The Working Protagonist (and Antagonist, Too)
Phred wrote “Nope. This is the one with a PR person and a neurology professor,” and it made me think of how we remember romances (and Friends): Protagonist and the Love Interest. Which makes sense, although we don’t think of mysteries as Detective and Victim, we think of them as Detective and Murderer, which makes sense: the relationship is the key, the push and pull of both sides as they get to know each other, zero in on each other. Love and death.
Where was I?
So then, because my mind has the focus span of a fruit fly and I am extremely self-centered, I started thinking about the careers of protagonists in my books.
PR person and resort handyman.
Teacher and cop.
Teacher and lawyer.
I forget and detective.
Editor and ER doc.
I forget and professor. (Jewelry designer? Storyteller?)
Journalist and agent.
I forget and accountant.
Teacher and mechanic.
Videographer and mayor.
Muralist and conman.
Secretary and detective.
Video store clerk and mechanic.
Professor and resurrected god.
Director and military guy (Army?)
Food writer and hitman
I forget and professor/agent
Restorer and retired military
Teacher and lawyer.
And then WIP:
Teacher and cop (Zo)
Waitress and cop (Cat)
Ghost writer and cop (Liz)
Poison expert and lawyer (Zelda)
Jewelry store clerk and thief (Courtney)
Jewelry store clerk and thief (Darcy)
Lepidopterist and magician (Alice)
Gallery manager and agent (Nadine)
Waitress and artist (Lily)
Museum educator and agent (Anna)
Cop and Satan’s fixer (Nita)
Okay, it’s a little disconcerting that the most common profession for my heroine is “I forget,” but probably more disconcerting that there so many crooks–well, thieves and conmen–in my heroes list, not to mention the magician and the guy who’s pretending to be a detective for a year. I may have issues.
But it does remind me that careers/jobs are important, and not just because they say so much about the character. They also provide a community (good and bad) and an explanation of economic power and a recurring setting. I think my favorite will always be Mare from The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, ruling over that Value Video!! with a iron fist and the sure knowledge that she’s Queen of her Universe. She was so much fun to write when she was on the job, especially when the frog from corporate showed up. That’s the best character/job matchup I’ve ever done, I think. Although I’m good with teachers, too; I taught for decades so it’s something I know. Everything else I have to make up. Well, not waitressing. I was a car hop/waitress at the Happy Humpty in Wapakoneta Ohio between high school and college (picture a giant egg sitting on the sign).
Where was I?
Right, careers for heroines. Super important. Heroes equally so. So let’s talk about this. What’s your favorite protagonist/career match-up?
