How to Introduce Your Story’s Protagonist – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 25, 2025

Plotting Your Book: How to Introduce Your Story’s Protagonist
Among the many musts of a story’s opening page is introducing the protagonist. This “greeting” should provide just enough information that the reader feels the protagonist is interesting to follow. Since you have only a few lines to do this in, what to leave in and leave out presents a challenge. READ MORE

Writing Tips: How to Create Your Story’s Characters
Successful stories require characters who face some challenge or conflict. While coming up with such story ideas is easy enough, many writers struggle with ensuring their characters are interesting so the reader will want to follow them on their journey. My book Create Your Story’s Characters is all about making that process easier for writers. It examines how characters fit among a story’s basic elements then discusses the different kinds of characters. Next, it hones in on those types of characters that make great protagonists – three-dimensional, dynamic characters who gradually grow so that by the end of the story they are better, wiser people who can overcome the challenge they face. Lastly, it looks at some common pitfalls that beginning authors stumble into when creating characters. SEE BOOK

Writing Tip: Make Your Reader the Protagonist
One rare point of view that you might consider using is second person. In this point of view, the reader becomes the protagonist and decides how the story will turn out. Authors typically use words like “you” and “your” in such tales. READ MORE

Self-Publishing Tip: How to Link Your Ebook’s Table of Contents
When reading a paperback, the table of contents gives you page numbers so that you can easily locate each chapter. Ebooks don’t have page numbers, but you can set up links in its table of contents so that with the tap of a screen, readers can go directly to the beginning of that chapter. READ MORE

This Week’s Podcast: How to purchase an ISBN for your book
Every book that is printed for sale needs an International Standard Book Number, aka an ISBN. This is a 13-digit number given to each book; no two books have the same ISBN. So how do you get one? LISTEN TO PODCAST

Book Marketing Tip: Update Your Email Signature
Every personal email you send out can include an unobstrusive ad for your books. Simply utilize your email signature as a promotion. After all, you probably email a number of people beyond friends and family; some of the recipients of your emails may never have heard of your books yet might be interested in them. READ MORE

Client Spotlight: “Live Your Life and Forget Your Age” by JP Luce
A recent editing client of mine – JP Luce  – has published her first book, the self-help Live Your Life and Forget Your Age! Reinvention does not require youth, precedents, or adherence to society’s expectations. You don’t need anyone else to have done it before for you to do it—whatever “it” may be. Similarly, if it has been done before, it hasn’t been done by you. What reinvention does require is the courage to break free from social constraints or age-related restrictions, empowering you to pursue your passions with enthusiasm and purpose. At any point of your life, there is power in embracing who you are and living fully and unapologetically. Live Your Life and Forget Your Age aims to inspire you to think outside the proverbial box, challenge convention, and forge your own unique path—whether you’re in your twenties, fifties, or beyond.
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$25 Off Your Next Edit!
For being a newsletter subscriber, please take $25 off your next edit with Inventing Reality Editing Service. When scheduling your edit, be sure to mention you’re a subscriber and give the email where you received this newsletter. Minimum order of $200. Offer expires March 4, 2025. SCHEDULE EDIT

My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editor who runs Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the manuscript needs of both aspiring and published writers and offers a variety of self-publishing services. During the past 15 years, I’ve helped more than 400 novelists and nonfiction authors obtain their publishing dreams at reasonable prices. I’m also the author of a novel, the Storytelling 101 Quick Read series, four children’s books, more than 25 bestselling hiking guidebooks, and even a book of poetry. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published.