Have you wondered how to write a reluctant hero that stands out? This is one of my favorite hero archetypes, and for good reason. And I’m not alone. The reluctant hero may not seek out adventure, but we sure seek them out as readers.
Why Do We Love the Reluctant Hero?
I think it’s because they are us. Or at least, they could be. That fact is what makes them so relatable, and therein lies the magic.
They’re real. Flawed. Human. And when they rise to the occasion, facing obstacles they’d really rather not, it gives us hope that we can too.
If you’re writing a reluctant hero—or thinking about it—let’s continue our exploration about why we love them so much and how you can write one who feels both classic and fresh at the same time.
The Reluctant Hero Reflects Who We Are
The majority of us are not leaping off buildings or saving the world from alien invasions on a daily basis (if you are, hey, hats off!). But we are constantly dealing with real-life challenges: illness, heartbreak, loss, parenting, jobs, insecurities, and impactful choices that scare the living daylights out of us.
When a character like Vianne from The Nightingale or John McClane from Die Hard steps up despite their fears, limitations, and/or doubts, it makes us feel seen. They don’t want to be in the spotlight. They’re not trying to save the world—or at least they didn’t set out to. They’re trying to survive in it.
And that’s relatable.
So… How Do You Write a Reluctant Hero?
I’m so glad you asked! Here are some tips to make your reluctant hero shine and, eventually, rise to the occasion.
1. Give Them a Powerful Internal Struggle
The reluctant hero is all about the inner journey. Their arc often hinges on moral dilemmas, personal doubts, or conflicting responsibilities.
Maybe they’re a parent trying to protect their child (hello, Sarah Connor). Maybe they’ve been burned before and swore they’d never get involved again. Maybe they truly believe they’re not enough.
Whatever the reason, the bigger their internal battle, the more satisfying it is when they overcome their fears or doubts.
When you’re thinking about your own Reluctant Hero, consider what fear or belief holds them back.
2. Force Their Hand, Whether Gently Or Not
Remember the Reluctant Hero isn’t seeking adventure. Adventure finds them. My recommendation is to build a scenario that forces your character into action.
Throw them into the fire. Take away their safety net. Put someone they love in danger. Let the stakes rise so high that action becomes the only option. (That’s you, John McClane!)
When you’re crafting your Reluctant Hero, think about how high you can raise the stakes for them. Their entrance into the hero-realm has to ring true.
3. Let Them Fail, Let Them Fight, & Let Them Grow
Reluctant heroes don’t usually nail the hero thing right away. That’s part of what makes them so endearing, right? They don’t come by heroism naturally.
Let them screw up. Let them retreat. Let them argue with themselves. Let those doubts and fears surface and resurface. But then… let them choose to move forward. Let them become someone they never thought they could be. (Samwise Gamgee, anyone?)
Even better? Let them be surprised by their own strength.
That moment when your character looks in the mirror and doesn’t recognize who they’ve become is the moment their journey really shifts into another realm.
4. Play With Genre Expectations
You can write a reluctant hero into any genre. (Vianne from The Nightingale is just as much a hero as John McClane.) Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- Fantasy: Your farm boy just wants to tend sheep, not fight dragons.
- Mystery: The retired detective swore they were done—until the murder hits close to home.
- Romance: The character who’s sworn off love gets swept into it anyway.
You can be writing contemporary women’s fiction, historical drama, or post-apocalyptic zombie westerns (really?). Yes, it’s a thing!). Whatever your story is about, the reluctant hero can work. Take the trope and make it your own.
Some of My Favorite—and Less Obvious—Reluctant Heroes:
You know the big ones—Ender Wiggin, Han Solo, Frodo. But here are a few others who are not as well-known—or who are sneakily reluctant—heroes you might love:
- Starr Carter, The Hate U Give: This character doesn’t want to be a voice for a movement, but circumstances thrust her into it.
- Lyra Belacqua, His Dark Materials: Lyra doesn’t go looking for rebellion against the Magisterium, but she ends up leading it.
- Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games: Does she really want to start a revolution? Not really, but she becomes its face anyway.
- Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter: Oh yes, one of my faves. He may not be the Chosen One, but he becomes a hero in his own quiet, brilliant way. He has his moment, and it’s such a good one.
The Takeaway: The Quiet Power of Reluctance
Heroism doesn’t have to be all Top Gun, Maverick, or Jack Reacher in-your-face heroism. Sometimes, it’s subtle. Sometimes, it crawls in slowly on hands and knees. Sometimes, it doesn’t look like courage at all—until suddenly it is.
I challenge you to write a character who says “not me” and then sweeps us away when they stand tall and face the challenge.
And remember: the best reluctant heroes don’t feel heroic to themselves… but they sure do to us.
Have a favorite reluctant hero? Drop that name in the comments. I’d love to hear from you and add to the collection.
Now go write that hero who never wanted the spotlight but earns it anyway.
Want help developing a reluctant hero of your own? Grab our free Cheat Sheet on the Every(Person) Hero Archetype, which strongly reflects the Reluctant Hero in the WriterSpark Resource Library! It’s packed with questions that help you dig into motivation, fear, and transformation.
Happy writing!
Read more about the core elements of The Reluctant Hero and see some popular examples.
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