Having an Ally

Your closest friend is your greatest Ally.

Many books I've read have had extremely lovable Allies. But when they steal the spotlight from the Hero, I don't like the Ally as much - I just get frustrated and feel sorry for him/her, thinking "Why isn't this awesome person the Hero instead of this wimpy guy?"

Don't let this happen in your story. The Ally should be loved, yes, but your Hero needs to have at least more than half of the reader's attention.

So.

Let's jump right in with four questions I'll ask for you:

What is the Ally for?

The Ally is your Hero's moral support (which includes and is not limited to: motivator, comforter, and helper). When your Hero has doubts about himself, the Ally is there to encourage the Hero and say, "I know you can do it!"

What is the Ally not for?

The Ally is not there to yank the Hero up out of the mud every time he falls down. He/she can't be a hero for the Hero. If this were the case, then - by the end of the book - the readers might half-expect the Ally to jump in and defeat the villain!

No. Just no.

However...

Having a useless Ally is as bad as having an overly important Ally. If your Ally is just there walking along beside your Hero, having a good time, maybe shoving a few of the Villain's minions out of the Hero's way every once in a while...then what's the point? Develop your Ally. But don't make him the Hero.

Should the Ally disappear?

Yes. This should probably happen at least one time in your story. Either the Hero should be forced away from the Ally against his will, or vice versa. This way, the Hero can learn to survive on his own.

Is it bad to kill my Ally?

Not necessarily. If you kill your Ally, it might make your Hero stronger, make him fiercer in battle, and give him more motivation to ultimately defeat the villain. After all, the Ally is there to help - even if it means dying for the Hero's own good. You could even act like your Ally died, but bring him/her back later and surprise the reader.

Questions? Thoughts? Plain old (much appreciated) comments? By all means, share!