Writing as a Protagonist’s journey

Most stories involve a Protagonist going on a journey. Whether it’s physical, spiritual, geographical, symbolic or all of the above, a writer almost always puts their story’s central character on a psychological road trip from hell.

And in a mysterious sort of synergy, a writer goes through their own journey in writing a story… and their own version of hell.

A Protagonist will confront complications.
So will we.

A Protagonist will face roadblocks.
So will we.

A Protagonist will have to overcome reversals.
So will we.

I’m not just talking about the common vicissitudes of the writing process. I’m talking about real life.

You type FADE IN, suddenly your car develops a mysterious engine problem. You charge into Act One and you contract pneumonia. If you’ve never been audited by the IRS, it will happen when you’re deep into writing the trickiest part of your script’s second act.

What is up with that?

I have a theory. As writers, we identify so closely with our story’s lead character, our lives begin to reflect the ups-and-downs of our Protagonist’s experience.

Pain in the ass, yes. But believe it or not, there is a benefit to this crazy bit of synchronicity.

We endure the troubles we do in our real lives in order to help us connect more deeply with our Protagonist, thus enabling us to understand them — and write them — better.

They go on a journey that pushes them to the limit.
We go on a journey that pushes us to the limit.

So how is this a writing mantra?

Just to let you know when you put your Protagonist in harm’s way…
You can expect some harm to come your way, too.

It goes with the territory. It’s our own Protagonist’s journey.

So the next time you are writing a story and…
You struggle with things not going your way…
You can’t figure out this string of seeming bad luck with events in your life…
You have to scramble to keep your mood afloat…
You see no end in sight…

Just consider the course of your story’s Protagonist.

Where they go…
You will follow.
And as difficult as that path is…
It’s the only path you can traverse…
On your Protagonist’s journey.