The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

219 | Practical Ways To Treat an Inactive Protagonist

Oct 24, 2024

Laurel Senick, a dedicated member of the workshop community, shares her creative journey and insights. The conversation kicks off with the emotional trials writers face when receiving feedback, emphasizing community support. They discuss the vital role of active protagonists in storytelling and the importance of character agency. Practical exercises are introduced to help writers clarify their characters' motivations. The challenge of defining characters who act versus react is explored, along with a fun exercise involving a tomato that symbolizes greater narrative stakes.

01:01:19

Episode guests

Laurel Senick

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

A listener's transformative experience with feedback emphasizes the necessity of reflection in turning criticism into creative growth for writers.

Agency is essential for protagonists as it drives the plot forward, distinguishing active characters from those who merely react to events.

Practical writing exercises can empower characters to articulate their desires and take meaningful actions, ultimately enhancing narrative engagement and complexity.

Deep dives

The Emotional Journey of Feedback

A listener shared her experience of receiving feedback on a pitch for an animated kids' show, expressing a mix of emotions ranging from frustration to enlightenment. Initially, she felt overwhelmed and misunderstood, interpreting comments as personal attacks rather than constructive criticism. As she processed the feedback over time, she began to recognize the value in the critique and how it spurred her to refine her idea. This experience highlighted the common struggle writers face when receiving feedback, illustrating the importance of reflection in transforming initial negative reactions into growth.

Intro

6min

Navigating Feedback in Writing

9min

The Power of Storytelling and Character Agency

5min

Unpacking Desire and Agency in Storytelling

18min

Activating Character Agency

15min

Redefining Active vs Reactive Characters in Writing

2min

The High Stakes of a Simple Tomato

4min

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so

We talk about ACTIVE protagonists all the time on the show, but we know that creating one is easier said than done. Luckily, Meg and Lorien have a laundry list of practical exercises you can explore today to bring your protagonist to life.

But first, we talk with longtime TSL listener and TSL workshops member Laurel Senick about a lovely, lava-filled email she sent us.

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