Skip to main content

On Writing Mentors

So. Mentors. How do you make them original?

1. Think Before You Kill Them Off

Mentors always die.

There's a reason for this. The hero needs to be able to solve his own problems. If the mentor is still there with the hero, the hero is going to end up saving the world in no time flat. The hero needs to be independent and go and save the world on their own. So that's why mentors are always killed off.

So why don't we bend the cliche?

If the hero needs to be without the mentor, do something with the mentor that doesn't involve killing him off! Maybe the mentor is on vacation and the hero is unable to send a message to him. Maybe the mentor is mentoring someone else and does not want to be disturbed. Or why not, maybe the mentor has just been cursed to fall asleep for a hundred years.

2. Make Them Look Different

There's one other thing about mentors.

They're almost always old, experienced men.

Imagine if there was a wider range of mentors. Young men who've been through a lot and lived to tell the tale. Fashionistas who are always searching for the latest trends. Little girls who dye their hair strange colors. Give it a try.

I'm not saying you can't use old men as mentors. The only reason they're cliche is because it makes sense to have someone experienced teach the inexperienced hero how to fight their own battles. Because they've lived for so long, they've got wisdom. They can pass down their tips and tricks to the hero.

But if you have the chance to write your mentor as someone other than an old man, go for it. It might actually make the plot more interesting.

3. Be Creative

Try something new. Let's say your mentor looks different than the rest and already stands out. But you want more. What more can you do? 

Here's an idea: write him a unique voice.

I'm not saying to write him spouting riddles every second sentence, although you can do that if you really want to. 

I mean write his voice to be a little different. Does he have an accent? Does he use slang? Does he have a sense of humor that comes out every other paragraph? 

Every character is different, so you get to choose what makes your character unique. Explore ideas. Mix and match. But don't go too far - unless, of course, it makes sense in your story.

Go forth and create,
     Germaine
     Genesis 1:1-2

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sonnets

We studied Romeo and Juliet in English, discovering the foolish protagonists and their sappy sonnets. An activity in class was to write our own, so we picked strange themes and twisted the idea of a sonnet. What we produced is as follows: Oh, My Fair Sonnet Oh, my fair Sonnet, how lovely art thou, Thou tellest most flattering descriptions, Thou entrancest me with stunning words now, If told by others, I’d think were fiction. Thou enchant me with thy pretty quatrains, In which there are many wonderful rhymes. I’d  listen always without any pains, For leaving would be committing bad crimes. Alas, my fairest love must leave me, My misfortunate heart must wave goodbye. My fair love won’t listen to any plea, Even though this leaving makes my heart die. Goodbye, goodbye, with a couplet you leave, I wish for you to know how much I grieve. By Grace Death to Romeo Oh Romeo, thou art Darth Sidious We love uncovering your many faults Delight in fi...

Spoiler-Free Book Review - The Squire's Tales (Gerald Morris)

Okay, so it's technically an entire series, but that's irrelevant. I am reviewing books and it is therefore a book review.  The Squire's Tales , by Gerald Morris, is a series of novels that retell in hilarious fashion the lesser known tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Don't worry, you won't have to hear about the sword in the stone again or anything at all about Arthur's childhood. Because this is where the best part comes in: these stories are told from the perspectives of those that other renditions tend to gloss over, mock or forget entirely. These characters are a squire, (as the title would imply) a page, three women and a knight who is objectively terrible at being a knight. He sings and plays music instead. His name's Dinadan. He's wonderful. Over the ten books in the series, you get seven different characters from whose points of view the stories are told (plus a couple extra in the last book, but that's a spec...

Ostrich short story

She holds her elegant neck high above the masses which she saunters through. Like a diva at a show she flaunts her plumes, casts a wary eye about for rivals, and turns up her nose at her drab brown and cream comrades.  Behold, an animal of distinction and refinement. Here is the ostrich, queen of the winged kingdom. Around her, antelope bow their heads in shame, cringing at their inferiority. Where she steps the grass seems to wither in embarrassment. Even the sun seems reluctant to disgrace her chestnut and ivory feathers. Stop. Look around. Sour musk lines the brisk breeze. She lowers the foot which was held aloft a moment ago, her previously serene expression now one of incandescent disapproval. The antelope prick up their ears. A glimpse of golden pelt in the grass and an explosion of hooves signifies the beginning of the chase. She runs like a demon, head pointed forward and wings outstretched. Long legs kick up turf, spraying it into the streak of gold fur b...