George RR Martin, author of the ridiculously popular A Song of Ice and Fire series, recently offered fans the opportunity to be cast in his next novel in the series, Winds of Winter. Of course, true to Martin’s shocking practice, you’ll be subsequently and characteristically killed.
If you have $20,000, you may have a shot. But do you really have what it takes to be in an epic fantasy novel? See if you can fit the following requirements:
The Conflicted Protagonist
If you want to be this guy (or gal), you must suffer a constant tug-of-war between what you should do, and what you want to do. You have a strong moral center and yet, like any warm-blooded human, you have your own selfish desires. And sometimes, you just give in. But it’s not oh-so-sweet – you harbor a lot of guilt afterwards. This leads to a great deal of silent brooding.
The “Love to Hate” Antagonist
Evil is your middle name. You feed off power, love to watch others bend to your will, giggle at the unhappiness and torture of your enemies and love yourself more than anyone else. And while you’re governed by the fulfillment of your own wishes and will do anything to get them, you still have a soft, squishy underbelly. But don’t tell anyone – your weaknesses are a secret.
The Noble Hero
You wake up in the morning intending only to do the honorable thing. Justice and honesty are the sharpest tools in your arsenal. But you’re not blinded by your honor – your kind heart gives you the ability to see shades of gray and temper your values with reason and kindness. And above all, you are brave and selfless, laying your life aside to protect others and uphold what is right in the world. You make others feel completely inadequate.
The Fierce Leader
You may be a little crazy and in many ways, you’re kind of villainous. You certainly have no middle ground – your tender mercy as common as your tendency to commit atrocious cruelty. But you don’t enjoy it like a psychopath – rather, it is the logical conclusion of your brand of justice. More than anything, you’re mysteriously charismatic, inspiring legions of followers with just a few wise words and a dramatic look in your eye. People feel stronger and more noble being around you.
The Villain in Disguise
Your world is black and white. The moral standards that color your world are far more important that any real-life implications. In fact, you tend to ignore any pleas to reason, caution or temperance. You will instead do what you think is right – whether or not it is the correct action to take. You’re exceedingly proud and stubborn, often to your own detriment.
Do you fit neatly inside any of these molds? Are you the Hero, the Leader or – and maybe you don’t want to admit it – the Villain? If you have the qualities requires to star in a fantasy, you just need to scrounge up the dough. Good luck.