(The sound of a pen scratching.) LOGO. Hellooo everybody! Big news! You guys already
know that in honor of the presale of my number one best-selling dark fantasy novel The Savior‘s
Sister, I am posting two videos or live streams a week. However, come the release week, I will
be posting one video or live stream per DAY! That means one week of non-stop content! You guys
better be excited, because it's probably gonna kill me! I'm making that sacrifice for YOU. Tune
in to the TSS release week for daily content and be sure to pre-order The Savior‘s Sister for
the chance to win a bunch of awesome prizes! Speaking of pre-order, you guys already know that
I am hosting a massive TSS pre-order giveaway! Everyone who pre-orders a copy of TSS in
any format whether it's hardback, paperback, or ebook will be eligible to win one of over
35 amazing prizes! I am handing out one of those prizes today! The winner will be walking
away with a signed copy of 10 Steps to Hero by my good friend and best-selling author Sacha
Black. Sacha Black is an incredible author, she also hosts approximately a bazillion podcasts
including The Rebel Author podcast. I have all of her information listed in the description below,
definitely check her out! I will be announcing the winner of 10 Steps to Hero at the end of today's
video, but first, in honor of the release of The Savior’s Sister, I will be listing my 10 all-time
FAVORITE hero tropes. Leila, the main character of TSS is a heroine in her own right. She
battles grave dangers and fights the good fight for what she believes is right, and I think
it's time I talk about what I believe is right... when writing heroes. If you'd like to hear more
of my gushing or rants when it comes to tropes in fiction, be sure to subscribe to my channel
and ring that bell! I post content on Wednesdays with bonus content on Mondays, and we have a good
time here! Once you finish subscribing, pull up a seat and get ready for my 10 all-time favorite
hero tropes in fiction! Disclaimer: this topic is in regard to heroes, heroines, and every gender
in between. However, I am going to be referencing heroes throughout the entirety of this video for
the sake of keeping shit simple. Let's get to it! Number One (1): Rich Friend, Poor Friend. I'm
listing this first because this is my ultimate, long-standing favorite hero trope of all time.
It also happens to be the most niche, and I'm not sorry! My life becomes full and worth living when
the hero is poor and their friend is wealthy, but somehow still manages to be jealous of said hero.
Why? Because the hero knows how to appreciate life! They've had to work for everything they
have, so they understand respect and gratitude. Rich friend has never had any struggles, so
their life is empty and meaningless. Lately, there's been a switch in fiction where the rich,
arrogant character becomes the hero and I don't like that shit. Take us back to when working
for accomplishments mattered! When the hero was humble and tenacious. There's a scene in The
Count of Monte Cristo - one of my favorite movies growing up - where the poor humble Edmond Dantes
is betrayed by his wealthy, established friend Fernand. And he asks Fernand, “Why?” Fernand says,
and I quote, “Because you're the son of a clerk, and I am not supposed to want to be you.” This is
what I came here for! All I want to see are the moral implications of how a life of privilege can
corrupt not only your ethical code, but also your mental health and outlook. Is that too much to
ask? Number Two (2): The Vulnerable Action Hero. There is absolutely NOTHING exciting about a
hero who has no weaknesses. Show me someone who is real, raw, and vulnerable and you have my
attention. I want to see a hero who when they get shot, actually has to go to the hospital and
recover. I want a hero who fights the bad guys, then suffers from PTSD. I want a hero who
struggles with the fact that they've killed someone, even if it was in self-defense or for
the greater good. And most importantly, I want a hero who actually has to STRUGGLE when fighting
the bad guy. Nothing about the hero's journey is interesting if there's no challenge. Give me
a vulnerable, relatable hero, or don't give me the book at all, ‘cause I won't like it. Number
Three (3): The Almost. The best literary climax, especially in heroic adventure novels, involves an
‘almost.’ The character ALMOST loses. They ALMOST fail. They ALMOST die. This is my absolute
favorite part of the climax, not because I'm a sadist. Okay, maybe a little bit because I'm a
sadist. It's because it's SO gratifying to see the hero come back from such a low point! We all want
the encouraging story of seeing a character fall flat on their ass, coming SO close to failure,
and then somehow STILL defying the odds! This is inspiring! It's uplifting to pretty much anyone
who's struggling with anything in their life. Plus from a literary standpoint, it makes the win feel
justly earned. The hero had to fight for this win! They almost lost their life in the process,
and that's what makes the ultimate takedown all the more satisfying. Number Four (4):
Cue the Awkward. I am so sick of heroes who are perfect at the art of seduction. So they
get to be a lethal weapon AND a fuck factory? Unfair! I'm calling the police. I find the
juxtaposition between being able to say, easily murder a band of assassins versus tell your crush
that you like them, extremely endearing. For one, it humanizes the character! They are not endlessly
indestructible. They're a real person. Two, it's very obnoxious for a character to be good
at all things, seduction included. I think it's sweet to see them fumble with something so many
people struggle with. It takes a character with an uncommon strength like heroism and makes them
instantly relatable. Number Five (5): Personality. This isn't even a trope, it's just a basic
request. A plead, if you will. Can we have more heroes with personality? I don't think that's
too much to ask. I'm really sick of the brooding, gravelly voiced, monotone, one note hero. You
can claim they have emotions, but that note hasn't reached their facial expression or tone of
voice. I enjoy heroes that, you know, are people with feelings and stuff. Give me a hero who's
funny or awkward or really angry. Give me a hero with SOME kind of personality. I'm tired of
the Batman voice and the same tired backstory. Speaking of backstory... Number Six (6): The
Tragic Backstory. Unless it involves a dead wife, ‘cause you neckbeards have done that one to
death. I talked in the past about how I don't always enjoy a villain who has a tragic backstory.
Give me a hero with a tragic backstory, however, and I'm intrigued. Psychologically speaking, there
have been links between trauma and struggle and the increased development of empathy, so it
makes more sense for your hero to have had some kind of tragedy in their past. People hate
orphan characters, but I like ‘em. There are few tragedies worse than losing both of your
parents. So long as you're not fridging a woman, give me a sad, sad story and your hero will have
my support. Number Seven (7): Gray Characters. I am extremely picky about this point. There
are certain evil actions that are completely unforgivable in my eyes. For example, adultery
or sexual assault. Murder, for some reason, isn't on that list. My point is, I do enjoy
a hero who isn't a beaming light of goodness. Again, I'm particular. I would like for them to be
a good person. I'd just like for there to be some bad in the mix. Some mistakes. Some questionable
decisions. Maybe some typically evil actions where you kinda get where they're coming from so you
turn a blind eye. “Whoops, didn't see that murder. Didn't happen!” I enjoy this shit because it makes
the character a lot more layered and interesting. It also creates more room for struggle and
hardship, and as we already covered, I do enjoy a struggle. I'm not sorry. Number Eight (8): The
Unchosen One. I love a good underdog, but there's a particular underdog that really gets me going.
It's not enough that the character is overlooked, they're specifically seen as ‘not cut out for’
whatever they're doing. It's kinda like Captain America. He's so unqualified that they won't
even let him enlist in the military, and this is back when standards were pretty damn low. This
trope is even more satisfying when there is some other character who is seen as ‘the chosen one,’
or supremely favored. Not only is our hero NOT supposed to be here, there's some other character
who's already been slated as the hero. Ain't that a bitch? I love this trope because it produces way
more obstacles for the hero to overcome! They have a fake hero to dethrone. They have to gain the
support of a world that's completely turned its back on them. This storyline is inspiring! I think
a lot of us can relate to being told we can't do something or that we're not cut out for something,
so this storyline is really satisfying to read. Number Nine (9): Bring on the Pain! I just
want the hero to suffer! Is that so wrong? If the hero doesn't have some kind of emotional
or mental breakdown by the end of the story, if they don't hold the dead body of someone they
love and scream, “Why, God? Why?” to the heavens, if they're not dripping in blood while they
walk away from a battlefield while explosions resound behind them, are they even a real hero? I
don't think so. Make them hurt, or I don't care. And Number Ten (10): Happily Ever After. If you
make me sit through all that heroism and courage and sacrifice, and then the hero DOESN’T save
the day or end up with the love of their life, I will light your face on fire! Okay, I won't do
that, but I will leave a very critical review! I am not here to read about heroes with tragic
endings. That is not a hero story, it's a tragedy. Label it appropriately, so I don't get tricked and
conned and gooped. I just want all that hard work to be worth it, specifically in regard to romance!
Just let the couple get together and enjoy each other's private parts. If they're into that,
of course. If not, that's fine, because I love and respect my OTP. Just let them be happy, damn
it! So that's all I got for you today, which means it's time to hand out a prize! My number
one best-selling dark fantasy novel The Savior's Sister is currently available for pre-order, and
everyone who pre-orders it is welcome to enter my presale giveaway! One lucky winner is walking away
with a signed copy of 10 Steps to Hero by Sacha Black. Sacha is a former developmental editor who
gives amazing writing craft advice! She is also a fantasy writer, a podcaster, and an all-around
awesome human being! And the winner is...this person! Thank you SO much for pre-ordering TSS!
It means so much to me! And a HUGE thank you to Sacha Black for supporting my platform! She is
so amazing! If you haven't checked her out yet, I have all of her information below! If you want
to read a fantastical, romantic, and heroic story, be sure to pre-order The Savior's Sister! It's
available in e-book, hardback, and paperback. And if you want the chance to win a bunch of prizes,
enter my presale giveaway! I have the links in the description below. Don't forget to subscribe
to my channel! I post new videos on Wednesdays, and if you want to be alerted as SOON as I upload,
ring that bell! And be sure to follow me on social media! I'm on Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook - and of
course, you can tweet me @JennaMoreci! Bye! (Older Male Voice) This is Wembleton! If you haven't
subscribed to Jenna’s channel, then by all means, go for it! The people will love you for it! Go on,
press the button, ding that bell! See you soon!
