Finding contrast and interest in a co-protagonist

EDIT: removed details from currently secret personal project.

edited 28th Apr '15 11:46:54 PM by Heffy

Woah, dude, you're right about your word count there! I'm glad you're so enthusiastic about your work. Anyway, your preference of the second option is good, because solitary characters are fairly static, and while this can be good for the mysterious factor if you can follow their thoughts like we can as readers it doesn't work so well. It takes other characters to bring out aspects of personality, so the more interesting characters your protagonist meets the better.

Anyway, your leading lady sounds like a bit of a happy-go-lucky type, so I would pair her with someone a little younger who stays close partly because Mr or Miss Co-Protagonist wants to learn things in life from a drifter that they admire. Perhaps they're struggling with reconciling something in their lives, or are just out-of-touch with the world? Either way, they could benefit from the friendship of someone who, like this cat lady of yours, just kinda sails over life's hurdles and problems. This is a character dynamic that I like to use a lot, but hey, caring is sharing and everything! Hope this helps, assuming that you are still developing this secondary character. If not, maybe you could specify what you've come up with so far and what elements you want to work on? Specific details would help.

Oh, and on a final note, you shouldn't run yourself down in your own comments, mate, even if you feel like you're going on and on. There are plenty of people on the internet who would be happy to do that for you, and that's without you helping them. So take it easy

edited 13th Apr '14 11:48:59 PM by gingerman

Well, although I don't have any solid advice on preference itself, I can provide you two popular anime examples for both scenarios, namely Kinos Journey and Spice and Wolf, respectively. If you have trouble deciding on which option to take, you can always watch these series for some directions.

In terms of personal preference, I too find the second option better, but I'd like to add that running a series based around the interactions of two traveling companions requires a lot of work on dialogue. Considering these characters will be evolving throughout their journey, you need to keep their conversations interesting while also showing their individual growth through their dialogue. The first option is much easier in this regard, since every new city will have a different set of characters for your protagonist to talk to, while she herself is the only one changing with her experiences.

edited 15th Apr '14 1:31:44 PM by MyNameIsWeiTuLong

Write their opposite. Then tone it down to a level they won't find annoying constantly, just some of the time. Or if they have self-confidence issues, to the level they'll find admirable without being threatening.

The latter is my current approach for a contrasting pair of protagonists.

EDIT: removed details from currently secret personal project.

edited 28th Apr '15 11:47:14 PM by Heffy

Well it sometimes depends on the kind of story you're making. Given you're leaning towards a Slice of Life, you may not consider the avenue of a Bad Ass character for example, though now that I think about it, having a big, burly tough dude as a companion can be pretty interesting, and can contrast with this girl a lot.

It'll be a lot easier if you already have written a few more characters, so you might choose from them. But if not, and you're going with the suggested "more-or-less-your-character's opposite" approach, from a quick read of your character's bio the first opposite that comes to my mind is a stoic guy who doesn't get very interested or attached to things. Kinda reminds me of Nora/Ren's relationship in RWBY, if you've seen it. Nora's much more of a hyper character than what you're describing, though. Overall, this character of yours sound like a real nice girl, so perhaps having a pretty rude or at least not-friendly guy can grind her gears a bit and get some interaction going.

As for my own experiences, I usually have the privilege of having multiple character ideas already, and then it becomes just a matter of which ones interact with which ones more, which pair is best/more interesting, and how they interact. I usually work in larger-than-two groups for a main cast, but I do tend to divide them into pairs. The one pair I had was a kinda wimpy, innocent (though boring - didn't really flesh him out as I should have) boy paired with a Tsundere-ish, crabby Fiery Redhead.

I also have a stoic, pretty headphones-wearing girl, and her childhood friend, a nerd with thick glasses and cool hair. Really, you can go crazy with what kinda person you want to pair this girl with, but since you seem to want to place this other character as Secondary Protagonist tier, it has to be someone you can enjoy writing about. If you find him/her boring, it, well, obviously can be a problem, main character and all that. So try to think of someone you'd find it fun to spend your time with, and also consider who you wouldn't mind letting your MC stick with for probably a long time and get to trust. Cancel out character personalities, ages or roles that you don't see fitting or may not enjoy sticking with.

EDIT: Since your MC is a wanderer, your other character probably wouldn't be a stay-at-home, stable job kind of person. Unless, of course, they are one, and either is forced to follow her on her adventures, or chose to. Using the stoic guy example, he could be disillusioned and tired of his mundane life, and finds the catgirl interesting. Maybe he's one of the few that doesn't mind her race, but is actually more annoyed with her cheery personality, but still admires her hard-working, never-give-up spirit, which he finds severely lacking in his own life that lacks drive.

All the best!

edited 22nd May '14 10:15:53 PM by Nadir

Dont overlook the possibilities in setting up someone in an antagonistic relationship with your girl. Who people who dont like each other, or who frequently butt heads, can be an interesting dynamic.

Right, but there's still a notable difference between some simple Tsundere-ing around and not getting along, compared to outright antagonism which then leads to Defeat Means Friendship or other. Keep it in mind, OP.