How to create a relatable and compelling main character
Your story revolves around the protagonist of a story, also known as the main character. They are the one the readers follow, root for, and care about. To keep your readers interested in your character’s story and keep them reading it is crucial to create a relatable and compelling protagonist.
To do this, be sure to…
Give them a clear and understandable goal
This should be something readers can relate to and understand. The motivation for pursuing their goal should be clear. Whether their goal is finding love, beating addiction, or reaching for the stars, the purpose behind their goals should help make them relatable to the readers.
Give them flaws to make them seem more human and relatable.
Perfect protagonists can be hard to relate to because they don’t seem real. People lie, cheat, swear, and think bad thoughts. They bite their fingernails, doodle, struggle with self-esteem, and have difficulty making eye contact. Giving your protagonist true-to-life human flaws can help your readers identify with the character.
Make them someone the readers can identify with.
Readers identify with someone who has fears or desires similar to them. Reading about characters who overcome the same problems as us can be cathartic and inspirational. Your audience might think that if your protagonist can overcome the conflicts life has thrown them, so can they.
To create a compelling protagonist, you should:
Give them a clear arc of change throughout the story
No one remains static through life. Everything we do, all of the conflicts we encounter, the people we meet, and the tragedies we face in life change us in some way. The same should be true about your protagonist. They should have a clear goal, and the story should be about them trying to achieve that goal. It should also be about how their quest or journey changes their personality and goals as they strive to achieve it, during and after.
Give them a unique voice, something that sets them apart from other characters
This could be in their personality, their way of thinking, or their way of speaking. If your protagonist has a unique voice, it will bring an equally unique perspective to the story. This can be as simple as having your protagonist live as an oversized person in a thin world. Maybe they battle depression or struggle in some other way. The issues they battle cannot help but colour their thought patterns, allowing them to analyze the world in a different light.
Make them active
The protagonist should drive the story, make things happen, and take action. They should not be passive observers of the events in the story or allow things to happen to them and take it all in stride.
Conclusion
The protagonist is the heart of the story, so take the time to make sure they are well-developed and interesting. Their thoughts and actions are what propel your story forward as they work through the conflicts you throw at them on their way to the climax. Creating protagonists that readers care about and want to succeed cannot help but captivate your readers and keep them turning pages.
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