Fictional Characters who Inspire Me

Fictional characters are constantly inspiring me to live my best life. There is something so priceless about opening a book and meeting these people who are just like me and not at all like me– simultaneously. We share hopes and dreams and fears. They marry princes and slay dragons and fight the battles that no one else can or will. Somehow, they always know exactly what to say to get me out of my own head and winning my own wars.

Today, I want to share with you four of my fictional role models and how they inspire me to go big and never settle for less than my best.

Scarlet Benoit
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Above all else, Scarlet encourages me to keep moving forward. Missing something important? Find it. Been lied to? Tell the truth. Scared out of your mind? Fight. Regain control.

Scarlet deserves to be her own definition of “brave,” but she’s too humble for that. With a no-nonsense philosophy and a willingness to sacrifice anything to protect her loved ones, she is always reminding me to act capable, even when I don’t feel like it. “Fake it till you make it” is a cliche for a reason.

Kate Monrovi
Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Kate is a modern-day Juliet Capulet with one major difference: she knows that suicide is not the answer to her heartsickness.

Interestingly, Kate’s opinion of love isn’t very high when it finds her. She’s caught off guard and even angered by it. But, in the end, it’s love that makes her life worth living– a far cry from lessons with Juliet.

Kate inspires me to keep an open mind and an open heart. Her story is complicated and has a lot of bumps, but that’s what makes it so encouraging. She isn’t a princess with a pre-planned future. She’s just a girl who meets a boy at the worst possible moment– and survives.

Rachel Selby
Firehorse by Diane Lee Wilson

To anyone who says, “You can’t,” Rachel taught me to say, “Watch me.”

A female veterinarian in 1872?! How very odd. But not to Rachel. She could be just as capable of healing injured horses as Mr. Stead, and she knows it.

Ultimately, Rachel won’t take no for an answer when it comes to her goals, and I admire the heck out of that.

Constance Contraire
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Constance may be the smallest of The Mysterious Benedict Society crew, but she has the biggest personality. Oh, and, uh, she reads minds.

Okay, not exactly. While she can communicate telepathically, it’s Constance’s ability to use common patterns to predict the future that intrigues me most. She can read other people based on past behavioral patterns. Constance inspires me to use these patterns to “read minds” and better understand human nature.

Your turn! Who are your #fictionalfour? Comment below or tag me on Twitter to let me know!