It’s not every author that has a movie made in their honor. But when the author makes global impact, the movie industry takes notice.
A few months ago, the movie Tolkien hit theaters.
J.R.R. Tolkien is the writer behind the famous The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His books were so well-read that a multi-hour movie was filmed based on his books. Countless have found inspiration on the pages of his story, and countless will yet find inspiration.
They are classics.
Writing a classic is probably a dream many of us have. So how did Tolkien do it? How did he become such a well-written author that multiple movies were made on his books, and a movie was made on his life as well?
He told the one story every reader wants to hear. Let’s break it down.
Write The Protagonist You Want To Write
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, Frodo is the protagonist, supported by his friend Sam. All three books follow Frodo’s journey as an unlikely hero. His strengths and weaknesses are a central focus to plot points, twists in the story, and an ending that almost doesn’t happen due to his own character flaws.
Frodo’s story not only holds The Lord of the Rings together, but creates an element of relatability in an otherwise fantastical story.
Write The Supporting Characters Your Story Needs
However, despite Frodo’s obvious page time, Tolkien wrote a full cast of supporting characters, each with their own histories, families, hopes, and dreams. The brilliance of Tolkien’s writing is that he wrote characters every reader could relate to.
Most books demand a protagonist that’s relatable to the target audience. This is a necessary and smart rule to play by. But take a look at Tolkien’s classic.
The protagonist is a short, insignificant hobbit.
One of the main supporting characters is a runaway man’s man who’s supposed to be a king.
There are two blundering, yet endearing cousins who cause some of the biggest plot twists due to their eagerness to help.
There’s the princess who refuses her destiny and claims mortality so she can also claim love.
There’s the small, seemingly inconsequential trinket, a single golden ring, that ties the story together from first page to last.
Every supporting character adds to the story, while at the same time making it relatable to nearly every reader who picks it up…
So, you’re writing a fantasy and your last name isn’t Tolkien. That’s ok! Learn from his writing and incorporate his methods into your own story.
Write the protagonist you’re passionate about, and don’t focus so much on whether he/she is relatable to every reader. Your story will also demand supporting characters.
When you write a story of intricate, round characters, your readers will keep turning pages until the very end.
That’s the story every reader wants.
That’s the story every reader will love.
Sarah Rexford is a Marketing Content Writer, working with brands to grow their audience reach. She studied Strategic Communications at Cornerstone University and focused on writing during her time there, completing two full-length manuscripts while a full-time student. Currently she trains under best-selling author Jerry Jenkins in his Your Novel Blueprint course and is actively seeking publication for two books.
Instagram: @sarahjrexford
Twitter: @sarahjrexford
Web: itssarahrexford.com
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