Tag: character

10 tips creating interesting protagonists

If you are a writer who wants to craft engaging stories with memorable characters, you might be wondering how to create interesting protagonists that readers will care about. Protagonists are the main characters of your novel, the ones who drive the plot and face the main conflict. They are the ones who readers will root for, empathise with, and relate to. But how do you make them interesting and realistic? Here are 10 tips to help you create compelling protagonists for your novel.

1. Give them a clear goal and motivation. Your protagonist should have a clear and specific goal that they want to achieve by the end of the novel, and a strong reason why they want it. This will help you create a clear arc for your character and make them proactive and driven. For example, Harry Potter wants to defeat Voldemort because he killed his parents and threatens the wizarding world. Katniss Everdeen wants to survive the Hunger Games because she loves her sister and wants to protect her district.

2. Give them flaws and weaknesses. No one is perfect, and neither should your protagonist be. Giving your protagonist flaws and weaknesses will make them more human and relatable, and also create more challenges and conflicts for them to overcome. Flaws can be personality traits, habits, beliefs, or fears that hinder your protagonist from achieving their goal or make them act in ways that are not ideal. For example, Frodo Baggins is brave and loyal, but he is also naive and susceptible to the corrupting power of the Ring.

3. Give them strengths and skills. While your protagonist should have flaws and weaknesses, they should also have strengths and skills that help them overcome obstacles and achieve their goal. Strengths can be personality traits, talents, abilities, or values that make your protagonist admirable and likable, and also give them an edge in certain situations. For example, Hermione Granger is intelligent and knowledgeable, but she is also courageous and loyal.

4. Give them a backstory and a character arc. Your protagonist should have a history that shapes who they are and why they act the way they do. A backstory can include their family, friends, culture, education, experiences, traumas, or secrets that influence their personality, motivation, goal, and worldview. A character arc is the change that your protagonist undergoes throughout the novel as they face challenges, learn lessons, grow as a person, or achieve their goal. For example, Elizabeth Bennet starts out as a proud and prejudiced young woman who dislikes Mr. Darcy, but gradually learns to see beyond his outward appearance and manners and falls in love with him.

5. Give them a voice and a point of view. Your protagonist should have a distinctive voice and a point of view that reflects their personality, background, education, age, gender, culture, etc. A voice is the way your protagonist speaks or narrates the story, which can include their word choice, tone, style, humour, etc. A point of view is the perspective from which your protagonist sees and experiences the story, which can include their thoughts, feelings, opinions, biases, etc. For example, Holden Caulfield has a cynical and sarcastic voice and a rebellious and disillusioned point of view.

6. Give them relationships and interactions with other characters. Your protagonist should not exist in a vacuum; they should have relationships and interactions with other characters that affect their story and development. These can include allies, enemies, friends, family members, love interests, mentors, rivals, etc. These relationships and interactions can reveal more about your protagonist’s personality, motivation, goal, conflict, growth, etc. For example, Bilbo Baggins has relationships and interactions with Gandalf, the dwarves, Gollum, Smaug, that challenge and change him as a character.

7. Give them challenges and conflicts to overcome. Your protagonist should face challenges and conflicts that test their abilities, values, beliefs, and emotions. These can be external or internal, physical or psychological, personal or societal, etc. These challenges and conflicts should create tension, suspense, and stakes for your protagonist and your story. They should also force your protagonist to make choices and take actions that have consequences and implications for themselves and others. For example, Luke Skywalker faces challenges and conflicts with Darth Vader, the Empire, the Force, his family, his destiny.

8. Give them emotions and reactions to events. Your protagonist should have emotions and reactions to the events that happen in your story. These can be positive or negative, intense or subtle, expected or unexpected, etc. These emotions and reactions should show how your protagonist feels about themselves, others, and their situation. They should also affect their choices and actions. For example, Anne Shirley has emotions and reactions to her adoption, her new home, her schoolmates, her adventures.

9. Give them quirks and hobbies that make them unique. Your protagonist should have quirks and hobbies that make them stand out from other characters and add some flavour to your story. These can be physical traits, mannerisms, speech patterns, interests, passions, or hobbies that show your protagonist’s individuality and personality. They can also provide some comic relief, contrast, or insight into your protagonist’s character. For example, Sherlock Holmes has quirks such as his violin playing, his pipe smoking, his deductive reasoning, his eccentric behaviour.

10. Give them a name that suits them. Your protagonist should have a name that suits their personality, background, culture, age, gender, etc. A name can convey a lot of information about your character and create a first impression for your readers. You can choose a name that is common or uncommon, simple or complex, short or long, meaningful or random, etc. You can also use nicknames, aliases, titles, or initials to add some variety or mystery to your character’s name. For example, Jane Eyre has a name that is plain, simple, short, and common, which reflects her modest, practical, humble, and ordinary character.

The best ways of creating interesting character arcs when writing a novel

A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. It is how a character changes as a result of the events and conflicts they face. A character arc can make a story more engaging and satisfying for the readers, as they witness the growth and development of the protagonist and other characters.

There are different types of character arcs, such as positive, negative, flat, or dynamic. A positive character arc is when a character overcomes a flaw or weakness and becomes a better person. A negative character arc is when a character succumbs to a flaw or weakness and becomes a worse person. A flat character arc is when a character does not change significantly, but rather maintains their beliefs and values in the face of challenges. A dynamic character arc is when a character changes in multiple ways, sometimes unpredictably or inconsistently.

Regardless of the type of character arc, there are some general steps that can help you create interesting and believable character arcs for your novel. Here are some of them:

1. Identify your character’s goal and motivation. What does your character want and why? How does this relate to the main plot and theme of your novel? Your character’s goal and motivation should drive their actions and decisions throughout the story.

2. Identify your character’s flaw or weakness. What is holding your character back from achieving their goal or fulfilling their potential? How does this affect their relationships and self-esteem? Your character’s flaw or weakness should create conflict and tension in the story, both internally and externally.

3. Identify your character’s change or growth. How does your character overcome or succumb to their flaw or weakness? How do they learn from their experiences and mistakes? How do they become a different person by the end of the story? Your character’s change or growth should be gradual and realistic, not sudden or forced.

4. Show your character’s arc through actions and reactions. How does your character behave and respond to different situations and challenges? How do they interact with other characters and influence them? How do they express their emotions and thoughts? Your character’s arc should be shown through what they do and say, not just what they think or feel.

5. Balance your character’s arc with other elements of your novel. How does your character’s arc fit with the overall structure and pace of your novel? How does it complement or contrast with other characters’ arcs? How does it support or challenge the main theme and message of your novel? Your character’s arc should not overshadow or undermine other aspects of your novel, but rather enhance and enrich them.

Creating interesting character arcs can be challenging, but also rewarding. By following these steps, you can craft compelling characters that will captivate your readers and make them care about their journeys.