What Is a Protagonist?
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
What is a protagonist? If you want to write compelling fiction, you know that creating a strong, active protagonist is key to setting your novel up for success. But some writers are stuck on the question of what is a protagonist. Let’s break it down in the simplest terms possible.
A protagonist is a character who leads readers through a story. And that’s the key here—they are a leader. Your protagonist is not being dynamic enough and is instead just going along for the ride. So what is a protagonist? Read on for an interesting perspective.
What Is a Protagonist In Fiction?
Let’s break down the word “protagonist.” Think of “pro-” as a prefix. What’s a word that comes to mind? How about “proactive”? So what is a protagonist? Someone who is proactive in the story.
When a main character takes a backseat to action, novels suffer. If your protagonist is nothing more than an action hero, reacting to one explosion after the other, readers might not care about them as much as you want them to. Having a higher concept plot can also be detrimental in this regard. When an Ordinary Kid is thrown into Extraordinary Circumstances, they likely won't have a clue what is going on, have no idea what to do, and be reliant on others for help. What is a protagonist? It’s not someone who always needs others to lend a hand or rescue them from perilous situations. Sure, their allies might rally around them at some point, but the major moments of triumph should be their own.
It's all too easy to create a plot that is too ambitious for your protagonist, leaving them feeling incompetent and unable to discover their abilities or find their place in the story. This may be appropriate for middle grade and young adult fiction, where readers can relate to feeling inadequate, but you don't want your character to be rendered completely powerless. That’s not the key to a proactive protagonist.
Take a closer look at your novel. Does your protagonist spend a majority of their time being instructed by others? Are there several characters in the story serving as mentors or guides? Does your protagonist react to events around them, rather than them taking charge and driving the action?
You may be on the cusp of having a static protagonist, and this is the worst kind of answer to the question of “What is a protagonist?” If your main character fails to come alive, act with their own aspirations and independence, they risk being an insignificant figure in the story and leaving the reader feeling underwhelmed.
What Is a Protagonist? Someone Who Rises to the Challenge
No matter how uncertain the protagonist is about their life, self, or the looming obstacles before them, they must still rise to the challenge and become a hero. Your protagonist taking up the mantle of “hero” doesn't have to happen immediately, but when crafting a take-charge protagonist, you must hint at a certain level of strength or capacity to be a hero that’s in them from the start.
After all, everyone has something that they excel at. What is a protagonist? A character who has certain specific strengths and weaknesses that help them stand out. Their spark, as I like to say. Even if the character is convinced they don't possess any special talents, they have one secret weapon that should be utilized: their passionate ambition and motivation.
All readers can relate to a character who has desires and needs, which are essential ingredients for their character objective and character motivation—what they want, and why they want it, respectively.
Winning the championship is the ultimate goal, but the real reward lies in the validation it would provide. This is otherwise known as the character need. Let this be the fuel that ignites a fire within; an urge to be brave and active, not settling for being content or simply hoping something good will happen. As cliché as it seems, the leader of a story dares to dream and reach for the stars, no matter how unattainable they may seem. What is a protagonist? Someone who strives.
Instead of making your character merely sit and wait for something to happen, give your protagonist a purpose and goals to pursue. Make them take action from the very beginning, and provide them with a motivation, desire and need to stay focused and proactive, even when they get swept up in an unpredictable plot. With this mindset, they'll never lose sight of the prize!
What Is a Protagonist? Someone Who Changes
Raising the stakes in the plot heightens the tension and adds to the thrill of the journey. Without a sense of why the plot matters, your protagonist may feel unfulfilled and their deepest desires remain unrealized. To bring further life to your story, don't forget to include secondary characters and subplots, to ensure that your protagonist is taking the initiative and is not simply reacting.
If you don't want to make your character a formidable protagonist from the get-go, it is still possible for them to be proactive throughout the story. They might become more powerful as the story progresses, otherwise, there’s no room for them to grow. If they start out very powerful, then readers won’t worry about whether or not they can succeed.
Choosing to give your hero independence may be the most powerful decision you can make. Don't delay—get inspired! Fiction is a beautiful way to elevate life, taking us on a journey of big stories, larger-than-life characters, and life-altering stakes. We often feel powerless in our day-to-day lives, so it's no wonder we turn to fiction for a thrilling vicarious escape.
What is a protagonist? The person we wish we could be. Give readers a protagonist that makes bold decisions, stands up for their dreams, and discovers the power within. Let your hero be a source of inspiration, someone readers can relate to, flaws and all—and put them firmly in the driver's seat.
Elevate Your Storytelling
Wherever you are in your writing journey—from an initial outline to a draft to pitching your project—the experienced team at Good Story Editing can take your work to the next level.