I was determined to avoid the 'hero as self-aware damaged person' paradigm. I'm afraid as a reader I got sick of all the depressed and miserable alcoholics that increasingly peopled the genre.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author avoided writing heroes defined by depression or addiction because he found them overused in the genre. He sought a different character paradigm.
- In plain terms
- He refused to write sad or alcoholic heroes because they were too common.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoiding clichéd tropes can refresh a genre and appeal to readers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What tired tropes do you want to avoid?
- How can you make a hero feel new?
Another view
Skipping common tropes might alienate readers who enjoy emotional depth through struggle.
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