The Antagonist America Needs

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the right medicine

Photo by Hassan Pasha on Unsplash

Writing books is hard. Authors often get stuck on a scene or just feel like something’s off or could be so much stronger, and that’s where I come in with my story consulting services.

One of the most common blocks that pushes authors to come see me is this: The protagonist (aka, the character the story is about) feels flat. “I just don’t know enough about her yet,” or “I’m not sure he’s likable” or “She feels a little two-dimensional.” Or sometimes, they have no idea what the protagonist should do next. The character has become listless.

Ninety percent of an author’s trouble with their protagonist can be traced right back to their antagonist.

The antagonist is the force the protagonist is up against. It doesn’t have to be an individual character, but I ALWAYS recommend making it one (people want to read about interpersonal conflicts, not vague concepts).

Here’s what I tell authors struggling with this particular problem:

Your protagonist can only be as compelling as your antagonist.

If your protagonist is flailing, odds are high that your antagonist isn’t creating enough or the right kind of external, emotional, and philosophical conflict. The hero…