The Protagonist by Claire Schumann

A column

Hello and welcome. I am starting this column because I have to. For the last several years I’ve been obsessing about writing. It’s been simmering on low, sanctioned to journals, iPhone notes and outlines of a content strategy to legitimize the endeavor. I’ve considered pen names partially for my privacy but also because of a fear of suckage. In my ‘real’ life I have worked for decades in communications at agencies, publishers, and big brands, always near creativity and creative people but never joining the club. Without the job title and instead an exceedingly long resume of business experience, writing had to be satisfied through marketing presentations or chaotic scribblings drafted in way too many notebooks to keep track of. 

Presently, however, I’ve had to begin a mandatory job search. And as I’ve been diligently doing all the things to find my next job, I’ve realized that the only way I’ll survive this crushingly responsible exercise will be to mess around with a semi-serious effort to write. Because, for me, writing just feels good. 

Years ago, when my daughter was a little girl, she was constantly painting and drawing. And I remember her telling me one day after she finished working nonstop on a canvas of sweet pink flowers, that once an idea or vision fixed itself in her mind, no matter what, she just had to make it. Her description stuck with me because it explained simply the impetus for how art or anything is created. Getting inspired with an idea that keeps circling your imagination that you have to articulate it. Bring it into being. 

My boyfriend is a chef and his creative medium is food. He is compelled to cook and is always thinking about recipes and ingredients. Obsessed, in a good way. And while his professional experience honed his skills it ironically, killed his enjoyment. No longer cooking in restaurants, he now is free to experiment and create what he wants. He loves feeding people and never turns down an opportunity to express himself and his feelings for everyone he cooks for.

I am making The Protagonist because I have to. It’s an experiment that’s supposed to be fun with content that readers can relate to or at least be entertained. The name comes from my personality type (ENFJ) and a goal to shift the advocacy I typically give to coworkers, family and friends towards myself. "You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god's sake!" Iris Simpkins, The Holiday. I chose The Fool for the logo because he is the protagonist in a deck of tarot cards. It’s the first card and the character represents fearlessness, new beginnings, and willingness to take risks. It is the card that moves the story forward through the rest of the tarot deck. Yes, I have spent some time learning about the ‘astrological arts’ so that might show up in content here and there. Specifically though, for my logo image I chose Paul Klee’s ‘Figurine: the Fool”, 1927 (public domain). Art is another love of mine and there will be content on this subject as well. PS - if you haven’t looked at Paul Klee’s art ever or in awhile, you should check it out. It is very modern, very cool and definitely worth learning about. 

The content strategy for The Protagonist will develop organically but for now I think it will mostly be essays and maybe some curations. I’m inspired by everyone from Joan Didion to Amanda Montell to Maureen Dowd. I hope to post weekly to bi-weekly. No deets on paid but I do invite you to add me to your subs. 

Peace!