The Art of Pairing Your Protagonist with Their Plot

Not unlike a Matchmaker, your job is to match your hero to their story.

Just like fine wine and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, or peas in a pod, your protagonist and plot should form a pairing so harmonious it's irresistible. Not every protagonist is compatible with every storyline, and that’s a good thing—unique characters need equally unique plots. If your narrative feels like it could fit any generic character, it likely lacks the specificity that makes stories memorable. But how do you ensure that your leading character and plot align seamlessly to create a compelling narrative? The key lies in crafting a protagonist whose goals, flaws, and personality traits are intricately tied to the story’s central conflict, ensuring the plot couldn’t exist without them.

A story must be specifically challenging to its protagonist.

By designing a protagonist whose personal stakes are embedded in the core of your story, you make the narrative feel inevitable yet fresh. Think about how their background, desires, and challenges shape the trajectory of the plot. A mismatched character and plot can dilute your story's impact, while the perfect pairing captivates readers and keeps them invested from the opening scene to the final chapter.

What is the role of the Protagonist?

More so than their critical role as the focal point for the story, the protagonist serves one very important purpose. They are the vehicle through which the reader will transit your story. Their observations, opinions, and analysis of the world around them will inform your reader. While it is possible for a protagonist to remain stagnant in the face of the external plot points, most readers are looking for a story that deeply changes the hero as it progresses.

As the plot points occur, the protagonist faces external obstacles which challenge their internal beliefs. Often they refuse to change for the majority of the story as the cling to their false belief for safety. In order to for them to experience a meaningful arc of change, the story must force them to confront this false belief by using plot points to teach the protagonist the story theme. To learn more about false beliefs, check out my last blog post here:

What Does this have to do with the PLot?

Now that you have your protagonist, it’s time to find them a story. But you can’t just plop them into any old story. Your protagonist’s story must be specifically challenging to them. It’s essential that the story is structured to test the protagonist as they advance through the narrative and wrestle with the theme. What do I mean by this?

When plotting your novel, consider the specific obstacles that will prevent your protagonist from achieving both their external goal and their deeper internal need. While external challenges are vital, the true heart of your story often lies in how the protagonist grows and evolves through the conflict. Not every plot will uniquely challenge every character. For instance, Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice might have navigated the political intrigue of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones with her sharp wit and observational skills. However, such a plot likely wouldn’t force her to confront her own prejudices or evolve as a person. In contrast, Elizabeth’s journey in Pride and Prejudice is perfectly tailored to her internal struggle, as she faces challenges that push her to reassess her judgments and open her heart to change. This alignment between plot and character ensures a transformative arc that is deeply specific and impactful.

How to Reverse Engineer Your Story:

Now that you understand the connection between plot and protagonist, you might be wondering how to implement this in your manuscript. As your story comes to life, you might not know all of the pieces of character and story. However, with just a few of these items, you can begin to shape the relationship between character and plot.

To effectively intertwine your plot and protagonist, start by identifying your character’s primary goal or motivation. This driving force should act as the thread that connects the character’s actions to the unfolding events of the story. Consider how the protagonist’s choices, strengths, and flaws influence the progression of the plot. For instance, does their ambition lead to unexpected consequences, or does their vulnerability push the story in a new direction? By focusing on the cause-and-effect relationship between your character’s decisions and the narrative’s key turning points, you can create a dynamic interplay where the plot feels organically shaped by the protagonist’s journey, and the character evolves in response to the plot’s challenges.

If You Start with Plot:
Imagine you have an intriguing idea for a sequence of events that you believe would captivate readers. All you need now is the perfect protagonist to take center stage. To build that connection, ask yourself:

• What kind of character would find these events so challenging that it would force them to confront their deepest fears or rethink the way they live their life?

• What beliefs might this person hold about the world, love, or themselves that would come into question as the story unfolds?

• How can these beliefs clash with the challenges presented by the plot to create high-stakes, transformative moments?

If you Start with a Protagonist:
Maybe you’re starting with a character in mind—someone so fascinating that readers won’t want to look away. Now it’s time to give them a plot that pushes them to their limits. Consider the following:

• What kind of events would challenge this character in a way that forces them to change?

• What do they believe at the start of the story, and how will their experiences reshape those beliefs by the end?

• What is the most intense, transformative situation you can place this character in? Plan to weave this pivotal moment into your narrative structure, ideally around the 75% mark to heighten the drama and create a memorable climax.

Both approaches can lead to a compelling, well-rounded story—as long as you develop the interplay between character and plot all the way through to the resolution.

How to get started Matching your Protagonist to their Plot:

Using this framework, identify five key scenes that will drive your protagonist’s transformation and align with your story’s theme. These pivotal moments should challenge your protagonist to confront their false belief—those misguided assumptions they hold about themselves, others, or the world. In the early stages of the story, your protagonist may falter or make poor decisions, reinforcing their flaws. However, as the narrative unfolds, these moments should gradually guide them toward growth, shifting inch by inch toward embracing the story’s core theme. By mapping out these life-changing scenes, you create a compelling character arc that keeps readers invested in your protagonist’s journey.

Finally…

Creating a story that feels both innovative and deeply personal starts with ensuring your plot and protagonist are inextricably linked. By designing challenges that push your character to grow and evolve, and by tailoring the plot to reveal the most about their inner world, you’ll craft a narrative that resonates. Whether you begin with an idea for a gripping storyline or a captivating protagonist, the key is to carry that connection through every scene, leading to a satisfying and impactful conclusion. Keep asking the right questions, and your story will naturally come to life in a way that captivates your readers from beginning to end.

That’s all for now! For more writing tips and tricks, feel free to reach out to me or learn more on my instagram below: