Photo by Tim van Cleef on Unsplash
Character descriptions often focus on information that is interesting and even captivating but won’t necessarily assist the writer to send a clear signal with their story. We’re looking for details that enact the vision of the story’s essence and support sending the message that’s most important to us. What does that mean? We want to find the details that make our protagonist the right one for this story.
Just as we ask about the important qualities of the story world, we ask, what are five to ten important qualities of the protagonist? Consider why the aspects listed below matter to these stories.
Examples
The Hobbit - Bilbo
He’s a hobbit, a small and peaceful group of people who enjoy the comforts of home.
Bilbo is at the top of the social hierarchy in Hobbiton and leads a quiet, conventional, and comfortable life.
His father is a Baggins (very respectable); his mother is a Took (attracted to adventures).
He is a 50-year-old bachelor but is not yet elderly.
He has a family connection to Gandalf.
Pride and Prejudice - Elizabeth Bennet
She is single.
She is the second of five sisters.
She and her sisters can’t inherit her father’s estate.
She lives in Meryton where there are few unmarried men of good fortune.
She has firm ideas about who would and would not make a good husband.
The Body in the Library - Miss Jane Marple
She is an unmarried elderly woman.
She has lived in the small village of St. Mary Mead for a long time.
She is well-connected within her village, with acquaintances in different levels of society.
She has several nieces and nephews.
She is curious about human nature.
This post is part of a 75-day writing challenge and experiment. From September 9 through November 22, I'll be posting daily thoughts on writing, storytelling, and creativity based on recent readings or reflections. While my intention was to keep them very short—250 to 400 words—I've found that this range doesn't give me enough space to cover these topics adequately. I aim to keep them brief enough to be read quickly, but they will often be longer than 400 words.
At the end of the challenge, I will organize and revise the material with intention. For now, the object is to explore and share.