My two cents worth
Being a writer goes hand in hand with being a reader. Nothing is better for developing the protagonist than this combination, which provides a strong foundation for fleshing out your protagonist or any of your characters.
Capturing the reader’s perspective is crucial. Character development is a creative process and not a science. Adding “ingredients” from a checklist will get you only so far as there is a true art of developing the protagonist. Don’t get me wrong– I’m not saying I’ve got it down pat, but as a practitioner, I have a few thoughts to share that may help.
Before your character slays a dragon, who are they? Are they scared? Maybe they’re boastful or even fearless. How did they get that way? What motivates them? How do they behave when they aren’t slaying dragons? Would you like them? Would they be your friend–your enemy? Do you think readers would connect with them? Why?
As I begin to write, I believe the characters are what enliven the story, so I “create” the protagonist first. Sure, I have an idea of the plot and some basics around it, but when I write I’m focused on breathing life into my characters. I always think about the reader and how they will receive the character. It is, however, a fine line between what I want in a protagonist and what I think the reader wants or expects. I enjoy a give-and-take as it makes the creative process challenging and fun.
Developing the Protagonist
Because writing is an art it is anything but mechanical. There are rules, yes, but as the creator of your story, I feel that appreciating and enjoying your time in the process and expressing your creativity in a way that follows your own truth is a pillar of “your Parthenon”.
…a gigantic sense of awe and humility…
There is both a gigantic sense of awe and humility when creating your characters. They have to be real to me before I think a reader may relate to them. The reader is always part of my character development process.
When creating my characters, I ask the questions:
- what resonates with me about this character;
- do I know someone like this or would or would not want to know them;
- what are their vulnerabilities; and what are their redeeming qualities?
I ask these question from a reader’s perspective as well.
For antagonists or even villains, this is also important to use these questions, or ones of your choosing, to develop all your characters.
Emotions are a big part of developing characters
Unlike other living creatures, we as humans are defined by our emotions—and we have ALL of them and so should your protagonist. The most masculine or feminine character embodies all emotions.
The protagonist must express emotions other than a token one or two sprinkled in 70,000 to 100,000 words. Dialog and action are important but good characters must possess more.
I think some basic emotions such as anger, surprise, enjoyment, fear, disgust, and sadness should find a place in most stories.
If appropriate characters could exhibit pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, attachment, and jealousy. These are very human feelings and behaviors. When reading or telling stories, we should expect humans to be humans.
Flaws and all
When developing the protagonist, I think they should have a flaw–or several This is crucial. Does anyone really relate to the perceived “perfect” person? We have read very poignant stories of the perceived perfect person only to discover how their flaw(s) shaped them in the long run. Flaws can be almost anything but here are some to name a few.
- Anxious
- Impulsive
- Stubborn
- Insecure
- Awkward
- Hot-headed
- Afraid of “something” like spiders, the dark, or a crowded room
What are their beliefs?
What do the protagonists (and other main characters) believe in? Their beliefs may be what motivates their behaviors throughout.
Do they believe in:
- A higher power–or not?
- Do they believe in the power of nature?
- How about the “American Dream”?
- What about the “rules of the street”?
- Do they believe in the power of love? Do they believe in themselves– a little or way too much?
- What human construct guides their lives or what do they want to change either in society or within?
- Who are they?
What they believe in or want to believe in makes them who they are.
How about their backstory?
Unraveling the protagonist’s backstory throughout the story is a great way to slowly give your reader just enough information to keep them interested and turning pages.
- Are they the middle child of a large family,
- Are they an only child, or, perhaps, an orphan?
- Do they come from a loving home or not?
- Rich, poor, or somewhere in the middle? Why?
- What obstacles did they face?
- What was freely handed to them whether or not they accepted it or not?
- Did they do something they are ashamed of or were they heralded as a champion of some kind?
- What experience painted their life to this point?
“We are the sum total of our experiences. Those experiences – be they positive or negative – make us the person we are, at any given point in our lives. And, like a flowing river, those same experiences, and those yet to come, continue to influence and reshape the person we are, and the person we become. None of us are the same as we were yesterday, nor will be tomorrow.”
― B.J. Neblett, an American author
Well-developed characters cannot escape the life they have led before the moment they are introduced to the reader. But great characters emerge in front of our eyes as we join them in their journey.
Quirks – Everyone has them
This might be just me, but I think the protagonist should have some personality traits or quirks that have no apparent reason why they have such a trait
Why someone is fair when they have had an unfair life, or they are humble when they have sunk the winning shot, or they are insightful beyond their years all contribute to who the character’s being.
These are a few quirks that will make a character unique:
- wears a funky hat/glasses
- flips their hair a lot
- has a special diet or favorite food
- has a strange tatoo
- winks at weird times
- bites their lip in a stressful situation
- juts out their chin when thinking
- hums classical music at odd times
- has a peculiar habit or pastime
Last thoughts
Developing the protagonist is above all things, an art. The creative process goes from the introduction to the last thought of a story, and the complexities of the protagonist and other characters take us there. They urge us to take their journey with them.
Writing well-developed characters involves exploring our own truths to create individuals with deep roots and profound insights that can move us. This process should be enjoyed and savored.
Keeping the reader in mind, developing good characters is an exploration of our own truth. The process should bring to life characters who are profound and have something to share. They should have the ability to move readers in some way as it is a delicate process unlike anything else.
About E.G. Kardos
I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write. Here’s more about me and my books.
Latest Posts
- More Ways to Think About Character Development
- Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, and a Moment of His Time
- If You Were Able to Talk to Your OLDER Self
- The Gloaming: When Day Meets Night and it is Spectacular
- Paulo Coelho and Small Miracles
All Posts
