Writing tip: let’s talk about the INACTIVE PROTAGONIST. I’ve seen a lot of amazing books lately with incredible plots, intricate worlds, and just really great writing with one recurring issue, which is the inactive protagonist. I think it can get tough when you’re writing (1/10)
a big world, making sure your world building is there, your minor characters don’t fall flat, etc, & we can get an amazing story with one key component missing: an active protagonist. A lot of times, these protagonists will have motivations and they’ll be great characters (2/10)
but instead of moving the plot, they’re reacting to it. I read a great synopsis thread once that talked about your synopsis shouldn’t be a series of “and then’sit should be a series of “because,” and that because needs to come primarily from your protagonist. (3/10)
They react to the inciting incident, and then the plot needs to be reacting to them. They are your protagonist for a reason. This is their story, and in order for it to feel like its theirs, in order for your reader to fall into it headfirst—they have to own it. (4/10)
It’s not enough to want something; the protagonist needs to be actively seeking it. And I see a lot of this in the form of “oh they’re just looking for a sense of belonging” (trust me, I’ve done it too) and that leads to a very internal, borderline stagnant story (5/10)