So You Want to be a Main Character

12 March 2010 | Filed Under Characters 

Do you have exciting adventures on a regular basis? Do random events always revolve around you and your past? Do you consistently best adults who are better trained and skilled than you? Do you have a powerful – albeit selectively vulnerable – enemy? Do all around you affirm that yes, you are incredibly awesome?

Congratulations! You might have what it takes to be a Protagonist!

The Main Character is the hero or heroine of the story. You might not be clad in shining armor or get a cool sword, but you’re darn special. And everyone knows it.

Being the Main Character is more than basking in the glory of adoring readers, however. Heck, you might not get any. Did you know most people’s favorite character in Harry Potter is not our young hero?

As the Main Character, you’re going to have to be prepared for pain. The Author is going to dish out as much physical and mental abuse as possible for the sake of “character development.” Are you ready to deal with that?

Don’t think it’ll help you survive the body count either. Sure, you’ll make it to the end of the book – but who says you’ll make it past that? Too many Main Characters have died in the service of the “dramatic climax.” Some Main Characters are dead from page 1. (Lovely Bones anyone?)

There are some special perks. You’ll get the girl – or guy – eventually. Hopefully. Unless they die instead. Or end up hating you forever. Or marry your best friend. You never liked that guy anyway.

You don’t even get the best lines. Those are reserved for your former best friend, the plucky comic relief. At worst, you’ll get stuck trading puns with the villain.

And 99% of the time, the reader is going to be privy to all of your innermost thoughts. You know the ones. Yeah, those.

So even after knowing all that – still want to be a Main Character?

Comments

3 Responses to “So You Want to be a Main Character”

  1. Galadriel on August 8th, 2010 5:43 pm

    Loren, MC of my first story: Why didn’t I get to know this beforehand? I never would have signed up if I’d known–*I clamp a hand over her mouth*
    Don’t go sharing secrets, please. My charries are difficult enought…

  2. Jenn on August 8th, 2010 7:19 pm

    So sorry. I felt my characters should know what they’re getting into. It saves many “why me?” questions down the road. ;)

  3. The Trouble with Casting Characters | A Single Bell on January 31st, 2011 12:05 am

    [...] A quick glance and it’s clear it’s not for you. Who wants to deal with that much crap? [...]

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    Hi, I'm Jenn, new grad student and old YA fantasy writer. I've long dreamed of being a novelist, and I bet you have too. I hope you find my blog helpful, inspiring, and maybe just a little bit fun. (But not too much fun. Writing is serious business, you know.)

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