User blog comment:PyroGothNerd/Writing a story/@comment-24399271-20140128232500/@comment-9340689-20140128234142

I'm pretty sure #1 means not to try and make your characters succeed in everything. A character who fails in some endevours, but still puts in a lot of effort and tries, is more relatable than a character who suceeds in every single thing they set out to do.

Examples: Rorschach from Watchmen finds a kidnapper too late, and is eventually killed. Harry Potter was unable to save Dobby. Frodo Baggin's mind was eventually corrupted by the Ring. Superheroes often end up losing loved ones. Katniss fails to protect Rue. Ash Ketchum often loses major Pokemon Leagues.

However, a good main character does not give up at this point, or if they do, they get over it eventually and try again. A character who tries, fails, but gets over it and either tries again or moves on is a good character.

For #2 it's saying just because you enjoy writing it does not mean others will enjoy reading it. If you want people to like your story, you need to write something that won't make people. The same applies to artwork, as my art teacher pointed out.


 * 1) 3 is specifically refferring to a theme, like the theme of the story, like a moral or something. They're trying to say, "Focus on the story, figure out what the story means later"


 * 1) 4 is mainly an example

That's all I got to say in reply to that.