Many years ago, when I was fresh on my writing journey, I read an acclaimed, award-winning novel for adults. I don’t even remember the name of it, but I remember being excited to read it because of all the hype. As I got into it, I realized quite quickly that I wasn’t liking it much. I tried to analyze why I felt that way as I continued to read. After several more chapters, it hit me. The main character wasn’t driving the plot, the plot was driving her. Things would happen and she would respond. Then new things would happen, and she would respond. But she wasn’t making anything happen. The hype was all hype.
This was an important realization for me as a writer. When our main character is being pulled along by plot events completely out of their control, the reader doesn’t connect. Readers want to see the protagonist making choices that lead to plot events directly, for better and for worse.
One of my favorite scenes to read aloud to kids (and I’ve read this scene many times to classrooms full of kids) is a turning point scene in Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. The main character has been told not to open the window. He’s been instructed repeatedly, under no circumstances should he ever open the window. But in a moment of stress, he gets confused and scared, and he opens the window. That tiny decision completely changes the course of the entire storyline. It was a mistake with dire consequences. But it was his choice.
The reason I love to read that scene aloud is the response my students have. They know what it’s like to make wrong choices. They feel for the main character – not just sympathy for a bad thing happening to him, but connection as something they can relate to. They gasp, and yell ‘Don’t do it!’ and ‘Oh, no!’ and then they beg me to keep reading. They are fully invested in the character who is making relatable choices, and by that investment, they are completely engaged with the plot and the story.
That is the type of reader connection we all dream of.
That is what it means to put your protagonist in control of the plot. Your story should be about things that happen to your main character because they are making those things happen to them. Give them agency over the story. Give them choices and consequences.
Give them control.
When readers can relate to the protagonist making choices that lead to events, a connection happens that makes them love the book. They invest themselves in the choices being made.
In your writing
Some writers start their story planning with a character in mind, and then shape the plot based on that character’s choices. Some writers start with plot events in mind, and then shape their character to be a part of those events.
Either way works, if the author remembers that everything that happens is because of choices the protagonist makes. Maybe the word ‘everything’ isn’t accurate here, as there are always things that happen beyond their control. But your job as the writer is to ensure that every scene that is a plot turning point is happening because of a choice the main character makes.
I made this instructional video to discuss in more detail the importance of character agency, and give some examples from great middle grade fiction where the protagonist makes the plot.
Your job as the author is to connect with your readers. One of the best ways to do this is through giving them relatable character choices.
When a story is happening because the main character is making it happen – especially in middle grade fiction – your audience will love it. When they can see themselves and relate to the types of choices being made, and the types of consequences that happen because of those choices, they engage with the story in deeper ways. They can’t wait to see what’s going to happen.
Looking at your plot turning points, and analyzing them for character drive is key. For each turning point scene in your story, the scene is a turning point because of what the character has done. Not because of something that happened to the character beyond their control.
I created this downloadable PDF worksheet to help you analyze your plot turning point scenes to see if they are being driven enough by direct protagonist choices. Download the worksheet here, and see what you can learn about putting your main character more firmly in the drivers seat.
I’ve worked with authors many times where through the editing process, I point out a plot event where their main character isn’t in control. Often, they are surprised. When they dive in and make the necessary adjustments, it’s quite amazing the affect it has on the story as a whole. Giving your protagonist control of the plot makes them so much stronger, and so much more relatable to your readers.
In middle grade fiction – maybe even more than other age levels – kids expect the main character to win on their own terms, whatever that may look like. As writers, we need to give them what they want.
Let your plot be directly driven by the choices of your protagonist.