I noticed the other day that I have a dislike for Mentors. No, I don't mean people who help other people out. I mean the Mentor character, the one who's always there (kinda) to help your hero out (teach him how to do it himself) and to provide a basis for conflict between the hero and villain (die later in the story.) Okay, so maybe some Mentors don't do that, but you have to admit, it happens a lot. But I killed my first Mentor character within the first chapter of my book. My second book doesn't even have a mentor.
Why is this? I don't know. Maybe I prefer to figure things out on my own, and that reflects in my writing. Like I said, I don't know. But I seem to have an alarming trend when it comes to mentor characters in my writing. I just don't like 'em.
*shrugs* What do you think about Mentors? Are they necessary? They've been around for a while, and they're in so many books, they must have some use. But what is it?
Why is this? I don't know. Maybe I prefer to figure things out on my own, and that reflects in my writing. Like I said, I don't know. But I seem to have an alarming trend when it comes to mentor characters in my writing. I just don't like 'em.
*shrugs* What do you think about Mentors? Are they necessary? They've been around for a while, and they're in so many books, they must have some use. But what is it?
Every good fantasy novel has a mentor. Ha, no. Really though, I view "the mentor" as an easy way for the author to teach the main character what he needs to know. Kill him off later and all the sudden your hero has to take a stand for himself and becomes stronger then he thought he could be. Mentors have their uses, but mostly they just annoy me as well. ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, and the mentor usually ends up being the MC's parent. I like to have mentors...and make them sarcastic and remote.
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