A protagonist is the leading character or main person in a fictional work, typically a novel, film or stage performance. 'Protagonist' is also commonly used to denote an advocate or champion of a particular cause or idea.

In literature and other creative works, the protagonist needs to be clearly identifiable, intrinsic to the storyline and decisively relatable or even unrelatable, depending on the genre.

A compelling protagonist draws-in the audience and keeps it engaged as the narrative unfolds. Consequently, a good protagonist always has an objective or raison d'être, and the key point of interest should be discovering and observing the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of this purpose.

Early on in the work, it is vital for the audience to make a connection with the protagonist. This is often accomplished by telling the audience intricate details about his or her past, giving him or her flaws and challenging him or her with external forces or constraints.

Along with resolution (or deliberate non-resolution) of issues the protagonist is confronted with, most writers agree a good protagonist will demonstrate the capacity to grow and learn from their experiences, vicariously offering readers this same opportunity.

This web site is under construction, but if you need help crafting a protagonist for your next work please visit Heart Writing or The Manuscript Appraisal Agency.

Creating a Great Protagonist | Writing a Proactive Protagonist