Professional guidance to develop your protagonist
The protagonist is the lead character in a story. Their actions and goals drive the plot — without them, there would not even be a story. So when a compelling protagonist is essential for keeping readers invested in the story, it’s important to get your protagonist right.
That's what Reedsy Studio’s protagonist template is here to help you do. Start with the protagonist’s name and occupation and go from there! With the ability to add, remove, or customize sections as needed, you’ve got complete flexibility to build a protagonist template that works for you.
Build a protagonist readers love
A good protagonist is complex and relatable, with realistic flaws. To help you develop the necessary character depth, Reedsy Studio’s protagonist template uses the tried and true Proust questionnaire to encourage you to get inside your protagonist’s head. Questions include:
Desire & ambition
- What is their idea of perfect happiness?
- What is their dream job?
- Which talent would they most like to have?
Fear & vulnerability
- What is their greatest fear?
- What is their greatest regret?
- What do they regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Love & loyalty
- Who or what is the greatest love of their life?
- What is the quality they like in a person the most?
- What is their most treasured possession?
Morality & justification
- What do they consider the most overrated virtue?
- On what occasions do they lie?
- What is their motto?
Power & opposition
- Who are their heroes in fiction and real life?
- What is the trait they deplore in others the most?
- Which living person do they despise the most?
Identity & inner conflict
- What is their current state of mind at the start — and at the end?
- Which words or phrases do they most overuse?
- If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?
Legacy & meaning
- How would they like to die?
- If they were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would they like to return as?
- What do they consider their greatest achievement?
Use the Protagonist Template in combination with our ultimate Character Template to access 100+ additional questions on your protagonist’s looks, mannerisms, early life, and more.
Keep track of your protagonist’s journey and relationships
As the most important player, your protagonist shapes — and is shaped by — your entire story. In Reedsy Studio, you can connect your protagonist template directly to other planning templates to help you visualize every connection.
Link your protagonist to the antagonist who stands in the way of their goals, the mentor who helps them grow, and all the supporting characters who touch their life. Want to track where your protagonist is at any point in your book? Reedsy Studio lets you connect your protagonist to key story beats that challenge them and backstory that makes them who they are.
Your hero, always by your side
Never forget a character detail again. With automatic saving and backup, Reedsy Studio keeps everything you’ve written down at your fingertips. Access Studio on any device, anywhere — whenever inspiration strikes!
A protagonist template trusted by hundreds of thousands of authors
Hundreds of thousands of authors have already crafted their protagonists in Reedsy Studio.
The Protagonist Template includes:
- The Protagonist’s Proust Questionnaire
- A flexible structure you can adapt to any genre or story type
Beyond the template, Studio provides:
- A full universe of planning templates—worldbuilding, story structure, scene planning, timelines, and more
- Seamless integration between all templates and your manuscript
- A full-featured manuscript editor for drafting and revision
- Automatic saving and cross-device syncing
- Export options in multiple formats
- Collaboration tools for writing partners
- A distraction-free writing environment
