On July 22, 2023, Kasie and Rex revisited the mentor character, this time to discuss specifically the relationship between them. Here are the show notes:

Theme for the day

Mentor-Apprentice Relationships in fiction

Agenda

• What is the mentor character?
• What is the mentor-apprentice relationship
• Examples and expectations of these relationships
• How to write your own mentor-apprentice relationship

Link to Podcast

Segment 1

So last week we did time travel and I have to confess, it was a LOT so I could think through my own time traveling vampires novel and the needs, uses, and functionality of time travel in the plot. So thanks.

This week we’re doing the mentor-apprentice relationship and once again, I’m using it for my own purposes. See, I’m writing about a new-ish vampire, Blue, and his sire, Raven, and the hero-worship of progeny to sire – especially given the rules of their faith – and how eventually Raven will betray Blue because, well, some might say our heroes always let us down.

What is the mentor-apprentice relationship? So this link talks about the mentor specifically and defines it as: The mentor is a source of knowledge, wisdom and support to the main character, and is typically a side character who is static.

The mentor’s role in the story is to be wise and unwavering, to offer an objective view of the hero’s struggles and to instruct and teach the hero. They’re usually experienced, have some wisdom the hero needs, and can show up in the nick of time to save the hero or bail him out of a tough spot.

Here are some good mentor-y type characters:

• Qui-Gon Jinn (first to Obiwan and then to Annakin)
• Obiwan Kenobi (first to Annakin and then to Luke who didn’t know better)
• Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
• Dumbledore (Harry Potter)
• Haymitch (The Hunger Games)
• Mr. Miyagi (The Karate Kid)
• Doc Brown (Back to the Future)

Segment 2

Why do we want a mentor character in the book? This link says:

• Mentors have usually walked this path before – Obiwan was once a Jedi, Hagrid once a student at Hogwarts, etc.
• Mentors have knowledge of the story world – they know the politics, the history, and the boundaries of the world
• Mentors are invested in the hero’s success – they root for the hero, want them to achieve their potential

Even so, mentors are:

• Sometimes disheveled, broken, or messy (Haymitch)
• Unable to solve the big problem themselves usually because their time has passed (Dumbledore)
• Known by others in the story by their reputation (Doc Brown)
• Expected to teach the hero to recognize his own talent
• Trusted and relied upon by the mentee
• Likely to keep information and/or secrets from the hero

What about the mentee or the apprentice? What are the optional dynamics of this relationship?

The apprentice could be:

• Stubborn or impatient
• Weak or cowardly
• Brave or courageous
• Arrogant or conceited
• Whiney or victim-like
• Afraid or damaged in some way

If the mentor is mysterious (Rafiki in The Lion King), the impatient hero will be frustrated by them.

If the mentor is cautious (Doc Hudson in Cars), the arrogant hero will rush in and make mistakes.

If the mentor is wise (Dumbledore), the hero will be confused as to why the mentor doesn’t teach him things.

Segment 3

This link suggests two important factors for mentor character building:

Give them autonomy – a life outside of the main character’s world and primary pursuits

Give them purpose – they need to fulfill a purpose in the story

Some ways to make the mentor useful (from this link):

• They can share their wisdom
• They can save the day
• They can prove the villain’s evil
• They can serve as a role model
• They can guide the way
• They can teach the hero new skills
• They can dish out some humility
• They can provide the hero with encouragement

You only need one or two of these purposes, not all of them.

Segment 4

So how do you write the mentor?

Connect the mentor to the thematic truth of the story.

Let’s use this link’s list:

• Mentors don’t give the protagonist answers, they give them the tools to find the answers themselves
• They love, but it’s tough love
• They keep secrets from the hero and usually reveal it only when it will do the most damage (oops)
• Be careful of making them an author proxy – the mentor is not you, so don’t preach through him
• Be careful if the mentor is controlling the plot by determining when the hero learns important information
• Be careful that the mentor doesn’t know things outside of their expected scope of experience
• Make sure the mentor has skin in the game – he can’t just help the hero, he needs stakes, too