It’s time for another discussion! This week, following on from Rachel’s wonderful article on the difference between picture and chapter books, we’re wondering:
Was your protagonist always up to mischief? Did they go on any adventures? Or did they fly under the radar?
The main protagonist in my manuscript Sabine's Diary, for which I am seeking an agent, is a fanatic Nazi teenage girl who used to beat her little brother with a stick. The plot takes place during World War II and afterwards in Berlin.
I have a brace of protagonists who don’t always do what they’re told. Irwen is a plucky individual with a predilection for scaling the tallest trees, the sheerest walls and the highest roofs. Her twin brother Thomas, loves swimming, preferably in some icy waterway. At the age of fourteen, realising these activities are not followed by other children, they begin questioning their protective and by now, exasperated guardian.
Mischief: Growing up = Call him a Beach Rat & Yacht Club Brat, swimming, surfing, sailing, rowdy, brash-kiss the girls and make em' cry -always on the edge.
Adventures: <youth> His parents enrolled him in the Jr. Lifeguard program to keep him out of trouble = allot of rescues, adventures, face to face w/ real life & death, team work- he excelled into a professional & team leader.
Fly under the Radar: He does now* = focused, cool, calm, sense of humor, happily married, leading & inspiring the next generation (SAR) Sea rescue squad. Dealing w/ climate change, migrants, traffickers, tourist, etc.
P.s. Rachel & Team Corner Stones: Knowing the demographics (target) of the story is so important & for me was an eye opener. I went deep on this with some help = 18yrs + 65% Woman. Median Age 35-55. That got versions & short stories published in some magazines & online journals in 2 Asian languages, Arabic, Spanish+. Info/data & inspiration to finish the MS.... Thank your for this Blog! (I learn allot here)... & yes I did get some product/content sponsors (permission) = to use brands & product names in the story.....
The first liked to escape the family mansion's walls and explore the outside world and never could understand why people tried to stop him being curious.
The second used to love spending time with his milk-sister and his animals.
My novel's main protagonist is a rather messed-up 38 y.o., and not much is said about his childhood, except he was a shy, introverted kid, and loved skiing and mountaineering. But I do point out he loved to be close to his mother as a very young child ...
Finding his way around the hidden parts of a large country house and thereby creating a way of memorising and mapping any unknown space.
Presumably this would come in very useful later?
Very!
The main protagonist in my manuscript Sabine's Diary, for which I am seeking an agent, is a fanatic Nazi teenage girl who used to beat her little brother with a stick. The plot takes place during World War II and afterwards in Berlin.
I have a brace of protagonists who don’t always do what they’re told. Irwen is a plucky individual with a predilection for scaling the tallest trees, the sheerest walls and the highest roofs. Her twin brother Thomas, loves swimming, preferably in some icy waterway. At the age of fourteen, realising these activities are not followed by other children, they begin questioning their protective and by now, exasperated guardian.
Mischief: Growing up = Call him a Beach Rat & Yacht Club Brat, swimming, surfing, sailing, rowdy, brash-kiss the girls and make em' cry -always on the edge.
Adventures: <youth> His parents enrolled him in the Jr. Lifeguard program to keep him out of trouble = allot of rescues, adventures, face to face w/ real life & death, team work- he excelled into a professional & team leader.
Fly under the Radar: He does now* = focused, cool, calm, sense of humor, happily married, leading & inspiring the next generation (SAR) Sea rescue squad. Dealing w/ climate change, migrants, traffickers, tourist, etc.
P.s. Rachel & Team Corner Stones: Knowing the demographics (target) of the story is so important & for me was an eye opener. I went deep on this with some help = 18yrs + 65% Woman. Median Age 35-55. That got versions & short stories published in some magazines & online journals in 2 Asian languages, Arabic, Spanish+. Info/data & inspiration to finish the MS.... Thank your for this Blog! (I learn allot here)... & yes I did get some product/content sponsors (permission) = to use brands & product names in the story.....
Ref: https://www.abctales.com/user/kris
I have two protagonists:
The first liked to escape the family mansion's walls and explore the outside world and never could understand why people tried to stop him being curious.
The second used to love spending time with his milk-sister and his animals.
Drawing on the walls, the wrinkled grey trunk of an elephant
My novel's main protagonist is a rather messed-up 38 y.o., and not much is said about his childhood, except he was a shy, introverted kid, and loved skiing and mountaineering. But I do point out he loved to be close to his mother as a very young child ...