Creating a Relatable Protagonist

Creating a character who deeply connects with readers requires more than just their personality traits. It involves how you introduce and develop the character throughout your story allowing readers to see through their perspective and form an bond with their journey. Here are some alternative approaches;

• Touch on themes; Incorporate themes, like love, justice, freedom and personal growth that are universally understood. Weave these themes into your protagonists narrative to establish a connection with the reader.
• Explore struggles; Introduce everyday challenges that readers can easily relate to. Whether its dealing with family dynamics navigating work life or grappling with anxiety by delving into the aspects of life you foster a sense of kinship between the reader and the protagonist.
• Complex personality; than presenting a one character gradually unveil different layers of your protagonists personality over time. This depth keeps readers engaged and eager to discover more about them.
• Shared human experiences; Place your protagonist in situations that reflect experiences such, as the tribulations of growing up facing setbacks or failures or navigating the highs and lows of relationships.
• Specificity; Incorporating the protagonists practices and perspectives can create a captivating character who offers a glimpse into a different way of life even if not everyone is familiar, with it.
• Advocate for justice; Protagonists who take a stand against injustices or prevalent issues can earn the admiration and support of readers.
• Active engagement; Make your proactive than reactive. A character who makes decisions and takes action in the world of reacting to it tends to be more captivating and easier to root for.
• Dilemmas; Confront them with choices that challenge their ethical beliefs. How they navigate these dilemmas can make readers more sympathetic and invested in their journey.
• Characteristics; Quirks and unique habits can bring an element of authenticity and endearment making a protagonist genuinely likable.
• Writing with empathy; Craft your protagonist with empathy, fully understanding and conveying their emotions, desires and fears. It's not just about their qualities as a character. How you, as an author depict and narrate their story.

Craft your story using a narrative voice that allows readers to intimately access the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist. This approach helps establish a connection, between readers and the character.

Add an air of mystery by keeping aspects of your protagonist hidden creating intrigue that entices readers to delve deeper into understanding the character.

Highlight the capabilities and competence of your character whether its related to their profession, hobbies or personal quest. This portrayal makes them admirable and aspirational capturing the interest and positive sentiments of readers.

The key to creating an relatable protagonist lies in finding a balance between authenticity and complexity. The character should embody emotions and struggles. In a manner that is uniquely their own prompting readers to emotionally invest in their journey.

Recommended Resources

Here are some recommended books on writing and developing characters;

• "Characters & Viewpoint" by Orson Scott Card; Provides an in depth exploration of character creation techniques. Selecting the effective perspective for narrating their story.
• "Writing for Emotional Impact" by Karl Iglesias; Offers insights on how to evoke responses, from readers through writing techniques.

Here are some resources to help you enhance the connection of your characters and stories;

• "The Writers Journey; Mythic Structure, for Writers" by Christopher Vogler offers insights into storytelling from a structure perspective, which can assist in creating protagonists that resonate universally.

Online Resources for Writers

• The Reedsy Blog (https://blog.reedsy.com/) features a range of articles on character development and storytelling techniques.
• Write to Done (https://writetodone.com/) is a resource with various posts aimed at assisting writers in improving their craft including tips on crafting engaging characters.
• Well Storied (https://www.well storied.com/) provides guides and resources for writers offering advice on character creation and development.

These resources can be beneficial, in honing your skills as a writer and capturing the depth of your characters and stories.