How to Write a Fandom-Worthy Character (Part 3): “The Eclectic Mentor”

Beloved mentors like Yoda of Star Wars, Gandalf of the Lord of the Rings, and Gramma Tala of Moana have become legendary in the fictional world. These old sages crack jokes, speak in riddles and provide guidance for the protagonist on his/her journey.

Their methods are mysterious– even questionable, but our protagonist trusts them and even loves them.

So what traits should your eclectic mentor have in order to be cherished by readers?

• A unique personality

• A guiding hand

• An untimely death or exit

Let’s talk about how you can use these traits in your own character crafting process.

Judge him by his size, do you? Don’t be fooled. Yoda was a powerful sage in a tiny, green, wrinkled package. Speaking in riddles, hilarious quips, and ambiguous sayings, we believed Yoda was just a crazy, old coot hiding out in a bog. Yet, through this outlandish approach, Yoda’s ultimate goal to teach Luke the importance of knowing one’s inner strength and relying on the Force succeeded.

Able to lift X-Wings out of swamps, fight circles around Sith lords and call down lighting onto an ancient tree with a flick of one finger, Yoda became a Jedi of legend. 

Dancing her way into our hearts, Gramma Tala was a wise old wisecrack that showed us the character of Motunui. Although many believed she was the island crazy lady, there was truth behind her old wives’ tales. Through her free spirit and firm belief, Gramma Tala taught Moana to believe in herself and her destiny.

Gandalf was unpredictable. Being countless years old would make anyone ornery by nature, but that didn’t mean Gandalf didn’t have fun. Good with fireworks and ready to dance the night away with Hobbits, Gandalf became one of the most beloved mentors of all time. Despite his sometimes abrupt nature, Gandalf genuinely loved the Halflings (even the most foolish of Tooks).

Through his wisdom and his magical abilities, Gandalf passed on invaluable knowledge to Ring Bearer, Frodo. Gandalf believed even the smallest person could change the course of the future and made certain it was so.

Do you see a pattern here? These old folks have a deceiving personality. They seem like crazy coots but in fact, it’s through their unique personalities that they teach the protagonist exactly what he needs to learn to succeed in his journey.

Their unpredictable or bizarre nature makes it difficult for the protagonist to discern if they are wise or crazy, and through that test of faith, the protagonist learns invaluable life lessons.

So here’s the point of a unique personality:

• It must be unpredictable, bizarre, comedic, etc.

• It must test the protagonist’s faith in his journey and himself.

• It creates a beloved, memorable character readers will cherish.

Gramma Tala gave Moana the confidence she needed to face her fears and follow her dreams. Not only did she provide emotional support, but she provided tangible evidence about the legends of their people by leading Moana to the cave where their canoes were hidden.

She gave Moana the tools she needed to start her journey (namely a canoe) and become the next leader Motunui needed. And by honoring her people’s all-but-snuffed-out traditions, Moana was able to save the island.

Frodo was innocent of the dangers rising in Middle Earth, but Gandalf’s expansive knowledge provided Frodo with bonus XP. Gandalf did all he could to provide a safe route, protection, and emotional support to Frodo on his journey to Mount Doom.

Yoda pushes his padawan to the limit. This test gives Luke the footing he needs to enter the fight capable and ready. Yoda trains Luke to trust implicitly in the Force– that all true guidance comes from it alone. His deep connection to the Force is a powerful example to Luke, who needs to learn to be less impulsive.

Your mentor is guiding your protagonist toward his life-fulfilling role. Their advanced wisdom, power, and capabilities are the booster pack your protagonist needs to jump-start his journey toward success. So ask yourself: is your mentor providing the training, education, and emotional support your protagonist needs to successfully take on his task?

To be a guiding hand, your eclectic mentor needs to:

• Provide training, education, and emotional support to help your protagonist reach his goal.

• Give your protagonist the wings to fly as well as the push he needs to leave the nest.

Famous. Last. Words. I’ll never forget as a kid when my mom read this part to my brother and I. We fell silent, cuddled a little closer and cried into our blankets. We had lost, not just a character, but a friend. And so did Frodo.

At the height of his struggle, Frodo loses the most valued member of the Fellowship and dear friend. Such a blow to moral certainly took its toll on Frodo. Frodo had to be strong and run with the wisdom Gandalf gave him.

And although Gandalf shocked us all with a return (and laundered frocks) Frodo was still without his mentor through the rest of his journey. Frodo had to become what Middle Earth needed on his own.

Just when Luke was about to make a life-changing choice, Yoda pulls the blankets over his head, turns over, and dies (that’s how I want to go). And although his life-force becomes one with the Force, Luke is left without help when he needs it most. But that’s just it- Yoda can’t make decisions for him.

Still, Luke is not left without precious training and invaluable wisdom. Yoda imparts all he needs to know to succeed, Luke just has to discern what that is on his own now.
This pivotal turn of events rockets Luke into the biggest test of his life. Will the training Master Yoda imparted help him make decisions that matter? Decisions that support the rebel cause?

Moana is determined to put a fire under her people by exclaiming before a tribe meeting that they must take the canoes to Te Fiti. Her father, head of the tribe, pushes Moana away, and in this pivotal moment, Gramma falls ill.

Moana runs to Gramma Tala and in the last few moments between them, she passes on the necklace to Moana and tells her she must respond to the ocean’s call.

With Gramma Tala’s passing, Moana gains the determination she needs to pass the great reef on her own and at last begin her adventure to return the heart to Te Fiti.

So, here’s what’s important about the passing of your eclectic mentor:

• Passing at a crucial decision point forces your protagonist to begin his journey.

• It forces your protagonist to become who he is meant to be on his own. This is when the hero’s journey truly begins.

Let’s be clear about something real quick: your mentor doesn’t have to be eclectic if you don’t want him to be. Obi One Kenobi was a more stoic mentor even though there was a legend built around his name and identity. Giving your character a memorable personality is what matters most.

There are a few varieties of mentors and that’s okay. But if you want to create an eclectic mentor readers will adore, then remember these three keys:

1. Give him/her a unique personality:

• It must be unpredictable, bizarre, comedic, etc.

• It must test the protagonist’s faith in his journey and himself.

• It creates a beloved, memorable character readers will cherish.

2. Make sure he is a guiding hand in the life of your protagonist:

• Let him provide training, education, and emotional support to help your protagonist reach his goal.

• Let him give your protagonist the wings to fly as well as the push out of the nest that he needs.

3. Give him an untimely death or exit:

• Passing at a crucial decision point forces your protagonist to begin his journey.
• It forces your protagonist to become who he is meant to be on his own. This is when the hero’s journey truly begins.

Creating unforgettable, unique characters takes effort. It also takes learning how to write unique dialogue, how to give your character a specific goal, how to give your character truly challenging conflict and much more.

So how do you do this with ease?

You check out the new online course I have coming for teen writers just like you:

This 13 chapter online course teaches you the fundamentals of great storytelling, including:

• How to Discover your Unique Writing Voice

• Pixar’s 7 Steps to Outlining a Story

• The Elements of a Killer First Chapter

• How to Create Characters that Matter

• How to Create a Love Triangle Readers Won’t Hate

• The Art of Showing AND Telling

• The Art of World Building

And so much more!

Find out more about this online Course here

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