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What makes a good fiction book?
Is it the immersive world-building? Or the compelling narratives? Perhaps it is one element that hits closer to home. You see, we love fiction or stories in general because these tales center around a perspective. We get to step into the shoes of the protagonist, who navigates us through their lives, their ideologies, and their way of thinking.
Hence, writing a protagonist is the hallmark of a good book, but writing a “good” protagonist is truly a challenging feat.
Luckily, there is one textbook case study on writing a compelling protagonist.
We’re rolling the clock back to the tumultuous backdrop of 1968 when racism was rampant, and freedom was a luxury. One light-skinned beauty, in her innocence, had to face some of the most traumatizing disasters, which led to one of the most inspiring stories of our time.
Let’s take Vanessa from author Patricia Skipper’s book Deceptive Calm as an example and try to decipher what made her such a compelling protagonist.
Beauty and Innocence
The late sixties were some of the most difficult years in the history of America, especially for African-American people. The perpetrators of turmoil were evil-doers who tainted the very definition of freedom our country is known for. The truth is that evil is everywhere, regardless of the nation you reside in or the race you belong to.
Vanessa is an innocent soul brought up in an orphanage. She’s naïve, but in a likeable way. You relate with her, empathize with her, and root for her wins because her heart is clean and pure. Subsequently, when she is hurt, you feel her heartache.
Vanessa goes through it all: A Ku Klux Klan attack, a back-alley abortion, and the death of a nun who reared her, and perhaps that is why her redemption arc is what really draws readers in.
For that, we have Patricia to thank.
Manifestation
Famous director Quentin Tarantino mentioned in an interview, “I don’t lead the characters; I let the characters lead me.” He revealed that the secret behind his larger-than-life characters was that he let them write themselves. In the case of Vanessa, it’s as though the character was already written before the book’s inception. Why do we say that?
One of the many reasons why Vanessa’s story feels so riveting is because the horrific events she experiences are what Patricia Skipper witnessed through her very own walk of life living in the sixties. She saw how heartbreaking racism can be and the extent to which humans can be filled with hate.
Vanessa is a manifestation of what she saw, as Patricia intricately weaves together a plot worthy of the depth of the protagonist’s character.
Be a part of her journey as Vanessa finds redemption, donning the identity of a deceased White baby and finding success in the newsroom later in life.
By marrying into one of the wealthiest families in LA, Vanessa thinks she is safe. But as her past creeps up to her, will she be able to keep her Deceptive Calm? Only one way to find out. Deceptive Calm is now available on Amazon.
