Donald Maas continued talking about the three kinds of protagonists in a novel during his all-day workshop in Dedham.
First, the Everyman/Everywoman: what are their characteristics: are they good, strong, admirable, fun, notable? What is active or noble, positive about this character? Then give them a fatal flaw, something that trips them up on their way to their goal. This adds interest and conflict to the story.
Second, is the Hero/ine: put them in the way of danger, Maas encourages. Give them high authority, a problem or job with action and possible danger (like police, seals, high government position, etc). Give them a characteristic, something that makes them a ‘regular” type folk (like a tick, puts glasses in a strange place, can jump out of an airplane but never learned to Parallel Park). Then build the character into a bigger than life person to attack a problem.
The third type of protagonist in a novel is the dark protagonist, the anti-hero. He’s dark, haunted, wounded, self-loathing, or actually inhuman (shape-shifter, fallen angel, werewolf).
Finally, Maas encourages the writer to illustrate one important characteristic of the protagonist in the first five pages by SHOWING how he responds in one particular situation. This sets in our mind the type of person the protagonist is. How do we see the longing, desire, and need of this character? Is there something symbolic that the writer can show us to illustrate what this character hopes for, needs, wants? “Make the reader FEEL the longing for change, or normalcy,” Mass said.
Now write it!
Creatively,
christina