How to Introduce Your Protagonist and Engage Your Audience

🔑Providing social proof for your protagonist is essential for engaging your audience. Show evidence of their personality or abilities through the perspectives of trusted sources or their actions.

🌟It's not necessary for the audience to like the protagonist, but they should be able to relate to them in some way. Create a character with traits or experiences that resonate with the viewers.

💡The first five to seven minutes of your story are crucial for capturing the audience's interest. Use this prime real estate to reveal important information about your protagonist and establish the foundation for their journey.

🎯Avoid generic or irrelevant scenes when introducing your protagonist. Every action should have purpose and contribute to the audience's understanding of the character's life, goals, or relationships.

⏰If the story doesn't start with the protagonist, you have less time to make the audience care about them. Make sure to create intrigue or relatability quickly if the protagonist is introduced later in the narrative.

Do I have to make the audience like the protagonist?

—No, it's not necessary for the audience to like the protagonist. However, they should be able to relate to the character in some way, which can create investment and interest in their journey.

How much time do I have to engage the audience with the protagonist?

—Typically, you have around five to seven minutes to capture the audience's interest and make them care about the protagonist. However, if the story doesn't start with the protagonist, you have even less time to create that connection.

What should I reveal about the protagonist in their introduction?

—In the protagonist's introduction, reveal key aspects of their normal life that make the audience either like or relate to them. This can include their relationships, goals, personality traits, or unique experiences.

Can I introduce the protagonist in a generic or irrelevant scene?

—It's best to avoid generic or irrelevant scenes when introducing the protagonist. Every action should have purpose and contribute to the audience's understanding of the character's life or create intrigue. Make every moment count.

What if my story doesn't start with the protagonist?

—If your story doesn't start with the protagonist, you have less time to make the audience care about them. Ensure that the first few minutes featuring the protagonist provide compelling reasons for the audience to invest in their journey.

00:00Shannan E. Johnson, a writer and instructor, discusses effective ways to introduce protagonists and engage the audience.

00:11It's crucial to provide social proof for the protagonist. Show evidence of their personality or abilities through trusted sources or their actions.

00:52The audience doesn't necessarily have to like the protagonist, but they should be able to relate to them in some way.

02:20The first five to seven minutes of the story are prime real estate. Use this time to reveal important information about the protagonist and establish the foundation for their journey.

04:48Avoid generic or irrelevant scenes when introducing the protagonist. Every action should have purpose and contribute to the audience's understanding of the character's life or create intrigue.

06:11If the story doesn't start with the protagonist, there is less time to make the audience care about them. Make sure to create intrigue or relatability quickly if the protagonist is introduced later in the narrative.