Read Time: 5 minutes
Hey đź‘‹ – Welcome to the Saturday Storyteller, where your protagonist goes from zero to hero faster than a gas tank fills up.
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:Â
- Hero failures and real transformations
- Examples from novels and films
- 2 hero prompts for ChatGPT
The protagonist is the lifeblood of your story.
As your central character, they must captivate audiences and drive the narrative through their journey and growth. Yet many writers struggle to craft a complex hero with clear motivations and an engaging backstory.
In this article, we’ll tackle common pitfalls that lead to flat or underdeveloped protagonists. Through examples from popular stories and practical chatbot prompts, you’ll learn how to add depth and nuance to your leading character.
Weak Protagonists
A shallow protagonist will ruin your story’s potential.
Flat heroes result in a lack of emotional connection between the audience and the character’s journey, inevitably hurting your plot and overall narrative.
In Disney’s 2012 film “John Carter,” the protagonist, John Carter, is a former Confederate Army captain transported to Mars, where he becomes involved in a conflict between Martian species. Although his personal survival is at stake, the audience never fully invests in his journey. (At least that’s what the box office receipts seem to reveal.)
This lack of investment stems from poor exploration of his internal struggles and backstory. Going deeper into John Carter’s past and strengthening his connections with supporting characters would have made his transformation more impactful and emotionally appealing.
Adding Traits and Backstory
Many writers try to address a weak protagonist by simply adding more backstory or details about the character’s appearance, hobbies, or past experiences. They may also try to make the protagonist unique by giving them unusual abilities or quirks.
This can work to some degree, however, these extras often fail to address the core issue if they don’t explore the character’s motivations, desires, and conflicts.
In the sci-fi action film “Lucy,” the protagonist, Lucy, gains superhuman abilities after an experimental drug is accidentally absorbed into her system.
While the film showcases Lucy’s expanding powers and special traits, it falls short in developing her character in several key areas:
- Vague motivations: Lucy’s goals shift from survival to an undefined pursuit of knowledge without clear personal stakes.
- Diminished emotions: As Lucy’s abilities grow, her emotional responses become muted, hindering viewer connection.
- Rushed transformation: The rapid progression from ordinary to superhuman leaves little room for struggle or adaptation.
- Lack of inner conflict: The film overlooks Lucy’s internal struggles with her changing nature.
Basically, Lucy’s rapid transformation from an ordinary person to an all-powerful being doesn’t allow the audience to witness her struggle and adaptation to her newfound abilities.
A more gradual evolution, clearer motivations, and deeper exploration of her humanity could have resulted in a stronger protagonist.
Why These Attempts Often Fall Short
Simply adding traits, abilities, or backstory without thoroughly exploring the protagonist’s motivations, desires, and conflicts can lead to a main character that stays flat and unrelatable.
It might also create an imbalance, with focus shifting to less important details rather than the protagonist’s emotional journey and growth.
Strategies for Developing Dynamic Protagonists
a. Understand the protagonist’s goals:
- Create a well-rounded protagonist with depth and purpose.
In the novel and film “The Martian,” protagonist Mark Watney’s clear goal of survival on Mars drives the entire narrative. His motivations are evident through his relentless resourcefulness and problem-solving skills, from growing food to establishing communication with Earth.
Watney’s character depth shines through his ability to maintain humor in dire circumstances, while his scientific knowledge is consistently applied to overcome challenges. His gradual progression from stranded astronaut to grinding survivor showcases tangible character growth. Watney’s determination, resilience, and ingenuity, coupled with his internal struggles and moments of doubt, create an emotionally compelling journey that makes the audience care if he lives or dies.
b. Create a strong character arc:
- The protagonist’s growth and transformation are vital for engaging the reader or viewer. Consider how your protagonist will change and grow throughout the story, and use this transformation to create an emotional connection with the audience.
For example, Tony Stark’s transformation from a selfish billionaire to a self-sacrificing hero in the “Iron Man” film series and the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe is a powerful character arc that connects with audiences. His journey from a carefree playboy to a responsible leader and altruistic mentor showcases personal growth, connecting audiences in all the right ways.
c. Embrace complexity and nuance:
- Avoid relying on stereotypes or one-dimensional traits. Instead, develop protagonists with a mix of strengths, weaknesses, and internal conflicts that make them feel real and human.
In “The Godfather,” Michael Corleone’s character exemplifies complexity and nuance. Initially, Michael wants nothing to do with the family business, but he’s eventually drawn into it due to his father being shot and his deep desire to protect his family.
Michael’s transformation from a war hero to a ruthless mob boss is gradual and filled with internal conflict. His depth and slow-burn development make Michael Corleone’s character memorable and emotionally impactful.
d. Show, don’t tell:
- Use actions, dialogue, and interactions with other characters to reveal your protagonist’s traits, motivations, and emotions, rather than relying on exposition. This creates a more immersive and engaging experience for the audience.
In “The Silence of the Lambs,” Clarice Starling’s determination, intelligence, and vulnerability are revealed through her actions and conversations with both her mentor, Jack Crawford, and the manipulative Hannibal Lecter. These interactions effectively showcase her character without relying on lengthy explanations, drawing the audience into her emotional journey.
For instance, Starling’s determination is evident in her persistent questioning of Lecter, even when he attempts to unsettle her with personal observations. Her intelligence shines as she deciphers Lecter’s cryptic clues, such as the “Louis Friend” anagram.
Simultaneously, her vulnerability is exposed when Lecter probes into her childhood trauma, revealing the source of her drive to “save the lambs.” Through these nuanced interactions, the film skillfully develops Starling’s character, allowing viewers to connect with her on a deeper level without resorting to explicit exposition.
e. Incorporate relatable challenges and internal conflicts:
- A protagonist facing relatable challenges and internal struggles can help the audience believe in make-believe people.
In “The Lord of the Rings,” Frodo Baggins, an ordinary hobbit, must confront his own fears and weaknesses as he embarks on a quest to destroy the One Ring and save Middle-earth.
Frodo’s character development is powerfully illustrated through specific challenges:
- His ongoing struggle against the Ring’s corrupting influence, evident in his growing paranoia and physical deterioration.
- In the Mines of Moria, Frodo’s resilience shines as he chooses to continue the journey despite losing Gandalf, his wise guide.
- At Mount Doom, Frodo faces his ultimate test, battling the Ring’s temptation in a climactic internal conflict.
These moments showcase Frodo’s transformation from a naive hobbit to a battle-worn hero. His relatable struggles with temptation, loss, and self-doubt make his eventual triumph all the more compelling.
Use AI to Improve Your Protagonist
Now that we’ve reviewed key elements that set your hero apart, it’s time to play with AI to further develop your own hero.
AI Prompt:
// edit bold text in [brackets] //
Imagine you are a master storyteller with 20 years of experience in developing breakout narratives featuring magnetic heroes. Concentrate on the crucial aspects of clear goals, motivations, and flaws to create a multidimensional hero an audience can relate to.
Consider the following key elements for your story:
• Genre: [Insert Your Genre Here]
• Central Story Idea: [Insert Story Ideas or a Summary Here – including any details you might have in mind for the hero, antagonist, overarching storyline, etc.]
• Hero: [Insert Hero’s Name], a character who will be developed through the following aspects:
1. Clear Goal: Define a specific, measurable, and achievable goal for the hero that fits naturally into the overarching storyline.
2. Motivations: Elaborate on what fuels the hero’s actions and decisions, generating and diving into their emotions, desires, personal experiences, relationships, or societal influences.
3. Flaws: Identify the flaws of the hero that make them human and relatable, such as self-doubt or vulnerability, and how these flaws present challenges in their journey.
Your task is to flesh out these elements into a detailed character sketch and narrative. As you develop the story, consider how the hero’s goal, motivations, and flaws intersect and evolve throughout the narrative. How do these aspects influence their personal growth and the story’s progression? Detail how these elements are revealed and tested throughout the story, ensuring that the hero’s journey is integral to the narrative and drives the story forward.