As writers, we take time to get to know what kind of “hero” the protagonist of our story is. We get to know their wants, their needs, their hopes, their fears, and how they’ll respond to certain situations. We look at the world they live in, the people they’re surrounded by. We identify their allies and their foes. And while we might not know exactly how their story ends, we have a pretty good idea of what potential victory or defeat looks like.
When it comes to our own journey, however, we end up wandering in circles, feeling stuck, or wondering why it seems like every decision we make goes ill. Why? Because we haven’t taken the time to get to know our stories…or more importantly the protagonist of our stories, ourselves. It’s time for that to change.
Like our characters, we have a dream. We want to write a book (or many books) and see it published. But with that dream also comes the doubts: “Am I qualified?” “Is it worth the risk?” “Do I have what it takes to succeed?” and perhaps, “Where do I even start?”
I began by looking at the different hero types that appear in the stories that have impacted me the most. To keep things simple, I broke them down into four types: the Reluctant Hero, the Reckless Hero, the Reclusive Hero, and the Romantic Hero.
As I studied each type I began asking, if I were to look at my writing journey as the story arc of a book I was sitting down to draft out, what kind of protagonist would I be? What are some of the strengths I can use to my advantage, and what are some of the pitfalls I need to be aware of?
I shared my initial findings on Instagram, which resulted in an invitation to be a guest blogger on the topic for The Spinning Pen and I address this concept more in-depth in my recently released e-book, The Writer as The Protagonist.
My goal with this series of posts is to help you answer the same question about who you are as a writer. Chances are, like me, you’ll see a little bit of each of the hero types in yourself, but you may also discover you resonate more with one than you do the others. This is by no means an exact science, but I do hope that you’ll find something in these posts that encourages you to begin looking at your writing journey as just that—a journey filled with all the same highs and lows, hopes and fears, and struggles and victories as the characters you love writing about.
I invite you to grab a notebook and pen as you work your way through each post. And don’t forget your favorite beverage and snack, because as with any journey…you’re going to want a little substance to aid you along the way!
—Jen