When to Have One Protagonist vs. Multiple Protagonists

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So, you’re in the throes of writing, wrestling with plot threads, and characters are jostling for attention in your brain. It can feel like you’re managing a crowd, trying to figure out who deserves the spotlight. Do you stick with one protagonist, or do you give in and allow multiple characters to take center stage?

Let’s sit with that question for a moment because, like so many decisions in writing, it’s not just a technical one. It’s emotional, rooted in the story you want to tell. And it’s about balance, like holding a thread and trying to decide which way to pull. So, let’s break this down.

 When to Have One Protagonist: The Single Thread Pull

1. Focus and Clarity

Imagine walking into a room with one person. You make eye contact, and the conversation unfolds, intense and singular. That’s what happens with a story that revolves around a single protagonist. There’s focus. Clarity. The emotional arc, the challenges, the growth—it all revolves around one person. You can dig deep, spending time in their head, their heart, and we, as readers, get to ride that wave without distractions.

Take the Harry Potter series—yes, we see other characters, but it’s Harry’s story. We’re with him from beginning to end, riding shotgun through his transformation. Or think about The Great Gatsby. Sure, Nick is there, but it’s Gatsby’s tragedy that steals the show.

2. When the Story is Character-Driven

If your story is heavy on introspection—if you want to dive deep into one person’s emotional or psychological world—a single protagonist gives you the space to do that. It’s like being invited into someone’s diary, flipping through the pages, savoring every scribbled thought.

3. Simpler Plot Structure

Sometimes, we want to keep things straightforward. A story doesn’t always need multiple plotlines weaving in and out of each other. When your story is linear, clear, and you don’t want the narrative to get tangled up in too many directions, sticking with one protagonist keeps the audience centered.

It’s clean, and it keeps us grounded in that one journey.

 When to Have Multiple Protagonists: The Tapestry Weave

There are also those stories in which one protagonist just doesn’t cut it. The narrative is too big, too sprawling. You want to give the reader multiple angles, multiple perspectives—like shifting the camera lens to catch different aspects of the same scene.

1. Complex Storylines

Enter A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones, for the TV fans). Multiple protagonists are essential here. The world is massive, the conflicts are intricate, and we need each of those characters to show us a different slice of that world. Without them, the narrative would feel flat, like missing pieces of a puzzle.

Or take The Avengers. The ensemble cast drives the story. Each protagonist has their own mission, their own arc, and together they create something bigger than themselves.

2. Multiple Themes or Perspectives

Some stories ask to be seen from different sides. Maybe you’re exploring a war, a societal collapse, or even a marriage. If your story is about conflict—whether internal or external—having multiple protagonists lets you show how different characters approach that same conflict. It adds layers, tension, and a richness to the narrative.

3. Large-Scale Events

In stories that cover large-scale events—think wars, revolutions, or apocalyptic settings—one character can’t capture the full scope. You will need multiple voices to show the chaos, the fear, and the hope. It’s through those different perspectives that the reader gets the full picture of the story.

4. Character Intersections

There’s also something delicious about watching multiple protagonists cross paths. They might clash, collaborate, or collide in unexpected ways. The tension between them becomes a story in itself. Those intersections can make for some of the most dynamic storytelling, in which we’re not just interested in what happens, but how these characters will impact each other.

5. Ensemble Cast

Sometimes the story isn’t just about one person or even two. It’s about a group—a family, a team, a group of friends. The balance of multiple protagonists allows each member of that group to shine in their own way, contributing to the larger narrative. The Avengers is a great example here, as are stories like Little Women, in which each sister has her own distinct arc.

 When to Have Few Protagonists: Tight Threads in a Knot

There’s also an in-between, a space where you want more than one protagonist but not a large cast of characters. This can create an intimate, focused dynamic.

1. Intimate Stories

Stories that are personal, emotional, and centered on relationships—like Thelma & Louise or Breaking Bad—work well with just a couple of protagonists. The connection between them drives the story, and keeping it limited to two main characters creates a powerful, intimate narrative.

2. To Avoid Overcomplication

Let’s be honest, juggling too many protagonists can become a nightmare. If your story doesn’t support multiple arcs, multiple viewpoints, or multiple themes, adding extra protagonists can feel like adding too many ingredients to a dish—it just gets muddled. When in doubt, streamline. Focus on one or two key characters and let them carry the story.

Final Thoughts: How Many Threads Are You Holding?

At the end of the day, the number of protagonists you choose depends on the story you want to tell. Is it a straightforward, emotional deep dive? Stick with one. Is it a sprawling epic that requires multiple viewpoints to fully capture the scope? Go for multiple.

Consider the narrative complexity, the emotional depth, and how you want your audience to engage with your characters. More protagonists can give your story layers, but they can also divide attention. A single protagonist can provide clarity, but may limit the scope.

In the end, it’s about balance. It’s about pulling those threads and seeing where they lead. And that’s the beauty of storytelling—you’re the one holding the needle.

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