What 007 First Light Teaches Authors About Character Development

For Authors There can be a temptation in certain genres of fiction to make the hero exceptionally capable, confident, and independent. After all, those qualities are often exactly what make them so exciting to read about. But push those traits too far and they can become limitations. A hero who rarely fails has little room to grow, while one who never needs anyone else has fewer opportunities to form the relationships that give their successes or failures emotional weight. Flaws and vulnerabilities aren’t simply imperfections to overcome, but some of the most useful tools an author has for making readers genuinely care about what happens next. James Bond is a shining example of this. The famously polished secret agent is confident, capable, independent, and always ready with the right move. But that doesn’t leave much room to grow, or give other characters as many opportunities to play meaningful roles in his journey. According to Ginger, that’s one of the most refreshing things about the new video game 007 First Light, which takes us back to the James Bond origin story, where our hero is much messier, more reckless, and willing to rely on others. And that’s what makes this version...