Do the hero in s novel always have to succeed?

Question

I am beginning to write my first novel, and I have done all the research and read tons of tips on how to plan, write, and organize, and everyone says the same thing...the hero must succeed. Well, I have other plans for my hero. Maybe he fails or has a case of MPD, should I change my ending???

Answer 1

I once heard that only dead people are hero's. Guess your book would be a real one if your hero died. Then of course........if your doing it for the money as well, maybe you should consider letting your hero live. Most people like happy endings and if they continue to read your books and find that your killing off your hero's, then your likely to lose your small fan club. Just something to think about.

Answer 2

Pretty much yes. But you have to make it seem like the hero won't. However, if you don't want him to suceed you'll have to write another novel or two so that eventually he ends up as the hero. I can't remember who, but there was an author who wrote three novels and the hero didn't suceed and "get the girl" untill book #3.

In Europe & Japan it is acceptable to have "sad" endings to stories. But in the US most "sad" endings don't sell very well. One of my most favorite stories is from Japan. It turns out that the hero was a ghost the whole time & wasn't real. But then book two came out and at the end you find out that the love of his life somehow manages to bring him to life.

In my books, I use "false endings". They are fun to write as well. In my first novel, my hero is in an accident and almost dies right after his lady leaves him. The book seems to end there but to the reader there was another 100 pages. You just might have a longer story floating in your brain. Work with it!!!! Have fun!

Answer 3

not necessarily...i'm also writing my first novel and i've been tryin to come up with something different as i'm sure u are as well. i think it would be interesting if the hero dies...or if someone less likely succeeds where the hero fails...i think i've said to much but i hope that helps...good luck

Answer 4

You write it how YOU want it. Stephen King is a pro at having the hero go thru serious hardship. Read his stuff! And JK Rowling is getting ready to kill her hero, Harry Potter. It's been known to happen.

Answer 5

the hero does not always have to succeed to reach the goals he was aiming for in the novel.
he or she could fail, then your novel would have a message of abjection by saying that this goal due to certain reasons can not be achieved or it could hold a message of if some one try doing that it wont work.
it does not matter if his failure was in the form of death or the form of just not doing or getting what he or she wanted.
its your novel ;-)

Answer 6

The greatest books I've ever read were always ones where the hero lost. It gave you more of a sense that their cause was just and noble and, most importantly, worth dying for. They were willing to die for whatever values they learned throughout the book ... and then they did. Very poignant. I love those kind of books.

Answer 7

Technically, thats the difference between tragedy and happy ending. If the hero fails, it's tragedy.

Answer 8

well if u want the hero to succeed then let it succeed if you want it 2 fail let it fail.

Answer 9

well i am always sad when the hero dies, but that ok. anyway, its ur book.
and dont do what others tell u to do, u r the one writing the book, not them.

Answer 10

The term "hero" just means "protagonist," not necessarily someone who wins.

If it's appropriate to your story, they can lose.