Character Development: Protagonists

[Brittney]

Hi All!

I have a few general questions- open for anyone who wants to respond. I'm just looking for honest opinions about the types of characters that get you hooked in a book!

Not everyone will relate to a book's protagonist... but in order to get hooked, I feel like you need to connect with them on *some* level... or at least feel something towards them.


How do you feel about a protagonist that starts off cold and distant?
Lets say he/she doesn't have much to believe in, doesn't care for much- and isn't willing to sacrifice much. Even though you could guess that a character arc will take place- would this type of character frustrate you? (Even if they had reason to be the way that they are?)

Let's say you are game for a cold protagonist. What are some qualities that would help you connect with them, despite this?

What are some of your least favorite qualities in a protagonist?

I'm asking because I'm working on developing some of my own... and I really value different opinions, however varying they may be.

[Grace]

I really love protagonists who are cold and distant, as long as I have some glimpse into who they are under their cold, distant mask; but if I'm not shown any reason to care about them and their cold distantness, I most likely won't.
:)

[Brittney]

Grace wrote: "I really love protagonists who are cold and distant, as long as I have some glimpse into who they are under their cold, distant mask; but if I'm not shown any reason to care about them and their co..."

Thanks!! Glad to hear there is some interest in that. Totally agree with you.

[Dwayne]

How do you feel about a protagonist that starts off cold and distant?

Difficult to say. That's just one aspect of a character. If this is all there is to the character, I would find them flat and one-dimensional. Characters who are cold and distant can and do work well. I would not be put off by a character who is cold and distant.

What are some qualities that would help you connect with them, despite this?

Okay. As a writer, for me to connect to a character, I have to give them some huge part of me. A facet of my personality, similar experiences, a strongly held belief, etc. I do not want them to be my exact clone, of course, but as long as we have some major thing in common. As for characters in a book I'm reading... I don't know. Maybe if I find them believable? Maybe if I like their sense of humor? Maybe if they're eccentric on some delightful way? There's many possible things.

What are some of your least favorite qualities in a protagonist?

It's the same for any character. If they feel too much like a caricature, too clichéd, not rounded enough, not enough depth to them, if they come across like they're only in the book for one purpose, flat dialogue, characters with constantly changing personalities, etc.

[P.I.]

My main protagonist Alekzander Brede in my latest novel is a cold half-human who hates his human side and tries to bury it. However, my female protagonist Elektra Tate, who is all human loves him no matter what he does or doesn't do. Their relationship grows over time and over a lot of horrific personal trauma for them both and he finally realizes that he cannot destroy his human side and that is the reason he keeps her around. When I started The Brede Chronicles, Book One, I wanted to create a truly hate-able hero and a scamp of a female to pit against him. I was so pleased that reviewers "got it" it made my day every time it was reviewed!
All characters have to have something readers can relate to in some way regardless genre. I never do any type of character charts, I just find a name that fits and an idea of what I want in my characters and how they need to get where they need to get. Does that help?