iUniverse highlights the Heroes’ Side-Kick Part 2

In the first part of this two part series of articles, iUniverse self-publishing introduced you aspiring authors to the concept of the side-kick- an essential ingredient in countless stories. Now iUniverse Writer’s Tips examines the side-kick’s other traits.

Does the side-kick have personality?

As a writer, the side-kick character should be as important to you as the hero or heroine. Giving him a consistency in personality and attitude, along with something a reader can relate to, will help in the overall relationship seen between them throughout the story.

In earlier times, the side-kick was generally shown as a character that may have been slow-witted, mostly cowardly and happier to be sitting in a warm room with a cup of tea instead of going on adventures. During the last 50 years this has changed, with the role of the side-kick being kick-ass themselves. The comic wit may still be there but now both hero and side-kick are on the same playing field.
Rex the Wonderdog

Human, animal or other?

Whether you give your hero a human counterpart or an animal – such as Snowy who travelled with Tintin around the world – it does not matter. It really depends on which genre you are writing for. If it’s a fantasy novel you are penning then use your imagination to create a character that is memorable and works well within the plot. As we have seen through sci-fi literature of the early 40s and 50s the side-kick was generally robotic, female or a young adult. Today, such side-kicks can be a totally new species to the avid reader or watcher. If you are writing a screenplay (your world is whatever mutant?) you can imagine.

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