What Drives Your Main Character?

What makes them tick, what do they fear, what do they crave?

A protagonist isn’t just a name, a background, and a few quirks.

Your protagonist needs a goal that drives the story. “They want to be successful” doesn’t cut it.

Do they want recognition in their field? Do they search for personal redemption? Are they obsessed with proving something to a parent, a mentor, or even themselves?

A detective doesn’t just want to solve a case. They hunt the one criminal who slipped through their fingers years ago. Their career is on the line. Maybe they reveal secrets tied to their past.

Once you nail down their goal, figure out the obstacles. External conflicts (rivals, societal pressures, physical dangers) and internal struggles (doubts, fears, guilt) make reaching their goal feel impossible, until it’s not.

Everyone has fears. Fear isn’t just phobias. It’s what they stand to lose.

They fear being alone, even though their behavior pushes people away. They fear failure, so they never take risks. They fear confronting their past, although avoiding it will destroy their future.

Give your character a weakness that interferes with their ability to succeed. This weakness challenges them throughout the story. If an expert strategist, their downfall is being too cautious. If fiercely independent, their arc forces them to rely on others.

A protagonist’s strengths is more than talents. It’s not if they’re good at sword fighting or hacking computers. It’s how they endure.

What makes them admirable? Their loyalty? Their resilience? Their ability to find humor in dark times? Deeply flawed characters need something redeeming. Readers don’t have to like them, but they need to understand them.

Walter White from Breaking Bad is intelligent and determined. This makes him compelling, even as his choices become morally questionable.

Stories thrive on change. Overcoming fears, growing stronger, or falling apart. Their arc has highs and lows, moments where they feel on top and moments where they hit rock bottom.

Experiences shape them. Do they become hardened or more vulnerable? Do they learn to trust or become distrustful? Do they use their strengths or let fears consume them?

A character begins their journey by avoiding confrontation. After facing multiple hardships, they finally stand their ground. Or they start as selfish, only to realize the importance of helping others.

Readers don’t just connect with characters because they’re heroic. We connect when we understand why the character makes the choices they do.

If your protagonist makes mistakes, we should see why they made them. Give us insight into their internal struggles. What they tell themselves, what they refuse to admit, how they justify their decisions.

Want your character to feel alive? Show contradictions in their personality. They’re confident in public but anxious in private. They claim not to care about others, yet quietly go out of their way to help.

Let them make mistakes. Let them fail. Let them struggle. Make sure every choice pushes the story forward.