In my last writing advice blog, I talked about how to create a character in general terms as well as the types of characters you need to write a compelling story. This time, I want to talk about how to create a protagonist for your story. Out of all the characters in your story, this is arguably the most important one you will create as they are often the main perspective your readers get into the story you are telling. Continue reading to understand what is needed to create your protagonist.
Protagonist vs. Main Character
Since I made this mistake when I started to write this article, I feel that it is vital to point out what the difference is between protagonist and main character and why you shouldn't use them interchangeably.
A protagonist can be a main character (and is usually considered so in the story). This is the character the story revolves around and is usually the point of view character for your story.
There are main characters that do not have to be the protagonists. If your character plays a specific role in affecting the plot or the journey of your protagonist, they are considered a main character. For example, Frodo Baggins is the protagonist of The Lord of the Rings, but Samwise Gamgee would also be considered a main character.
Step One: Make Your Protagonist Likable
Your readers should love your protagonist. They have to want to keep reading their story, so they need to be considered likable. If your readers don't like your protagonist, they will put down your story and it will flop. They should have values that your reader can relate to or like (e.g. fighting for those who can't fight for themselves). If nothing else, give them a flair of charm to keep them likable in your readers' eyes.
Step Two: Balance Them Out
What I mean by this is that your character needs to be believable, so they can't be this perfect character without any flaws. Even if your character is a god or a superhero they need to be believable in the eyes of your reader. If they are empathetic, maybe they have trouble expressing their emotions in appropriate ways. If they are charming and charismatic, maybe they have a bad habit of stretching the truth from time to time.
Our flaws are what make us human, so your reader will be able to relate to your character more if they have a few flaws that balance their skills.
Step Three: Know Their History
We all have things that have shaped who we are as a person. Even if their history doesn't have much of a role in the story, you should be able to justify why your protagonist acts the way he/she does. This doesn't mean you need to know everything that happened to them from the moment they were born, but you should know some major things that have happened in your protagonist's life. Were their parents divorced? Did they lose someone close to them? Did something traumatic (like a car accident) happen to them that still affects them today?
One of the best ways I have learned how much a backstory can affect the way a person functions is by playing Dungeons and Dragons. When you create your character, you have to develop a backstory that the Dungeon Master (the one who runs the game/develops the story) often plays on. For example, my character for the two-year campaign I've been in for two years now is terrified of fire because of something that happened to her as a kid. My Dungeon Master often takes opportunities to expose her to fire in dire moments, and she basically shuts down.
That being said, put yourself in your character's shoes and see how you would react if you were going through the situation they were to fully understand their background's impact on their current story.
Step Four: Give Them a Motivation
Every character in your novel has to have a motivation for the decisions they make. Your protagonist needs a reason to keep going when the story gets tough. Maybe they are fighting for love. Maybe there's a great prize at the end that they need or want. Maybe they are trying to defy the odds. Whatever it is, your protagonist needs a reason to begin the journey they will be embarking on in your story.
Step Five: Make Them Have Some Humor
Even in some of the bleakest moments of our lives, we often find a way to lighten the mood. Your character needs to have a little bit of humor, too. We all laugh (hopefully, on a daily basis), so your protagonist should, too. Do they have a knack for puns? Are they full of sarcasm? Do they enjoy a good knock-knock joke and ask people to tell them the best one they have as an ice-breaker? Find a way to infuse some humor into your protagonist's life.
Step Six: Bring Them into Conflict and Make Them Change
Most of us will face some kind of conflict on a day-to-day basis. To keep the plot interesting, your character should run into obstacles that they have to figure out. If you aren't familiar with the main types of conflict, you can check out the blog where I break down the eight main narrative conflicts. Do they have interpersonal conflicts at the beginning of the novel? How can you make them face it? Do they develop one over the story? How can they fix it?
Your protagonist should not be the same person they were when the story started as they are at the end of it. There should be some degree of change book-to-book if you plan on writing a series. There should be a moment (relatively near the climax of your story) where your character is forced to change or they will not complete what they originally set out for when the story began.
What to Do if You Are Lost
There are some tools you can use if you find yourself feeling lost in the creation process of your protagonist. One of the best tools (though it can be daunting at first) is to use of a character questionnaire. The one I like is from The Novel Factory. You don't have to answer every single question on the questionnaire, but it gives you a good idea of the things you should know about your protagonist.
You can also use the basic formula below to create your protagonist:
One particular interest + one character flaw + two core values (+ one special ability if sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural) = your protagonist
Though that is a very rudimentary formula, it can get you started when you are creating your protagonist.
At the end of the day, you should spend plenty of time getting to know the quirks of your protagonist and developing their personality and story since that is the plot of your novel. All the greats recommend having character-driven plots, so all your characters should be well-developed for your novel. The best place to start is with your protagonist. Hopefully, the six tips above help you build a character you and your readers hold near and dear to your hearts.
Until Next Time,
Ally Mac
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