@steveminecraft85734 жыл бұрын
@@timetravelingconman thanks
@angell_carroll24 жыл бұрын
@Liza Johnson i agree, but romance doesnt cover the T umbrella, which can be very misunderstood by cis authors. and LGBT people also face homophobia, coming out, etc. unfortunately its not as simple as just romance
@captainladybug88814 жыл бұрын
I think this is great, as it kinda helped me figure out my MC Elliot. He's a very kind and optimistic person, but he's also stubborn and his habits die hard. Like, a character to me always has to have a hobby and a couple quirks, even if it's super niche. As with Elliot, he likes jump rope and collecting weird rocks. He also talks to himself by personifying something, like a pencil or a pair of scissors.