The character shuffle

Del · Jan 25, 2007

Have you ever changed your main character?

I'm getting into my second novel and for the second time, a secondary character took over the lead.

I have to admit, I am more excited about the story now.

ChaosTitan · Jan 25, 2007

Not changed the main character exactly. In an early draft of one book, three characters shared center stage. To focus the query and synopsis, I rewrote some of it to give one character a slightly heavier role and set him up as the protag. Problem was, most of the action happened to him, rather than because of him.

The latest (and IMHO, best) draft sets up another of the three characters as the lead, and I think the manuscript is stronger for it.

ruecole · Jan 25, 2007

Yes!

With my first novel, I started writing it with three main characters, then I learned I should only have one main character, so I chose the character I started with to be the MC, but about half-way through, too many people were saying they didn't like her, so I made her sister the MC, of course, she was the type of character who had things happen to her vs. making things happen.

That novel has fortunately died a peaceful death.

Now I'm working on my second novel, I found I wanted to start switching characters again, but while I did succumb for three chapters, I've sinced realized the error of my ways and have switched back. Phew!

Er, dunno if this helps you or not, but I think my lesson learned is: Follow your gut instinct.

JMVHO

Rue

britlitfantw · Jan 25, 2007

When I started Choice, a stereotypical princess named Ariel was my main character. Now she's dead before the story even starts.

TrainofThought · Jan 25, 2007

I never changed my main character because she is too strong to fall back as a secondary. My characters tell me what to do and I give them breathing room. It’s a good sign that you’re more excited about your story.

PeeDee · Jan 25, 2007

I started my novel with a throwaway character who would die after doing what I needed him to do, and then my main character would come out...except that, when it came to the bit for him to die, it turned out he was pretty sturdy and my original main character never surfaced.

swvaughn · Jan 26, 2007

Oooh, Pete - that sounds like a wicked experience!

Unexpected characters are such fun.

Delarege - I've changed main characters (after writing the whole book twice with one MC and hating it both times). I think it's necessary sometimes. Right story, wrong POV. Once you find the right one, it clicks.

KiraOnWhite · Jan 26, 2007

I can't decide between the male and female protagonist for my first novel...thankfully I solved the problem by making the male scared of the female, which is now one of the main conflicts he has to face in the story. For my second novel, I decided not to use a main character and let the readers have their own opinion.

FergieC · Jan 26, 2007

When I started Choice, a stereotypical princess named Ariel was my main character. Now she's dead before the story even starts.

I have the opposite problem in that I killed a character off in the first chapter, with the intention that his death would hang over and haunt the other three characters, one in particular. But the haunting was supposed to be subtle. Now he's ended up as an actual ghost (perhaps, or maybe the product of a psychotically depressed mind), but larger than life anyway, and by far the strongest character. Gah!! :e2writer:

Elodie-Caroline · Jan 26, 2007

I have a character in my first WIP, he's quite a nasty piece of work and gets killed off three-quarters of the way through, but he could have a book all of his own.

Ellie

Lynn Sholes · Jan 26, 2007

protagonist

When I wrote my historical fiction series, each book had a different main character even though I brought back many of the other characters. For instance, in one book I had a little boy--not the protagonist, but an important character--who "begged" me for his own book. So I grew him up and let him take the lead in the next book. I have had strong characters try to take over the lead--I think it is easier to write them strong because they don't have to follow the rules that the portagonist does. And for them, I've had to fight them back into their place. I know what you mean. Go with your gut --whatever makes the story stronger.

johnzakour · Jan 26, 2007

Delarege said:
Have you ever changed your main character?

No. It would be like changing a part of me that I really like. No good can come of that.

KiraOnWhite · Jan 26, 2007

If the plot really forces me to choose a main protagonist, I would definitely not choose the hero. Tried this loads of times and it comes off as cliche...much prefer the seemingly 3rd party, such as the helper or the mentor and the likes. Its really difficult to write a lame character, much less promote him to MC.

jodiodi · Jan 26, 2007

Yes. I completed a book with two MCs and it just didn't sit right with me. Then I realized the story was really about another character who wasn't even in the book. I changed it by adding her and she turned out to be the central character who was the driving force behind three more books.

The character shuffle

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

ChaosTitan

Around

ruecole

Chronic Lurker

britlitfantw

TrainofThought

A flowering bud of bitchiness

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

swvaughn

adrift

KiraOnWhite

FergieC

Bored at work fanatic

Elodie-Caroline

Lynn Sholes

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

KiraOnWhite

jodiodi

Reflections of Reality