Characters and a Story

 

It is a chicken and egg puzzle, what comes first?  Story or Character?  To write a truly deep story that evokes emotion and empathy a well rounded character is essential.

For instance, in this excerpt we have an awkward fat teenager foraging in the dark and he meets/stumbles upon a mad man, what will ensue?

“What’s your name?” the color wight asked.

Kip swallowed, thinking he should probably run away.

“Oh, for Orholam’s sake, you think I’m going to hex you with your name? How ignorant is this backwater? That isn’t how chromaturgy works—”

“Kip.”

The color wight grinned. “Kip. Well, Kip, have you ever wondered why you were stuck in such a small life? Have you ever gotten the feeling, Kip, that you’re special?”

Kip said nothing. Yes, and yes.

“Do you know why you feel destined for something greater?”

“Why?” Kip asked, quiet, hopeful.

“Because you’re an arrogant little shit.” The color wight laughed.

This excerpt is from The Black Prism by Brent Week.  It does not matter that the mad man or color wight as he is called does not reappear in the book.  It does not matter that this encounter is from the first chapter of the series of books.  It just grabs you and you’re hooked.

It had me stop reading and nod appreciatively.  What a beginning, I thought.  Can’t wait to read how this story goes!

Fat awkward wise ass boy meets mad man.  And then he (the teenager)  lives!  He even gets to flee and warn the town.  Fat awkward teenage wiseass transitions into a hero!  End of Chapter 1.

Who will put the book down?  No one who has ever been an awkward teenager with a smart mouth can.   Sadly not many books have characters that leap out of the pages and into the mind of the reader.  I recently read one such a book.  It is The Black Company by Glen Cook.

Here’s our review of it