Know Your Protagonist
One of the most
memorable lines I had heard was from Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It was during the
scene when the husband and wife assignation team had their… play time and
decided to decorate their house using each other as wrecking balls.
The moment
that was both humorous and memorable is when the husband looked at his wife and
said; Who’s your daddy? Of course the wife had her moment and turned the table
on him and responded by saying; Who’ your momma? My question to you is along
those same lines; Who’s your protagonist?
The lead
character or protagonist in your story needs three things that must be present
in order for them to be memorable (or at lease someone your readers would care
to stick around to find out what’s going to happen to them). Those three main ingredients
are their background, their reason to exist in the story, and an unexpected,
needful, or helpful outcome that will strive for or prevent from happening. But,
before that happy moment that occurs when your readers see The End, knowing a
bit about your protagonist background makes a world of difference to drawing in
your readers imagination.
Protagonist Background
Like most well rounded characters, everyone wants to know what makes the star of your story tick. No matter when you present this information or how you shape it in a few words as possible, the importance to the character personality is the foundation of the entire story hinges on. in short, it is the driving force to give the reader something (or in this cast), someone you put yourself in their place. If you think about it, the strength of any story depends on how creditable, likeable, and relatable the protagonist feels to the reader. However, some may say it’s the driving force that compels the lead character to do, say and behave in a manner we ourselves would behave openly or suppress through embarrassment. Without some explanation of what makes the protagonist who there are and described in such a way that some sense of who they are it would give the feeling of joining a conversation after the introductions are long past. Once we know who this person who we will live through vicariously, it’s time to take a look at their existence in or the overall plot or how it wraps around them. as they say. In a strong wind, dose the person play with the kite or the kite play with the person.
Like most well rounded characters, everyone wants to know what makes the star of your story tick. No matter when you present this information or how you shape it in a few words as possible, the importance to the character personality is the foundation of the entire story hinges on. in short, it is the driving force to give the reader something (or in this cast), someone you put yourself in their place. If you think about it, the strength of any story depends on how creditable, likeable, and relatable the protagonist feels to the reader. However, some may say it’s the driving force that compels the lead character to do, say and behave in a manner we ourselves would behave openly or suppress through embarrassment. Without some explanation of what makes the protagonist who there are and described in such a way that some sense of who they are it would give the feeling of joining a conversation after the introductions are long past. Once we know who this person who we will live through vicariously, it’s time to take a look at their existence in or the overall plot or how it wraps around them. as they say. In a strong wind, dose the person play with the kite or the kite play with the person.
Protagonist
Existence
Who in the hell is this person? Your main character has to have a reason to exist, or why would they be the main character? The protagonist is the linchpin that the entire story is based on. Without a focal point for a person’s imagination to feast off of, then there is no real story. Although, there are numerous examples of multiple leads, but when both of these characters are together one or the other takes center stage and this includes the big finish at the end. Now don’t get too caught up in this single concept because there are a few very talented writers out there who had killed off those you believe are the protagonist and cause many readers to scream out the author’s name in not so friendly terms. However, they continue to read on to find out what the heck is going on and soon find themselves wrapped up deeper in the story and soon realize who the real star of the show. That of course causes them to reread the book and discover where they might have jumped the tracks and started following the false lead character. No matter how you look at it, without a reason for the protagonist to be in the story than the story is just random thoughts and ideas with absolutely no direction and no one to cheer for at the end.
Who in the hell is this person? Your main character has to have a reason to exist, or why would they be the main character? The protagonist is the linchpin that the entire story is based on. Without a focal point for a person’s imagination to feast off of, then there is no real story. Although, there are numerous examples of multiple leads, but when both of these characters are together one or the other takes center stage and this includes the big finish at the end. Now don’t get too caught up in this single concept because there are a few very talented writers out there who had killed off those you believe are the protagonist and cause many readers to scream out the author’s name in not so friendly terms. However, they continue to read on to find out what the heck is going on and soon find themselves wrapped up deeper in the story and soon realize who the real star of the show. That of course causes them to reread the book and discover where they might have jumped the tracks and started following the false lead character. No matter how you look at it, without a reason for the protagonist to be in the story than the story is just random thoughts and ideas with absolutely no direction and no one to cheer for at the end.
Protagonist
Outcome
There are three basic types of outcomes and they are happy, sad, and to be continued or cliffhanger. Your protagonist outcome being a happy one leads the pack and is universally appreciated. Your protagonist outcome being a sad one comes in second and will cause controversy, but is still accepted under artist prerogative. However, your protagonist outcome being a cliffhanger can cause your name to be dragged through the mud unless all loose ends are tied in a nice pretty bow and the only reason for this kind of ending is to cause trouble. Sometime trouble is a good thing and sometimes it’s going to take much to climb back up that hill when you find yourself back at the bottom. Before your thoughts turned completely to gloom and doom, there are no rules that say you can’t have all three. You can have your protagonist sacrifice themselves for a happy ending and still give your reader the very small possibility they might survive. This has been done before many times in the past and is used as a way that leaves everyone happy.
There are three basic types of outcomes and they are happy, sad, and to be continued or cliffhanger. Your protagonist outcome being a happy one leads the pack and is universally appreciated. Your protagonist outcome being a sad one comes in second and will cause controversy, but is still accepted under artist prerogative. However, your protagonist outcome being a cliffhanger can cause your name to be dragged through the mud unless all loose ends are tied in a nice pretty bow and the only reason for this kind of ending is to cause trouble. Sometime trouble is a good thing and sometimes it’s going to take much to climb back up that hill when you find yourself back at the bottom. Before your thoughts turned completely to gloom and doom, there are no rules that say you can’t have all three. You can have your protagonist sacrifice themselves for a happy ending and still give your reader the very small possibility they might survive. This has been done before many times in the past and is used as a way that leaves everyone happy.
No matter what
or who your protagonist is, what you do with your protagonist, or the outcome
your protagonist brings about, there is no other character you should know more
intimately than your protagonist. There is no other character that is more
important to your reader than this single point of interest. Your success or failure
is tired directly to your protagonist. SD Tracy Harper
Illustration; www.1015kcls.com
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