The Ultimate Guide to Writing

The Protagonist

Ah yes,the protagonist. 

The main character who drives the story.I quite enjoy coming up with my own. (even though I'm currently obsessed with fanfictions) 

Now a lot of thought and consideration has to go into this. 

THINGS NEEDED FOR A PROTAGONIST:

• A name 

• A backstory 

• Physcial feautures 

• Personality

Coming up with names is sometimes a struggle! 

So here's a tip: If you want an orginal name,you can take two name you already like,and combine them. 

For instance: 

Azura + Lila =  Azula! 

Like that! See? 

Or if you want a more meaningful name,you can always go find a language and search up for a specific word which re!ates to the protagonist. Think about Yu-Gi-Oh!, the protagonist,Yugi Moto.Let's dive into the etymology.It's origin is from Japanese Kanji which translates into: 'King of games.' So for those of you who are completely clueless because you don't know what I'm rambling about, Yu-Gi-Oh! Is an anime which follows the journey of high schooler Yugi Moto who discovers the millennium puzzle which unleashes an ancient spirit,and they share custody of his bod.Yugi goes on a quest to help the spirit recover his lost memories and return home. 

But here's another alternative: You can just search up girl/boy names. 

But then comes the backstory,what makes them tick? 

What events impact their life? 

If your protagonist is cold,and secretive,maybe their parents died in a car crash? 

But coming up with their personality ties in with this also.So,if your protagonist is an orphan,and lives on the streets,you can expect them to be ecstatic and joyful. Rather distressed,hopeless and depressed.But Physcial feautures are quite easy,they don't necessarily have to tie in with anything! 

That's the beauty of of it❤️ 

But then,your character might not be the standard protagonist.Which is why we have Anti-heroes.So,what exactly do these terms mean?

The definition of an anti-hero is somebody who lacks the virtues and traits of a traditional hero, such as courage and confidence. They can be morally ambiguous in their thinking and actions. However, when it comes to the anti-hero, the audience is rooting for them anyway. That's because they do the right thing, but maybe not for the right reasons. They have good intentions, but how they arrive at their conclusion or results can be questionable

The Corrupt Protagonist:

Example of the corrupt protagonist: Thomas Shelby, Peaky Blinders.

A corrupt protagonist will typically act out of self-interest and might be obsessed with motivations such as power, wealth and fame. For the reader to understand and sympathise with this type of anti-hero, the reasons for their corruption must be clear and logical. Another example is Walter White in Breaking Bad. He's a normal guy with a normal life at the start of the series – but his obsession with money and power, instigated by his cancer diagnosis, leads to his downward spiral.

The Classical Anti-Hero:

Example of the classical anti-hero: Frodo Baggins, Lord of The Rings. 

A traditional hero is confident and intelligent, with few flaws and weaknesses. Therefore, the classical anti-hero is the opposite and is plagued by self-doubt and a lack of confidence. Readers enjoy the complexity that comes with a layered character who is flawed and conflicted. Traditionally, the story arc will follow the classical anti-hero conquering their fears and coming to terms with themselves and their faults to fight and conquer whatever is threatening them. 

The Unscrupulous Hero

Example of the unscrupulous hero: Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Heroes in this category have good intentions, and they're morally good. However, they don't care how much collateral damage they cause when they fight to achieve their goals. If your hero is unscrupulous, they'll be motivated by revenge and will typically be distrusting. Jack Sparrow is a great example of this as he's ultimately fighting on the good side. 

Example of a hero in name only: Dexter Morgan, Dexter.

These protagonists tiptoe along the line of a hero and a villain. The reader will still be on their side and root for them, but they won't necessarily agree with all their actions and decisions. These characters are on the side of good, but they're not entirely good themselves.