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Your Protagonist’s Psyche
A story heart that beats with real emotion.
We want someone to root for, worry about, or even dislike.
The secret to a strong protagonist is digging into motivations, fears, desires, strengths, and weaknesses. Show how these traits change as the story unfolds.
Every protagonist wants something. This desire is the engine that powers your story.
It’s not enough to say your character wants to “save the world” or “find love.” You need to know their motivation, why they want it.
Is it pride, fear of failure, a need to prove themselves, or something from their past that haunts them? When you understand their desire, write a character who acts in ways that feel believable.
Desire alone doesn’t make a character interesting. Fear is just as important.
What is your protagonist afraid of? Failure, rejection, loss, or even success? Fear creates tension.
Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games wants to protect her sister. She’s also terrified of dying in the process.
A protagonist has both strengths and weaknesses. Flaws make characters relatable. Strengths move the story forward.
The key is balance. If your character is too perfect, we lose interest. If all…
