Weekend Writing: Creating a Strong Protagonist

You have an amazing story idea. The plot feels just right and you have enough material to begin the writing process. You sit down at your computer and the white blank page looks back at you. You think about your characters, specifically your protagonist, and you wonder, "Is this right? Is this a good protagonist?"

The main character/protagonist can make or break your story, so you want to make sure you master this character's development. Is your protagonist well-rounded enough? Is he/she interesting? Will your readers care about what happens to your protagonist? If your readers don't care, then you don't have the right protagonist.

It's as simple as that.

Let's be honest: Every writer has to analyze their work and ask themselves if their protagonist is strong enough to carry the weight of the story. Every writer does this--so you must, too. Here's what your protagonist should bring to the story:

• Something must happen to your character. Something must be at stake for your protagonist. As events unfold in the story, does your protagonist interact with these situations? Does he/she have something at risk? Could he/she lose everything because of a decision? Your readers will care more about your protagonist if he/she is struggling and fighting for something. Your readers will want your protagonist to win. If you don't have any of this happening in your story, or if your protagonist doesn't have the motivation to fight for what he/she wants, then you need to re-evaluate your story's plot and character development. 

• Your protagonist must interact with the story's theme. Themes define stories. A strong protagonist interacts with those themes in ways the other characters can't. Every protagonist must be unique, so give them a story only they could tell. Give them a story that's theirs. 

• Your protagonist must have the right perspective. Readers view the story often from the protagonist's perspective. Nothing should feel bland or out-of-the-ordinary. If your readers care about your protagonist and the way he/she views the world, then chances are they will care what happens to the character. 

• Make your protagonists real. What do I mean by this? Make them human. Observe the people around you. Those are real individuals. They have triumphs and failures. They have insecurities. A strong protagonist has depth and complexity, but most importantly, he/she is relatable. Once again, if your readers can relate to your protagonist, they will care what happens to him/her. 

• Finally, give your protagonist a beautiful journey. Your protagonist should not be the same character at the end of your story. If your protagonist is exactly the same throughout the entire story--not changing at all--well, I'm sorry, but you need to rewrite your story. Your protagonist should be moved by the story's events. This journey ultimately shapes the story and its themes. Your protagonist should have a main goal and a motivation to achieve that dream. My favorite books are the ones in which the protagonist learns lessons, changes perspective, grows as an individual, and has a beautiful journey. These are the protagonists you will want to create, too. 

It might take some time to write the perfect protagonist, but that's one of the first story elements you should hash out at the beginning of your drafting process. It's so important to create a strong protagonist. This character drives your story; your story can't survive without a powerful protagonist. 

Like I've said multiple times in this post, your readers will care about your protagonist/main character if he/she is relatable. You want your readers to root for your protagonist. You don't want them to think, "Ah, just die already." That's usually what you want your readers to think about the antagonist. 

Good luck creating a strong protagonist. You can do it! 

Write on. 

-KJL-