Your Storytelling Superpower -- Crafting a Character Readers Will Love

Your Storytelling Superpower -- Crafting a Character Readers Will Love:

Every character in literature falls into one of two types. No matter how nuanced or multi-faceted your protagonist may be, at her most basic she is either an everyman or a larger-than-life hero.

The everyman protagonist—or what I like to call the “ordinary Joe (or Jane)”—is a regular guy going about his regular life, until something happens that turns his world upside down. The ordinary Joe is an unlikely hero, caught in extraordinary circumstances and despite being out of his league, he eventually rises beyond his ordinariness and does something astonishing. While at first glance the everyman might not be anything special, with the right motivation he can become a hero.

At the other extreme we have the larger-than-life hero. This character is so powerful and amazing, she seems almost perfect. We already know all the incredible things this character can do, so instead the key with making this character come to life is to show a hint of vulnerability, a chink in the armor. After all, even Superman has his kryptonite.