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Readers typically prefer active characters, because one of the reasons we read is to learn, and one of the ways we learn is by seeing the decisions that characters make, and their consequences, dra...
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#3: Attribution notice added
by
System
·
2019-12-08T12:27:43Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/46677 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
by
Chris Sunami
·
2019-12-08T12:27:43Z (over 4 years ago)
Readers _typically_ prefer active characters, because **one of the reasons we read is to learn** , and one of the ways we learn is by seeing the decisions that characters make, and their consequences, dramatized. There's less to learn from a passive character who only reacts. Given that, and all other things being equal, I would prefer to give your character consequential decisions early. However, **it sounds like your character's story arc is going from passive to active** , in which case that's a transition that might not happen until your character is absolutely forced to take control. It's important to keep in mind **that there's a difference between being "active" and being "effective."** A character who is making choices that don't work out or that don't have an effect is not being passive.
#1: Imported from external source
by
System
·
2019-07-16T21:02:03Z (almost 5 years ago)
Original score: 2