alg | (no subject)

This week has taken forever to end -- but I also kind of feel like it went by really fast. I got a ton of work done, which is kind of surprising, because I don't feel like I did anything.

Today I went into Melissa's office and she made me feel better about my disdain for the reluctant hero.

I really really really get annoyed by the reluctant hero. Part of this stems out of the fact that I think people shouldn't do things they don't want to do, and the other part of this stems out of my irritation with martyrs.

The best example I have of this is Alias:

You've got this person (Sydney) who chooses her life. Then when she finds out that she was given special training as a child to make her the Best Sooper Sekrit Spy Evah!!!!, she starts bitching about how she was never given a choice, how she doesn't want to be a spy, but she has to, because no one else can do what she does.

I hate this for several reasons. Reason #1: It's manipulative. Reason #2: It's stupid. Reason #3: Being a Super Secret Spy is fucking awesome. Who does she think she's kidding? Reason #4: If she didn't want to be a spy, she could have said no at the very beginning! Reason #5: This is a plot device, and a very thinly disguised one. Hello, there is actual real conflict that could be utilized to create plots. What's the point of this obviously contrived crap?

There are better ways to create conflict. The hero can be lacking the skill set necessary to be able to save the princess. The hero can have to solve puzzles to save the princess. Ad nauseam.

Surely there are better reasons for a hero to be reluctant anyway.

Like, if someone came to me and said, "You're a hero. You have to save the world by killing all the vampires and demons and idiots," probably what I would say first is, "AWESOME! What's my super power?"

But the second thing I would say is, "Actually, no -- I can't. Sorry. I have to pay off my student loans and my car insurance. Also, would I get benefits? Only if I was a hero in Canada? Okay, sorry, no can do!"

There, now I am a reluctant hero, without all this martyr crap that always seems to go along with the reluctant hero crap.

And, frankly, if someone came to me and said, "We'll pay you a lot of money and give you great benefits and make sure that your mother's mortage is covered while we're at it, if you'll just beat King Koopa and save the princess -- it's kind of dangerous, but you've got the skill set!"

Well, I would say, "Excellent! Point me at the direction of the sewers! I will storm off on this journey! Quick, give me a plucky sidekick no one can kill and a lot of sex appeal! I want to be the hero!"

Melissa enabled me terribly, and then we planned out what we're going to talk about at Writers Weekend (probably some variation on my above rant), and then I drank a lot of coffee.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

circe-tigana.livejournal.com

I really really like this rant. A lot.

::memories::

alg.livejournal.com

Hee.

Did you see the one I just posted about fanfic?

I can go forever once someone winds me up.

<3

I just did. I like that rant too.

But this one.

I might even print this one out.

note to self: a makes good points. on occasion. ;P

On occasion?

HRMPH.

Bitch, who wrote you a SPECIAL BIRTHDAY STORY, huh?

BWAH!

I LOVE YOU, SWAMP WITCH!

<3<3<3

I LOVE YOU TOO! Even though you are obviously mentally challenged somehow. ;p

Mentally challenged ... or cunning?

I get a special birthday story, this morning I get crazy!Harry and tortured!hermione (which in my head you wrote for ME), and I still get to poke fun at you.

I WIN AT EVERYTHING <3

=P

Did you see K's comments in the story about H&Hr? I was like, wtf???? And then I realized what she was doing!

misanthropoid.livejournal.com

I'm curious, given your example, as to which Mario Brother you attribute this vast store of sex appeal. Is it time for me to regrow the mustache, or is it all based on leaping ability?

hah -- no!

::runs to look::

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

It's Luigi, of course. The younger brother always has to try harder. ;)

kaitiana.livejournal.com

Also love the rant! Reluctant heroes tend to annoy me to no end, which is probably why I never write them. So that's a good thing!

stephanielynch.livejournal.com

I am reluctant to tell you why I love this rant. You see, as a young child I was raised to write super fabulous fanfic, but I don't do that now. I was never given a choice and I really wanted to be a local grocer.

Since I can not be a local grocer, I think I will just be a pathetic loser instead.

Can I sleep on your couch and eat your food?

<3

You crack me up.

Did you ever get my emails about your query thing?

Ya! PBP! (Pitch By Post) Will do! At least Slade isn't reluctant. He only protects those he chooses. ;-) See it on your desk near you in a few weeks. Queery! hee

I am in a GREAT mood. In love. Getting the Tarot thing going more and more (doing a lot with writers and teaching a workshop for Earthly Charms right now even). It's a good day!

In looooooove!! <3 Sounds like your life is back on track!

And how! :-) See

sonjabeck for the most adorable butch on earth!

How is yours going, Ms Up-and-coming editor grrl?

My life? Not too badly! :) We'll talk sometime. Heh.

Grin, no more Tower for you? We must talk! ;-)

Oh, no no. There is definitely Tower. *g* It's just not the sort of Tower I thought. Also: Queen and Nine of Cups !

Nine of Cups? Party but be careful of the time you waste pleasure seeking! :-) The Queen will kick your butt.

A couple of weeks ago, I sat at a table in california and picked every single Major Arcana card out of a deck of dragon tarot. Shuffle, pick, Magician. Shuffle, pick, High Priest. Shuffle, pick, Sun. and so on.

It was bizarre and also scary. I did it again in Florida the week after.

You need your own deck, dear. You need to start working with what you have. Shall I bring you a deck to Reno? I have one that I think you might really get a kick out of. Frank Fradella Adventure Tarot (

newbabel here) Here is a review by the ATA. FFA (http://www.ata-tarot.com/reflections/10-01-03/fradella.htm)

Oh, I have like thirty different decks! My favorite, the one I use the most, is the Rohrig. I've also got my own deck of dragon that I use sometimes, and the Spiral.

I have not seen the Rohrig in person. Let's trade readings! :-)

BTW, I got a new tat (http://www.anisoptera.com/images/LJ/medusa.jpg). Or rather I am in the process of getting it.

And sorry! I thought I remembered you telling me you didn't have a deck. :-) I should have KNOWN better with you.

I just got my hands on another copy of the Shakespeare Tarot by Delores Ashcroft Nowicki. SCORE!

Trade readings! Yes. :)

New tat is v pretty. I feel like medusa is so often misunderstood! heh.

Okay, it's time for me to leave the office. <3

Have a good one. We should chat about Medusa. I know why she did what she did.

From: (Anonymous)

do you hate angel? because he irks me for a lot of these same reasons.

k-glorificus.livejournal.com

am I going to have to friend yet another journal of yours?

nicosian.livejournal.com

thank you for giving me food for thought for my protagonist/hero/whatever the heck he is.

Off to ponder the work in progress.

I don't hate Angel, but he does irritate the hell out of me most of the time. I liked him in the first season of Buffy, when he was a brooding and mysterious hero -- more of an archetype than a character.

Once they started to flesh him out? Tedium incarnate!

No, this one doesn't usually get so much traffic. Normally I keep my opinions to myself. *g*

Good luck!

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