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Everyone Has A Key To The World

An article on storytelling and character creation.

By Cameron MartinPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Everyone Has A Key To The World
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

A massive interest of mine is storytelling, and it is, in my not so humble opinion, one of the finest traits mankind has weaves into it’s system. We have went out of our way to create entertainment and stories that may never happen, because we enjoy it, because it empowers us, because we can grasp some idea of truth and the path forward with our own lives. So as an amateur writer myself, I hope to pass on a footnote of insight I’ve realized about writing. This one line:

“Every character has a tiny key to the world.”

Writing characters is hard, writing good characters is even harder, and great characters? Near impossible. To make characters we characterize as interesting and intriguing we need to develop them. And when making stories, we often find we need an innkeeper to guide the heroes on their quest. A childhood friend with an unrequited love to offer shelter. These are the instances many people will jump at the chance at to make new and interesting characters with. But before all of that, I ask you, the reader, a set of questions?

“What does this character offer to my plot? What does this character have to offer for my themes? Can I do this with an already established character?”

Pennies and quarters. If you feel as if making another side character will elevate your story then by all means, go ahead. And if you do, remember to treat them as if they exist. They exist in their own reality.

What I mean by a tiny key is based off how reality is for us, regular and irregular creatures. We only have a handful of experiences. Based off our gender, creeds, daily lives and dozens of more assets that make up who we are. And how we see the world. Carry that into your story. Make a man from the next town over, stand out with his slang. Make the elven beauty from Venus have utter culture shock. If you wish to enrich the world with your story and create a fictional or real universe be blended into it, make every element bleed it. Altogether when this is done well, creates an experience few can argue with.

Some good stories that I feel do this well is the cast of Harry Potter, mainly the trio. Harry Potter, is a wizard, born by a wizard family and due to unfortunate circumstances is raised by muggles. Heromonie Granger, is born a wizard from a muggle family. Ron Weasley, is a mix of both, being a wizard born and raised by wizards. Together their exploration of the wizarding world is unique, because each one has a different set of experiences. Harry finding out how different his life can be and how much fun he has with it. We admire Heromonie, who in contrast to her upbringing is the more knowledgeable of the trio because of her studies. All of this contrasted by Ron, who we see as utterly complacent with the Wizarding world and sometimes marvels at the muggle world. Each of these characters tells us a bit about both worlds, but also of themselves. A deeper connection to the story as a whole.

Another example of what I can think of is Ghost of Tsushima, the historical fiction action game. In it the Mongol armies attack Tsushima, a very real event, but the last line of defense, the young samurai Jin Sakai. One example I wish to hone in on is a level early on in the game, Jin must help his savior, the thief, Yuna, free her brother, a blacksmith named Taka. Aided by her somewhat fickle friend, Kenji a Sake Merchant.

What makes it work is it displays all the classes of Tsushima’s society and all their reactions to the crisis. while examining their characters. Jin is a warrior, and of the upper class and initially doesn’t agree with Kenji, who sells the Mongols Sake. Yuna and Kenji calm him down and say it worked because they can use his cart to sneak into the camp to free Taka. Jin wants to battle the enemy and unite Tsushima against them. A strong faith in his community, but as eventually shown willing to bend his code and ethics to reach that goal. Yuna is only interested in protecting her family. Kenji is concerned with saving himself. Taka, who is confirmed to be an honest and good man, is working tirelessly to preserve his own life and what peace he can have. It shows the power of the antagonists, by having all the characters be so divided, and highlights some of the issues the world has before and during the event.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of merit. If you found this helpful I am sincerely thankful, and if not thank you for reading regardless. To creating an interesting reality, and the stories that can from it.

literature
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