Since I’m working up a new book, I’ve got to have a brand-new, completely different protagonist.
When I’m working on a protagonist, one of two things usually happens…the protagonist is just immediately known to me (this happens when I’ve got a composite image in my head based on several people I actually know), or else I go through and build up a protagonist based on traits I admire as a reader.
I’m definitely operating from the second method this time and building up a main character from scratch.
Different writers look for different traits for their protagonist. And, depending on the plot, some traits would be more useful than others. Are you writing a traditional romance? Need a warrior for an epic battle in a fantasy? Your protagonists may need to have radically different abilities and characteristics.
What I’m usually looking for is an ordinary person put into an extraordinary situation, but who is able to resolve the conflict by being proactive and clever.
I want someone who is interesting but ordinary. Intrinsically good, but flawed.
I want someone who has challenges and internal conflict.
I want someone who can be changed…and can grow.
The protagonist doesn’t have to be nice, but shouldn’t be mean.
I like a main character with a sense of humor and a sense of adventure.
I want someone who can help me propel my plot and not just react to things that happen.
So now we’ve got the traits I’m looking for. How else can I nail this imaginary person down?
I’ll spend a few minutes with a character questionnaire like this one, then I’ll write up a description and move on to the plotting.
How about you? What are you looking for in your current protagonist?
Elizabeth – You’ve really outlined some of the most important characteristics that a protagonist should have. For me, besides the ones you mentioned, I like a protagonist who’s got some quality that appeals to me – some reason I would want to have dinner with her or him. If a protagonist doesn’t have at least some appealing qualities, why would anyone want him or her to help solve mysteries?
Oh, I really like the way you put it – that it’s okay if a character isn’t nice, but she shouldn’t be mean.
I think what makes a character come alive for me is when I feel on a gut level an inner strength and inner fear. Depending on the character’s part in the story, I may not have to tap into either of those, but I need to know what hurts them, and what they use to protect or overcome it.
I’m so excited for you–a new protagonist! Sounds like fun.
My list of desirable characteristics is almost exactly the same as yours, and I’ve used method #2 for my last two manuscripts. I was a bit frightened, not sure if I’d be able to get the mix just right and concoct the character I wanted, but it worked out in the end. Good luck!
My characters tend to just pop up mostly created. Then I refine them – usually scruff them up a bit :)
My protagonist is revealing herself to me very slowly. This post is extremely helpful in that it shows me the kinds of things I need to look for, pay attention to, ask. As always, thanks for sharing your writing perspective.
Karen
To like characters, you have to like where they’re coming from emotionally. They need to behave with honor, and the reader should say, “If I was ever in that kind of a situation, I hope I could behave that way.”
Back to synchronicity–my guest blogger is talking about characters over at Terry’s Place today.
I think you selected all the right attributes. I like internal strife as a result of past conflicts.
I write contemporary fiction, but I look for very similiar traits as the ones you mentioned.
I liked that character worksheet. Thanks.
I need to genuinely like my protagonist. There may be things about him/her that drive me batty, but I have to like them. Like Margot said in her comment, there has to be some reason why I would want (in life) to spend time with this person. I’m not going to spend all those hours following them around if I’m tempted to drop an anvil on their head.
Like your thought process on this subject. My current protagonist is a composite, complete from scratch except he has some of my characteristics that I project I will be like as an older (than I already am, lol) man.
Marvin D Wilson
Great advice. I tend to choose main characters who have turmoil inside or something in their past that they’re hiding.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks so much for this post. You outlined the characteristics a protagonist needs beautifully, and I love that you used my character worksheet! Could I ask you to please change the link to the post on our blog instead of linking to the worksheet directly? The url is:
http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/05/character-worksheet-part-1-is-your.html
Thanks! And thanks again for including it. I really appreciate it!
Very interesting to see how you approach this >:)
Cold As Heaven
It’s so interesting to see how different people approach this. You always make me think I need to THINK more… be more deliberate. I have tended to take a situation (or in the case of this cozy–a JOB) and think ‘who would end up there? What are THEY like? I often use things like the zodiac to round things out and keep them consistent because it is familiar to me, and a handy shorthand.
Margot–Yes! And I’ve read some protagonists where I really just didn’t care what happened to them. So I put the book down, of course. If I don’t care if the character lives or dies, then what’s the point of reading the story…the exciting scenes won’t be exciting.
The Daring Novelist–Good point! And if we know what hurts them, then we know how to twist the screws to provide them with some conflict. Poor things.
Lorel–It’s a little more uncertain, isn’t it, coming up with it from scratch. I’d usually rather do method #1, but sometimes it just doesn’t come to me.
Alex–I like that too! So they’ve been hurt in the past and are approaching their present/future in a different way because of it.
Jemi–We scuff and torture our characters, don’t we? :)
Jane–I liked the worksheet too…having a mannerisms sheet is very different from the worksheets I usually see.
The Old Silly–Interesting! I’ve never thought of writing myself as an older person…although I could see using Kid Elizabeth in some stories.
Helen–Oh…a hidden past! I love that kind of book.
Adventures in Children’s Publishing–Absolutely! I’ve changed the link. Thanks for sharing your blog site with me yesterday.
Cold As Heaven–Thanks!
Karen–I think they like being mysterious. :) Hope this helps.
Terry–You’re so right. When the reader isn’t identifying with our progtagonist at all, then we really ARE in trouble.
Our blogs really are on the same wavelength so often!
Hart–I’ve never thought of the zodiac! That’s a good idea. I’m only really deliberate about the process when I don’t have a ready protagonist in mind…my favorite way to operate is to have a composite protagonist–made up of people who are known to me. But, barring that–I’ll do it this way. :)
Sounds like fun! I love coming up with new characters, especially the protagonist. Your list hits so many important parts for creating the MC. Thanks and have fun!!!
Thanks, Elizabeth! I appreciate it and included a link back to your post on Part Two of the worksheet that I put up just a few minutes ago.
Martina
My books focus on character growth, so it’s all about the character’s hangups, challenges, etc.
And you nailed all the important stuff here.
Oh Elizabeth – my favourite thing. I use a bunch of questionaires – the main one from Elizabeth George’s book on writing ‘Write Away’. The more I know about my protagonist the easier the writing goes. I’m happy to be working with one that I like and isn’t much like me and so on. I see her quite perfectly or not ‘see’ so much as I’m not visual but ‘experience’ her. Like Helen says, they have to have a secret or two – a unmet dream or desire. Otherwise – no conflict and then I’m dead in the water. My biggest problem, as I’ve gone on about before, is that I have to be careful that my psychotherapist self doesn’t try and FIX my characters. Hmmm….
Laura–Thanks! Happy Writing to you, too!
Adventures in Children’s Publishing–Thanks Martina! I’ve tweeted the link, as well.
Elspeth–Ha! Yeah, it’s good to respect our protagonist. I don’t mind being irritated with mine for short periods, but they’ve got to eventually make me happy again with them.
Diane–Character hangups are fun to write!
Jan–I have GOT to get that book. I’m a big Elizabeth George fan and I keep hearing about “Write Away.” Thanks for the tip! I like the unmet dream/hope. And I love that you keep trying to resolve your characters’ problems for them! LOL!
Hey Elizabeth! I sent an email Monday – is next Thursday good for your guest post? Need it by Wednesday afternoon at the latest. Thanks!