I admit even though I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day every year, I know almost nothing about him.
According to my Irish Catholic assistant, a patron saint is an advocate for a group or individual in heaven, and while looking for information online, I came across this interesting site that details all of the patron saints.
I am not a devoutly religious person but like most things I come across during my day, it made me think about writing.
As an exercise:
Figure out who your character’s patron saint is by determining whom they listen to. Is it a parent, a teacher, an employer, or a less-traditional mentor?
For example, in Shawshank Redemption, even though Red is the narrator, Andy Dufresne is the one who ultimately helps him survive in the “real world.”
Or, in Back To The Future, despite the fact that Doc is a mechanical whiz who helps Marty McFly travel back to the future, it is Marty who helps Doc survive the terrorists’ barrage by giving him a letter in 1955.
