YOUR STORY'S MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTER

I've been thinking about the concept of story lately, partly because I'm in the thick of outlining another novel, and partly because I always want to be growing in my craft.
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​I've come to realize that the antagonist has to be the most important character in your story.

Let me explain what I mean, because I can already hear the humming of objections. Let's step back and take a look. 

If you've spent any length of time studying the art of storytelling, you've most likely run into someone saying "Story is conflict." It's right  up there with "Show don't tell" "Kill your darlings" and "Cut out adjectives." Particularly in the case of "Story is conflict," they are absolutely right! 

Think about it for a second. While a day where everything goes right makes for a great day of vacation, it sounds like a patently boring novel. In a book, we want our protagonist to struggle. We want them to fight, and oft times to win. 

So now, that brings me back to the antagonist being the most important character. "Isn't it the protagonist?" you ask. "The one I invest my emotional time?" Yes, but no. 

The protagonist may be our most beloved character, but if our most beloved character doesn't have a worthy opponent, then we feel we have squandered our time investment. In a nutshell, we need our protagonist to have a challenge worthy of spending our time observing. So, what does that look like in the world of literature?

Whether an evil super-villain, the protagonist's own self, or nature, the antagonist must bring a formidable opposition for you main character. The antagonist's momentum runs opposite of the protagonist and should be at least equal in intensity to the protagonist. Furthermore, the antagonist's desire will often be the impetus for the protagonist's strong opposing desire. Excellent examples of this range from Frodo and Sauron, Robin Hood and The Sheriff of Nottingham, or Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Moriarty. 

Each of the characters in these opposing duos has the possibility of winning the battle. And in each of these the examples, one could legitimately argue that the antagonist has the upper hand. It makes for great, nail-biting tension that translates into edge-of-your-seat storytelling.

So next time you sit down to write a story, do invest heart and passion into your protagonist, but, more importantly, dig deep and find that steel and muscle and endow them to your antagonist.

Have any additional ideas? Please continue the conversation below!

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