3 Things I Love in a Protagonist

We all look for different things when reading a book.

Some people appreciate an elaborate world, like that in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings; others find such details distracting. Some enjoy it when an author ‘breaks the rules’ with their plotline.

Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a book people either love or do not. It breaks so many storytelling rules that I found it confusing. I much preferred his books Stardust and Neverwhere (check out my review of Neverwhere here!)

I pay most attention to two things in books: writing style and characters. In general, I can forgive a bland plot if it’s well-written and the protagonist is sympathetic. That’s not to imply that other elements (setting, description, believability) are unimportant.

In the end, storytelling is the ability to bend these things into something different that works. That said, here are traits I most appreciate in characters.

Flaws that Make them Human

I want to read about relatable protagonists. Humans make poor decisions. We can, and do, blurt out things we regret. We arrive late to meetings and have a tendency for laziness.

Note: You can have a main character who is a diligent worker and never shows up late. Compensate for that with something else, like self-esteem issues or the human defect of pride.

Mary-Sue characters do not stay long in my memory. I have nothing to learn from them or their journeys. I have no way of applying their perfection to my life.

If a character does not shape me in some way with their choices, I do not love or hate them; quite simply, I will forget.

Love to Guide their Choices

This does not necessarily mean romantic love.

A good character will care for someone other than themselves, be it a sibling, pet dog, or dragon (genre depending). Is there another breathing creature that they would do anything for? Is there a person whose loss would destroy them? If the answer is no, then I do not see myself liking them.

Even my favorite villains have somebody they care for. It often explains their actions—stealing to provide for a family, killing to avenge a loved one.

Characters must care for somebody; otherwise, how will I care for them?

Goals to Make them Stronger

A good story follows the protagonist as they move towards their objective. Frodo must destroy the ring; Harry must defeat Voldemort. However, a character does not always need such a dramatic goal in order to be motivated.

They can want something so common as romance—a wedding, a future with someone special—or a promotion at work. Rest can also be a goal, if years have passed since their last holiday.

I try to write characters with goals, and not all of them are dramatic as defeat the villain. So long as it motivates the character to take risks and leave their comfort zone, it is sufficient.

A character that needs nothing does not have much of a story.

These are, of course, my personal preferences. We all read differently and appreciate various qualities in our protagonists.

Feel free to comment and tell me what you look for in a character. Do you agree or disagree with any of these points? I’m eager to hear it!