What's the hardest part of writing a hero character?

[Gail]

In your own writing, what do you think is the hardest part about creating a "real" hero character?

From the books you've read, what do you think other authors struggled with?

[David]

Finding that balance between heroism/admirable traits, and the flaws and vulnerabilities that make the character seem human.

[Pauline]

Not letting the hero become too much the mouthpiece for the author's views. The hero you create represents your values in some way, but s/he shouldn't sound like a walking manifesto. Because I love to write grand epic speeches, this is a big temptation for me.

[Betty]

I agree with David. I have to work at finding that balance too.

[Pauline]

I feel that it's not a matter of adding faults or weaknesses to the character, like spice to a stew, but understanding the character as a whole person, where they come from, what influenced them, and seeing what faults would arise in that experience. Sometimes the flaws are just the virtues applied in the wrong place. Look at Miles Vorkosigan in Lois McMaster Bujold's series. He's relentlessly determined to achieve against all odds, which is great in battle; not so great in dealing with the top brass.

[Vonnie]

Again, I find myself agreeing with much posted before me: balancing flaws & positive character traits, harnessing the urge to make the hero your mouthpiece, and understanding the whole story of your hero. I find that I write a background and character study for my own use on the hero and other central characters. Very little of that information makes it into the narrative, but it's all necessary for me to write a character who reads "true" and that the reader can identify with. I guess I need to do a little world-building before I can write about the hero who will save/change/destroy it!

[Gail]

I read somewhere that to ring true, take a character's greatest virtue to the extreme and you'll have his/her greatest weakness.

[Jay]

This is an interesting question, because I think that heroes need to feel a sense of failure more than they ever feel a since of victory. I really like heroes who put the weight of the world on their shoulders and keep striving. They value each and every moment they can fight for good, even if they know they will lose.

I want a hero who is not perfect, yet has their own strengths, but more than anything, I want my hero to struggle existentially against evil. I want them to question their place, their methods, everything-- because when they finally rise above, it will mean so much more. To me, heroes fight against the world to make it better, never because they like the way things are.

Yet there are a lot of risks with this type of hero-- one does not want them to whine too much or seem too cold to the audience. It has to be properly built up and resolved so the reader gets that gratification they should expect and the character remains strong.

[L]

I have to agree with all of the above comments in regards to the hero character coming across as 'human' to the reader, rather than being a flawless being.

I would also have to add that when writing this character, they may seem a hero in your mind but projecting this to the reader that they are indeed the 'hero' of the tale could be problematic. What you may envisage and feel through the writing, could be taken differently when read by another person. You want the character to seem unassuming and yet they stand-out as a well-drawn character to admire.

[Jakey]

I would have to say that the hardest part about writing a hero is trying to capture the feel of what it is like on their presence, how to make them stand out amongst a score of other characters. If one can present the reader with that feel then the reader can begin to understand who the hero is, and what makes them so overwhelming.

[[deleted user]]

Everything.

[June]

The hard work is the hardest part. And the hard work is about 90% of the process.