Passive protagonist, how to drive plot?

Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by Entiter, Oct 21, 2015.

  1. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    I'm with Inks here. Your protag needs to find a reason to dig her heals into the sand and stop being the direct object to all the verbs in the story. She needs a reason. Reason.
     
  2. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    A protagonist is the person the story is 'about.' This person does not have to be actively making events happen. Indeed, this person may very well be passive as all get-out. And the person might not even change during the course of the story.

    To make this story interesting, and this character interesting, the key is to get inside her head. What is the worst thing that can happen to her? What is the best thing that can happen to her? What does she wish for? What does she think and feel, while others are calling the shots? As far as 'antagonist' goes, it could even be the other half of herself. The half that wants to be different? Whichever half wins is down to you, the storyteller.

    Ask yourself what is the purpose of your story? Why are you writing about this person, and what do you want to happen? Is there a lesson here? Once you've answered that question for yourself, then write with that purpose in your mind.

    A character is only dull if the readers don't understand their point of view. Make us understand her point of view—even if it is flawed—and you'll have us on board, even if the train doesn't ultimately go anywhere.
     
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  3. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Oooo... :bigsmile: Miss Jan is singin' my song, baby! :agreed:
     
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  4. Renee J

    Renee J Senior Member

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    A shy, introvert doesn't mean passive. They just need a goal and a plan. For example, one could write a story about a character trying to leave a party. She just wants to go home, but things keep standing in her way.

    Figure out what your character wants while all these things happen to her/him. Do they want to go home? Do they have a desire to help? That will drive the story if they are the main character.
     
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  5. Mallett

    Mallett New Member

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    A passive protagonist is a protagonist without goals. If they don't have goals, they've got nothing to achieve and nothing to overcome and can't drive a plot. So in that sense they are not really a protagonist at all. If you have a shy and introvert protagonist, you still have to give them goals and let them chase those goals from the point of view of an introvert, shy character which could mean their ways of chasing their goals might be clumsy and not crowned with success, but by trying with their limited abilities they can still drive the plot forward.
     

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