Question in regards to main char

Sunshine13 · Jul 15, 2006

OK, the way my story is written, my first three chapters are of my main character on her own, a journey if you will. In my old draft of this stroy, there is an event that happens that is important to one of the plots in the story, and I had written it as a chapter. I was contemplating making it my fourth chapter, but does four chapters of just the main character, loose interest? Granted, the fourth chapter does introduce another character that, well, dies shortly afterwards. The first three chapters are very important, and it's hard to explain unless I tell you the story which I really don't have the time to do.

Anyway, I could technically skip the whole "adventure" and jump to introducing my next character instead for chapter four, and just summarize what had happened to my main character, in narrative. It could work because three years had passed between chapter 3 and chapter 4. I guess I just want to know what you guys think will work best. Ok...did all of that make sense?

Cathy C · Jul 15, 2006

Well, that sort of depends on a couple of things:

1. Is it written in first person or third?

2. Is the character DOING things in those chapters, or just mulling reality?

Readers don't mind following the main character around so long as she's doing something interesting. But if it's folding laundry for five pages while she contemplates her naval and thinks lofty thoughts, then probably not.

But if she's going here and going there -- frantically cleaning house before people arrive for a big party or some such, then most readers will give you a buy.

Certainly in FIRST person, the character is going to be the focus of every chapter. But then interactions are much more critical early on.

Does that make sense, or just make it more confusing?

Sunshine13 · Jul 15, 2006

I think it makes sense. It is all written in her POV. And, the chapter would be about her trying to steal something, getting caught, and fighting off the guy who caught her, who in turn is also trying to steal the same artifact. So, sounds interesting enough then, guess I should give it a go?

Cathy C · Jul 15, 2006

Oh sure! If it's an action scene, that's totally different. Go for it!

IThinkICan29 · Jul 15, 2006

Ooooh, your baby is so cute. And those cheeks.....faget about it....she's just adorable!

LeeFlower · Jul 15, 2006

I'd be careful about this one. A lot of people have a tendency to start their stories way before their story actually starts, if that makes sense. This journey she's on-- is it directly relevant to the plot of the rest of the story, or is it just characterization and backstory? Is that artifact-- or more specifically, the details surrounding her attempts to steal it-- integral to the rest of the plot? Because if all you need to know about it for the rest of the story is that she tried to steal it and was foiled by/succeeded in spite of this other character, I'd find a way to sumarize that in narrative, or at least cut it to one scene or one chapter. People don't like to sit around for three chapters waiting for the real story to start.

But if it's absolutely positively integral, you should be fine as long as you keep it interesting.

rachel_r_randall · Jul 15, 2006

ChristaCarol13 said:
I think it makes sense. It is all written in her POV. And, the chapter would be about her trying to steal something, getting caught, and fighting off the guy who caught her, who in turn is also trying to steal the same artifact. So, sounds interesting enough then, guess I should give it a go?

I don't have the experience of other people here, but that sounds like something I would read.

Question in regards to main char

Sunshine13

Mom by day, writer by night!

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Sunshine13

Mom by day, writer by night!

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

IThinkICan29

LeeFlower

Lurker Extraordinaire

rachel_r_randall