Holding Out for a Hero: Truby's Tips for Building a Protagonist Readers Will LOVE
Want to Write a Hero Readers Can’t Forget? Start Here
A great story lives or dies by its hero. Creating a hero who captivates readers is the cornerstone of compelling fiction. But a truly memorable hero is never one-dimensional; they are complex, flawed, and deeply connected to the story’s world and other characters.
Drawing on John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story, this guide will walk you through crafting a solid, multi-layered hero that hooks readers from the first page to the last.
Step 1: Understand the Hero’s Core Weakness and Need
Every great hero begins with a psychological or moral flaw that drives their need for change. This internal weakness drives the emotional arc of the story.
Weakness is the hero’s blind spot. It could be fear, guilt, anger, pride, or emotional detachment.
Need is what they must overcome or realize by the end. This is often unconscious at first but becomes central to their growth.
Example: Katniss’s weakness is her emotional guardedness and refusal to trust others. Her need is to open up and understand the power of connection, not just survival.
Step 2: Define a Clear, Compelling Desire
While the need is internal, the desire is the external goal that drives the plot forward.
Make it tangible: Saving someone, solving a mystery, defeating a villain.
Create tension: Desire and need should contrast, pulling the hero in conflicting directions.
Example: Katniss wants to survive the Hunger Games (desire) but needs to learn trust and emotional vulnerability (need).
Step 3: Build the Character Web - Connect Your Hero to Others
Characters gain meaning through relationships. Your hero should exist within a network of contrasting figures:
Opponent: Antagonist who represents the opposite moral path.
Allies: Those who reflect or challenge parts of the hero.
Fake-Allies: Appear helpful but mislead the hero.
Subplot Characters: Adds emotional or thematic depth.
Tip: Each character should embody a different response to the story’s core moral question.
Example – In Hunger Games, Peeta (ally) challenges her emotionally. Gale (conflicted ally) represents anger and rebellion. President Snow (opponent) is the system she must resist. Effie, Haymitch, Prim — each adds a different emotional pressure.
Step 4: Layer Conflicting Traits and Motivations
Complexity comes from contradiction. The best heroes live with internal tension.
Brave but fears intimacy
Ruthless but justice-driven
Desires freedom but clings to responsibility
These contradictions make heroes unpredictable, relatable, and real.
Example – Katniss is a fighter but avoids leadership. She’s emotionally detached yet will risk everything for her sister. These tensions define her.
Step 5: Flesh Out Backstory and Defining Moments
The past shapes the present. Identify pivotal moments that moulded your hero’s worldview:
What past events created their worldview?
Which relationships left a lasting mark?
What emotional scars still influence their choices?
These memories should echo throughout the story.
Example – Katniss: Losing her father and her mother’s emotional withdrawal forced her into adulthood early. Volunteering for Prim was her first defining act of self-sacrifice.
Step 6: Develop the Hero’s Moral and Psychological Journey
Your hero must change. There should be a moment or several where they see who they really are, and what they must become.
This often comes after a crisis or moral choice.
The revelation is both internal and external as it shifts the hero and the story world.
Example – Katniss’s moral turning point is realizing that survival without hope or community is not enough. She embraces her role as a symbol, not just a survivor.
Step 7: Use Symbolism and Setting to Reflect the Hero’s Layers
Your story’s world should mirror what’s happening inside your hero.
Use physical spaces, weather, and objects to echo inner conflict.
Symbols can quietly reinforce emotional or moral themes.
Example – The Hunger Games arena represents both external danger and emotional isolation. Fire is used repeatedly to symbolize her spirit and the rebellion she ignites.
Step 8: Keep the Hero Dynamic Through Story Structure
A great hero evolves. Track that growth across the major story beats:
Inciting Incident: Forces the hero to act (e.g., Katniss volunteering for Prim).
Midpoint Revelation: Shifts their understanding (e.g., realizing Peeta’s sincerity or the rebellion’s stakes).
Climax and Choice: The hero must act from their new self.
Example – In choosing to eat the poison berries with Peeta, Katniss reclaims power and rejects the system.
Wrapping Up
Building a layered hero is about more than just giving them flaws. It’s about weaving together emotion, purpose, and internal conflict to create someone who feels real to the reader.
Have a favourite complex hero from fiction? Or working on one of your own? Share a snippet or thought in the comments. Let’s explore what makes a character truly memorable.
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