McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

YA: Is my character supposed to be a good role model?

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Darwinist:
Been thinking of rebranding my character as younger, around his mid-teens. I wrote him as being rather vanilla at the moment, was thinking putting a Young Adult spin on him would bring out a few characteristics better. Problem is, the storyline I'm writing has him as an art thief. It's not a major part of the story I'm planning but it ties up a lot of backstory and propels the plot at the beginning (he steals something he shouldn't have). I don't condemn the theft or make any apologies for it - I'm wondering if I should worry about any kind of moral compass to my main character in this aspect.

mithrandirthewhite:
I say no, on the basis that people arent perfect, and if you want a role model, have one who grows out of old faults, or that others who befriend the character not judge him for all his actions, but for good qualities.  And if it goes to the extreme, anti hero stories are fun too. :)

Ramenth:
I'm not much of a YA reader, but I'd argue so long as he's compelling and ultimately a "good guy", especially if he steadily gets better through the story, you're fine.

Nickeris86:
My main character in one of my novels is most definitely not a good role model. He cuts himself (blood magic) consorts with dark forces, and creates undead servants. though he hasn't ever done anything evil he is defiantly not the typical hero.

Darwinist:
Yeah, that's more along what I meant, Nick

Though your example is to an extreme, I have to take into account that as young adult, it is intended for a moral audience. So, if as the other poster said, the character is redeemed in a way as the story progresses - can this override the initial morality of the character?

Case in point, the story starts with him stealing an object. The backstory is established that he is a thief. As the story progresses, the thievery is justified as the main character attempting to rid the world of a dangerous object.

My question is, do I really need to justify his theft? Can it be that the main character steals because he wants to steal? Would that alienate a younger audience? For adult fiction, you don't need to have these kinds of concerns, but from a publishable standpoint - should I justify the theft with a pretty little bow? Or just make my character a right old (young) bastard who gets his jollies from theft - and stumbles upon a dangerous object in the course of the story? The latter sounds much more fun to write than the former, but I'd hate to put so much time into a premise that will break a trope of the genre (morality)

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