\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
BY ONLINE AUTHORS
Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7743-The-Lone-Protagonist.html
Action/Adventure: July 13, 2016 Issue [#7743]

Newsletter Header
Action/Adventure


 This week: The Lone Protagonist
  Edited by: Storm Machine Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

“You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, you find out who they really are.”
― Joss Whedon

“The trouble with writing fiction is that it has to make sense, whereas real life doesn't.”
― Iain M. Banks


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07B63CTKX
Amazon's Price: $ 6.99


Letter from the editor

Many of the stories we read have an entire cast of characters. Think Lord of the Rings - an entire company to help Frodo on his way. Even when Frodo thinks he needs to go off on his own because of the danger, Sam goes with him.

However, some stories require a long period of time where the protagonist is alone. Remember Castaway? Tom Hanks was alone on that island for a very long time - except when he befriended the volleyball. While that was odd, it was a strategy to make him seem less on his own.

I've been reading an anthology, and the main character from one story has lost the other two members of her crew when the story opens. Because she's in the future, her tech allowed her to create a ghost of one of her team members, and that ghost speaks to her through her space suit. He was neither complete nor trusted due to lack of memory and insufficient time to build him. The unreliable ghost gave her someone to interact with and made us question all of her decisions, too, while she ran for her life.

Letters are another way to explain things that are going on, and some stories are told nearly entirely this way. A lone protagonist might recount his adventures to someone else, and the readers might never see a response. I've read a few stories that did this, and the Martian is the newest big example of this. The Martian uses a video log, and we only see when he chooses to update it. So a few days (sols) might pass between entries, and that's fine. It allows us to pass through the boring stuff quickly.

Memories often intrude when we're alone, and that can be another way to break things up. The memories come at points where we are struggling with that lone protaginst, and they allow us something to hold on to while the protagonist is stuck in a specific spot.

Nonhuman characters make a great counterpoint, whether they're intelligent or not. It might be a pet dragon (How to Train Your Dragon) or a skittish bird who won't come to your hand.

What do all of these have in common? Bringing actions to your protagonist while they're alone. A specific job or set of things that must be done can carry the protagonist through a period alone, but when that period extends past that list - it might be time to employ some extra ideas to keep the narrative moving.



Editor's Picks

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2089626 by Not Available.

 
STATIC
The Key Open in new Window. (18+)
There are two kinds of dreams....
#2089567 by Author Ed Anderson Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2089410 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2089240 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2089238 by Not Available.

 The Moonstone Open in new Window. (E)
Knight Addison gives Rachel a Moonstone
#2089033 by Purple Princess Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2088110 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2087871 by Not Available.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: 1945043032
Amazon's Price: $ 13.94


Ask & Answer


Monty Author Icon
Thank you for an interesting News Letter.
         Thank you.

willwilcox
A very poignant article. Good job! *Cool*
         Appreciated.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07B63CTKX
Amazon's Price: $ 6.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7743-The-Lone-Protagonist.html