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Writer's pictureLuke Dimech

How to create a believable protagonist



Creating a believable protagonist is essential when writing a novel. The protagonist is the main character in the story, and they are the one with whom the reader will identify and connect. A well-crafted protagonist can make the story more engaging and satisfying for the reader, while a poorly-crafted one can make the story feel flat and uninteresting.

Give your protagonist a clear goal

The first step in creating a believable protagonist is to give them a clear and relatable goal or desire. The protagonist's goal should be something that the reader can understand and relate to, such as finding true love, achieving success, or overcoming personal demons. This goal should be something that the protagonist is actively working towards throughout the story, and it should be the driving force behind their actions.

Give them a real personality and character traits

Another important aspect of creating a believable protagonist is to give them a distinct personality and character traits. The protagonist should be a fully-developed, three-dimensional character with their own unique strengths, weaknesses, and flaws. This can be achieved by giving the protagonist a detailed backstory and by exploring their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. Giving the protagonist a distinct personality will make them feel like a real person to the reader, making it easier for the reader to connect with and relate to them.

Make your protagonist relatable

It's also important to make sure that the protagonist is consistent and relatable in their actions and decisions. The protagonist's actions should be in line with their personality and goals, and they should be motivated by their own desires and fears. They should also make mistakes and have to face the consequences of their decisions. This will make the protagonist feel like a real person who is struggling to achieve their goals and make their own way in the world.

Another aspect is to make sure the protagonist is facing challenging conflicts and obstacles, this will make them more relatable and believable. The protagonist should have to work hard to achieve their goal and face adversity along the way. This will create tension and conflict in the story and make the protagonist's journey more engaging and satisfying for the reader.

Make sure your protagonist is not perfect

Finally, it's important to give the protagonist an arc of personal growth and development. The protagonist should change and grow throughout the story, learning from their experiences and becoming a better person as a result. This can be achieved by giving the protagonist a goal that requires them to overcome personal demons or by giving them a personal challenge that they must overcome.

Creating a believable protagonist is essential when writing a novel. A well-crafted protagonist can make the story more engaging and satisfying for the reader. By giving the protagonist a clear and relatable goal, a distinct personality and character traits, consistency in their actions and decisions, facing challenging conflicts and obstacles and an arc of personal growth and development, an author can create a protagonist that feels like a real person and one that the reader can connect and relate to.


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