Weaver
Sage
I read an essay not long ago in which the author explained why the major characters in his novels were all deliberately written as ordinary. According to him, readers cannot identify with characters who are geniuses, or are more than barely competent at their jobs, or are better-than-average in looks... Readers want a protagonist like themselves, which means average, he said.
Recently on some forum thread here (I cannot recall which one, and it doesn't matter), someone made a passing comment that readers could not relate to a 'shapeshifting half-elf.' (Says you!) However, also in that thread was something about characters who feel the kinds of emotions the reader feels, wants the things the reader wants, fears the things the reader fears...
So, that leads to my question(s): What kind of characters do you relate to the best? Do you need the protagonist, at least, to be human (assuming you are -- if not, please state that in your response )? Does it make any difference to you whether or not the MC is the same gender as yourself? What if the MC had different views on religion, politics, etc.? Are there things that would make a character totally un-relatable for you?
Recently on some forum thread here (I cannot recall which one, and it doesn't matter), someone made a passing comment that readers could not relate to a 'shapeshifting half-elf.' (Says you!) However, also in that thread was something about characters who feel the kinds of emotions the reader feels, wants the things the reader wants, fears the things the reader fears...
So, that leads to my question(s): What kind of characters do you relate to the best? Do you need the protagonist, at least, to be human (assuming you are -- if not, please state that in your response )? Does it make any difference to you whether or not the MC is the same gender as yourself? What if the MC had different views on religion, politics, etc.? Are there things that would make a character totally un-relatable for you?