A sidekick can offer comic relief or give readers a character they can identify with, especially when the protagonist is an anti-hero. 3 Reasons You Need Sidekicks In Your Novels Top Tip: Use our Character Creation Kit to create great characters for your stories. A sidekick’s role is to help the protagonist move the story forward and achieve the story goal. They may have knowledge or skills that the protagonist needs. We often have characters thrown together in tense situations and they develop a relationship where a sidekick is needed to get a job done. Protagonists, in stories with sidekicks, are often called upon to be heroes, or to be in charge, (often against their will) and they need support. You either have a sidekick or a confidant in stories. (Please read: The 4 Main Characters As Literary Devices.) Sidekicks are most often used when the protagonist is isolated or amoral or an anti-hero or a maverick. Why Do We Need Them?Ī sidekick is not the same as a confidant, or friend, in novel-writing terminology. It meant an ‘ace in the hole’, or a power card held in reserve. The term ‘sidekick’ was used by gamblers testing their luck at cards in the 1600s. Sidekick (noun) – A person’s assistant or close associate, especially one who has less authority than that person. Sidekicks are generally used in quests, thrillers, police procedurals, military or espionage novels, adventure stories, and capers. Does your main character need more than a confidant? This post is about sidekicks and what their roles are in novels.
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