Protagonist and Antagonist in the Horror Genre

Welcome to special guest, Nick Roberts. Nick Roberts is a native West Virginian and a graduate of Marshall University. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild. His short works have been published in various magazines and anthologies. His novel, Anathema, won Debut Novel of the Year at the 2020-2021 Horror Authors Guild Awards. His second novel, The Exorcist’s House, was released in 2022, and his It Haunts the Mindcollection in 2023–both by Crystal Lake Publishing. Upcoming work includes the novels Mean Spirited and The Exorcist's House: Genesis. He currently resides in South Carolina with his wife and three children and is an advocate for people struggling with substance use disorders.Importance of the Protagonist Something unique to horror stories is that there is an unusually large difference in power between the antagonist and protagonist, and this imbalance is present right from the very beginning.Because the antagonist is so much more powerful than the protagonist, the protagonist's motivation needs to be clear, it needs to be compelling, and it needs to be readily understandable to your audience. It doesn’t matter if the protagonist’s motivation to pit herself against the monster is selfish (she doesn’t want to die) or selfless (she doesn’t want her daughter to die). What elements make the most compelling horror protagonist? Does weakness in a character allow the reader to become more immersed in the horror?Is the protagonist in horror simply a vehicle for us to see the antagonist? To experience his horror from a safe distance? Is it okay not to be interested in the protagonist at all? Some have said the best horror protagonists have a downward spiral.Read more on the blog