The Growth of an Unpublished Protagonist

​I have been working on The Aeonians technically since 2004. I was in high school. A self-conscious, awkward nerd who lacked confidence in himself. During classes, I dreamed of an alternate reality where beasts roam free and people could control the elements.
 
That’s when the idea for this novel began. I wrote feverishly in my notebook during class, pretending I was writing notes. I shared chapters as they developed with my friends. And of course, it was about a person who had plenty of room for growth. The protagonist was self-conscious, awkward, and lacked confidence. Starting to sound familiar?
 
Now that I have completed my final draft, I had the time to sit back and reflect on my protagonist. Her name is Isabel Deran. But she isn’t the same character as she was in 2004. When I first created her, I wanted to invent someone who was like me; someone who could ‘exist’ so that I wouldn’t feel alone. And if she could grow into a strong character, maybe someday I could grow strong too.
 
I had found my old notebook when I cleaned my house months ago. When I read it, I cringed. Not just at the quality of the writing, but at how poor of a self-image Isabel had. Like, really poor. Only then did I realize how poor my self-image was. And in this first draft, she remained stagnant the whole story. She constantly apologized and stumbled throughout the novel. She never grew.
 
However, with each subsequent edit, she became stronger.
 
And so did I.
 
My book has yet to be published, but I know one fact. Isabel Deran, my lovely Princess from the country Deran, has already grown and become the powerful person I wanted her (and myself) to be. Yes, she still starts off as slightly unsure of herself– but that doesn’t last long. And she isn’t just a character in my novel; she is a reflection of my growth throughout the years. I am proud of the change she has undergone, even before publication. And if she ever became real, I would love to be her friend.

Keep an eye out for Isabel. She's hard to miss....

Peace, 
J