#elvis cole

[eliceislandent]

8 Qualities of Fictional Heroes

Tomorrow, my novel "The Double" publishes on Amazon. (Grab your copy here.) The hero of the novel, Eddie Ankin, is my entry into the annals of heroic characters in contemporary fiction. An ex-Marine turned Hollywood stuntman who has to take matters into his own hands to stop a killer. I've always wanted to write a hero. I spent much of my early days in television focused on anti-heroes, so I've longed to see what it took to create a hero in today's world with all its challenges, big and small, professional and personal.

Why do we love to read about heroes?

Best-selling novelist Robert Crais has a pretty good answer. As he writes to his hero, Elvis Cole, in the anthology The Lineup, "you are a metaphor...you represents hope to people...most folks, all we have is ourselves, the transmission drops before Christmas, some dip keys your car, the rent jacks up, and we're left wondering how we're going to make it. That's where you come in."

Pick up Mr. Crais’s latest Elvis Cole novel here:

In contemporary fiction, characters like Jack Reacher, John Corey, or most of John Grisham's lawyers often possess qualities that readers find heroic and entertaining.

I thought about these qualities a lot when writing about my hero, Eddie Ankin, trying to build them into him while following him in his first adventure in "The Double." Read the book and judge for yourself if Eddie is a fictional character worthy of the label: "heroic."

In the meantime, here are 8 qualities that I think make a great fictional hero:

1. Mastery: The characters in the story have an extraordinary ability to develop creative solutions and a deep understanding of their respective fields. They use their expertise to excel in challenging situations and produce remarkable results.

2. Determination: Possessed of an unshakeable desire to succeed, heroic characters forge ahead. No matter the obstacle, they persevere with a ferocity borne from unyielding strength of will. They will not quit until their goal is accomplished. They endure hardships and setbacks but find ways to bounce back, showcasing resilience.

3. Courage: These figures may be confronted with risky or hazardous circumstances and demonstrate bravery in the face of adversity. They stay calm in a crisis. They keep their wits about them even in a dangerous or hostile situation. These figures fight for their cause and are not afraid to risk their lives for it.

4. Strong moral compass: They are often driven by a desire to do what is right. There can be a struggle between upholding a strong moral code and getting the job done. On the one hand, they have a strong moral code that they adhere to even when it comes into conflict with the law. On the other hand, they sometimes find themselves operating outside of the law in order to achieve their goals.

Share

5. Intelligence: They are often portrayed as intelligent and resourceful, able to think critically and solve complex problems.

6. Strength: These characters are no slouches in terms of physicality - they possess great strength, agility, and mastery of combat, giving them a definite edge when facing off against opponents.

7. Wit and charisma: Often, they possess a sharp wit and a sense of humor that adds an element of entertainment to their character. This is an important quality for readers to respond to as it injects a playful dynamic into the story and keeps the narrative lively. Characters with wit are adept at maneuvering their way out of tricky situations. For example, Jack Reacher is renowned for his wry comments. In every book, he dishes out funny lines that keeps readers invested in the story. Similarly, John Corey's dry sense of humor and droll sarcasm act as a counterpoint to his gruff demeanor which keeps readers hooked on every page. These characters have a certain magnetism that captivates readers, making them enjoyable to follow throughout their journeys.

8. Complexity: The protagonists of these stories are usually well-developed with interesting and complex backgrounds that draw readers in. Their struggles and motivations are the very things that make them instantly relatable. Watching how they use those struggles to solve the problems they face is what makes them captivating.

What do you look for in your fictional heroes?

Who are your real life heroes?

"The Double" on Amazon. (Grab your copy here.)

Leave a comment

If you love a good story and want to read more about the lessons our favorite stories hold for each of us, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

[frostbeees]

12.09.23 | @/merzly

[djkerr]

Gary Cole on the Today Show (April 7, 2015) getting lots of hair and mustache attention. 🩶🦊

[source]

[lightscamerabitchsmileee]

Vote for your fave, reblog and let me know your other Christmas faves even outside of this list I would love to hear it ☺️☺️

Merry Christmas and have fun 🎄🎅❤️ also check my masterpost for my artists polls ☺️☺️

[sarcasmchandlerbing]

Filip Gustavsson living in a lodge

Elvis Merzļikins as a tattoo artist

Andrei Svechnikov as a cowboy

Joel Eriksson Ek as a magician

Cole Caufield as a birthday clown

Kirill Kaprizov as a chef

[crossbackpoke-check]

I just need you to know I was reading your tags on the Sillinger/Fantilli Deadpool/Wolverine gifset going "YES THE EYE CONTACT! AND COLE'S WHOLE FACE JOURNEY! AND *OH MY GOD* ADAM'S HAND ALMOST BUT NOT GRIPPING AT COLE'S BICEP" like that near grip Adam took had me fainting like a fucking Victorian era man who saw a woman's bare ankles like W.H.A.T.

I neeeeed to write them omg.

ANON. ANON!!!! please. write them!!!!! and send me a link if/when you do 😇 i’ll prepare my fainting couch (the floor)

[stereax]

[blaylists]

playlist for ur home-dawg

[abs0luteb4stard]

W A T C H I N G

So far It's made references to Elvis' real friends, acquaintances, and historical figures:

Real Friends/Acquaintances:

Scatter (his real chimp pet!)

Dean Martin

Redd Foxx

Sammy Davis Jr.

Priscilla Presley (plays herself)

Young Kurt Russell

George Clinton (plays himself)

Others:

Robert Goulet (Elvis shot out his TV while watching him perform - real life story, lol)

Stanley Kubrick

Mary Tyler-Moore

George Lucas

The Beatles (played by Simon Pegg)

Jack Lord

Hervé Villechaize

Historical figures:

Richard Nixon

Charles Manson

Howard Hughes

Walter Cronkite

Timothy Leary

[jazzdailyblog]

Diana Krall: The Sensational Voice of Jazz

Introduction: Diana Krall, a name synonymous with the silky beauty of jazz, has enthralled audiences around the world with her extraordinary musicianship and enchanting voice. Krall has not only become a jazz icon, but she has also made a position for herself in the global music scene, with a career spanning three decades. This blog post goes into Diana Krall’s biography, music, and influence,…

[sarcasmchandlerbing]

Other team polls below the cut if you want to vote in them too!

Anaheim Ducks

Boston Bruins

Calgary Flames

Carolina Hurricanes

Chicago

Colorado Avalanche

Dallas Stars

[julio-viernes]

Conocí "Love For Sale" por la versión que Elvis Costello incluyó en la reedición ampliada de su quinto LP, "Trust" (1981), disco en el que se pudo empezar a comprobar que aunque Costello se había dado a conocer en el periodo del punk y la nueva ola, lo suyo iba mucho más allá y no iba a conformarse con hacer siempre lo mismo. "Love for Sale" es una canción de Cole Porter presentada por Kathryn Crawford en el musical "The New Yorkers", estrenado en Broadway en diciembre de 1930. La canción está escrita desde el punto de vista de una prostituta que anuncia "amor a la venta".

Antes de Bennett la grabaron Billie Holiday y Ella Fitzgerarld en 1952 y 1957, respectivamente. Bennett le otorgó baile y swing latino, en una toma que enlaza con la versión animada de Ella. Costello un intimismo dramático que remite a la interpretación de Billie. Acompañando a Costello a la guitarra española estuvo el gran Billy Bremner (Rockpile), la registraron poco después de completar "Trust".