Tropes We Love: The Reluctant Hero (I didn't sign up for this!)

Not every hero dreams of saving the world. Some would much rather stay home, mind their own business, and let literally anyone else deal with the impending disaster. But there's something especially compelling about watching a character who wants nothing to do with the adventure end up right in the middle of it.

In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz dive into one of their favorite storytelling tropes: the reluctant hero. They explore why these characters are so relatable, what makes their journeys satisfying, and how to keep a reluctant protagonist from becoming a passive one. Plus, they share some of their favorite examples from books, movies, and TV, and discuss what writers can learn from characters who never asked to be heroes in the first place.

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We write books! Check out our anthologies:
Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas
The Mistletoe Paradox
What Happened to Annabell?
(All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress)