Writing advice
How to write main characters
Main character energy.
But a word of caution! A protagonist should not be perfect. Perfection is not relatable. In fact, it’s rather difficult to like! Who wants to read about a character who is not just naturally gifted at everything they try but also sails through life undamaged, is always kind, patient and generous, never says the wrong thing or makes a bad choice? For a start, it’s not realistic – readers will be hard-pushed to believe in such a paragon of humanity. But also… it’s kind of boring!
And don’t forget, a protagonist doesn’t have to be likeable! Think of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, in which Amy Dunne (spoiler alert) frames her husband for her own murder. Readers might find her attitude hard to like. But, crucially, Amy is still a sympathetic character. We can relate to her frustrations with her husband, understand how her childhood warped her. And she still has that main character energy – she’s unstoppably proactive and irresistibly interesting. We’re invested in her story, and can’t wait to see what incredible lengths she’ll go to, and whether she’ll get away with it – even if we don’t agree with her choices.
It’s a phrase we use to describe the kind of person who cruises through life as if they’re the starring role in a story. The kind of person who is just that bit more vibrant, more confident, than everyone else. The kind of person who interesting things just seem to… happen to.
The phrase main character energy works so well because we all get what it means. We’ve all experienced main characters – protagonists – in books, films, TV shows. Instinctively, we know a main character when we see one. But how do we go about creating one?
Well, the first thing to keep in mind is that we want a protagonist that our reader will be invested in. We want them to really care about that character. Because if they care, then they will keep reading the story to find what happens to them!
Think about Jack Reacher, or Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. In their own individual ways, these two protagonists are clever, brave and driven by a deep sense of justice. They have character traits that we find appealing. They’re likeable – the kind of people we would love to have on our side. And if we like a character, we’re more likely to feel invested in them. We’re more likely to read on.
But a word of caution! A protagonist should not be perfect. Perfection is not relatable. In fact, it’s rather difficult to like! Who wants to read about a character who is not just naturally gifted at everything they try but also sails through life undamaged, is always kind, patient and generous, never says the wrong thing or makes a bad choice? For a start, it’s not realistic – readers will be hard-pushed to believe in such a paragon of humanity. But also… it’s kind of boring!
Us humans, we love flaws. Flaws are what make a protagonist feel believable. They build the reader’s empathy. They enable the reader to put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes. Let’s go back to Jack Reacher. He’s clever and brave,
but also so confident of his abilities that he frequently winds up in life-threatening
situations, and his drifter lifestyle means he can’t maintain relationships. Katniss
Everdeen, meanwhile, is resourceful and fiercely protective, but she struggles
to trust and acts impulsively. Readers can relate to such shortcomings. And
they give the protagonist room for growth – a journey to go on.
And don’t forget, a protagonist doesn’t have to be likeable! Think of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, in which Amy Dunne (spoiler alert) frames her husband for her own murder. Readers might find her attitude hard to like. But, crucially, Amy is still a sympathetic character. We can relate to her frustrations with her husband, understand how her childhood warped her. And she still has that main character energy – she’s unstoppably proactive and irresistibly interesting. We’re invested in her story, and can’t wait to see what incredible lengths she’ll go to, and whether she’ll get away with it – even if we don’t agree with her choices.
So, when you’re creating a protagonist, think about how you’re going to get the reader invested in their journey. Will they be likeable, but flawed? Or unlikeable, but sympathetic? Whatever you choose, just remember that ultimately, you want a character who will resonate with your readership – a character they can get behind. A character who your reader will want to stay with until the very last word on the very last page.
Your next
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