MC Starting Alone

I would think that as long as it's interesting alone time, compelling and plot worthy, there is nothing wrong with it.

I hope not, my MC is alone for several pages to start my book.

I've read at least one short story where there's only one character, alone the entire time, and I liked it. Eric Brown's Helix starts out with a few chapters of the MC being alone, and I thought it was so well done it could have been a stand-alone story, and I wouldn't have complained of the lack of other characters.

I don't think there's any problem with that method at all, and I know that I plan on having an MC be alone for quite a while in my next book. Don't sweat it - just write it well.

I also hope not: My MC is pretty much alone for the first 5 pages!

As long as it's interesting, I don't think it's a problem.

The main problem with a single character being on stage alone is that it's much harder to give exposition in dialogue. That character is more or less stuck musing and that makes the exposition more obvious, especially at the start of a book. So you probably need to take a good look at how you're handling that problem.

My own preference is for there to be two characters, so the reader doesn't have to learn about too many at once but I have their interaction to work with.

I think the main problem with starting an MC alone is that it's very easy to fall into telling their actions and descriptions. I avoid it because I use dialouge to set the stage.

I start with my MC alone. I had to for the story. Yes, it was hard, but I worked on it until it got better. And then I worked on it some more.

As long as it's not boring and is written well, you shouldn't worry about it.

As long as there is a question the reader has that makes her keep reading go ahead.

Lets say the MC was at the bar with all his friends. Then suddenly he just leaves, no good byes, doesn't take his jacket, has a beer he just bought on the bar without even a sip taken from it. This will make the reader keep going because its just not 'normal' to do that. Why leave without telling his friends? Why didn't he take his jacket? Why did he buy the beer then leave without drinking it?

Always lead the reader with questions at the beginning.

Like the others, I have no real problem with it. If the character manages to keep my interest without meeting anyone else, I'd read on. Action or conflict doesn't necessarily involve more than one person.

As long as it's not boring, I have no idea why it would be wrong to start with the MC alone. In my opinion, too many novels start with interaction.

It's awkward when I think in those terms. My story doesn't even start with the main character...who is a loner, in a way.
As has been said. as long as its not boring you could write an entire book without dialogue.
But that would demand a lot of imagination.
you would inevitably have the MC talking to the walls or creating imaginary friends because human beings have brains that are shaped in a way that demands them to interact.

where is you Mc, by the way?
The environment could have the MC say thank you to a lady bringing him teh coffe he ordered or bumping into someone random on the street.
You could do this if you're really desperate.

In my current WIP, the main character is alone until the end of Chapter Two. And if he wasn't, there would pretty much be no story.

Delete it.

See if the story still makes sense.

If it does, you started too early. If it doesn't, then you're in the clear.

As long as it doesn't start with "musing" or "reflecting", then I don't see what the problem is.

I just read your post again and read "...its a bit heavy on the description..."
If you're saying to yourself its a bit heavy on description chances are it is. Then again it could be your own inner critic telling you that.
Ask yourself
Does the description I give drive the story forward?
Does it raise questions for the reader?
Are these descriptions needed for the plot or character?
Are they from the MC's perspective instead of me just describing things as the writer?

If the answers are all yes you are doing great, if one or all are no then consider trying different words or make it so all are yes.

Also concider if some of the descriptions can be told another way. If you are describing the MC's physical appearance perhaps you can save it for later and have it come out a different way, unless he has only one leg and its important to the story.

And then you can always have someone read the first few pages...a friend, sister, someone from here. But get a few people to read it. You might end up giving it to someone who either hates descriptions or som eone who absolutely loves it. Getting a variety of opinions will cancel that out.

And dialogue isn't everything...have you ever read The Pearl?

Is the drama level kept up for the solitary MC? If so then you can keep him alone, though it is hard to live in a vacuum and keep up the interest with only one character unless he's a multiple personality.

I like solitary characters. There are almost never boring. If a character is interesting on their own it seems more realistic to me than being introduced to characters just to aid in characterization.

I only have one book that doesn't start with my MC alone. They're always doing something interesting and that first scene usually presents the problem that will be the focus of the plot (at least to begin with), so I figure it's all good. An awful lot of my favorite novels begin with a character alone.

In my current WIP my character is alone at the start, for over 700 words. And he's in his bedroom (though not sleeping! or dreaming! not even in bed) Although I think this start works well as I have written it, like MMWyrm I've been agonising over the past couple of weeks, trying to find a better start, simply because I thought starting with a character alone is, by definition, a bad thing.

I broke off writing to outline the story in an attempt to find a better start. Actually, the outlining process has been helpful for later parts of the story -- but I still couldn't find a better place to start it.

So even though I'm not the original poster, this thread has helped me. I'm sticking with my start--and hopefully now I can stop procrastinating on such unimportant things. Thanks to everyone.

MMWyrm said:

This is probably a huge no-no. Unfortunately, I've done it for two of my novels.

My MC starts out alone. In one book he spends several minutes in a pub with other people, but then sets out on his own for another 3-4 pages. In the other book, my MC is alone for 5 pages before meeting up with anyone else.

There is stuff going on, although I suppose its a bit heavy on the description. The MCs aren't just sitting there thinking and describing the qualities of light or anything.

Is this really, really bad? Do you need multiple character interaction from the get-go?

Click to expand...

As long as it works you will be fine.

Thats like having a char wake up from the bed after a nightmare scene and seeing their friend in bed with them for some odd reason... although now I'm stepping into the anime world a bit =)

Many books have the MC start off alone, it's almost a must on the way writers usually begin the story.

MMWyrm said:

This is probably a huge no-no. Unfortunately, I've done it for two of my novels.

My MC starts out alone. In one book he spends several minutes in a pub with other people, but then sets out on his own for another 3-4 pages. In the other book, my MC is alone for 5 pages before meeting up with anyone else.

There is stuff going on, although I suppose its a bit heavy on the description. The MCs aren't just sitting there thinking and describing the qualities of light or anything.

Is this really, really bad? Do you need multiple character interaction from the get-go?

Click to expand...

As to your question: "Is this really, really bad?"

My answer is: Yes. It is bad. Really, really bad.

Yeah, yeah. There are exceptions. . . .
But you are starting out with one arm tied behind your back, and maybe a leg tied off too. imo.

Like, Where's the conflict?

The MC is all alone by him/her -self. Starting out with just the MC in the scene might work if there is conflict with the MC against the environment, like maybe the MC is hanging from a cliff by one hand. Or the MC is in a broken one-man submarine on the bottom of a sea and he's running out of air. Or there is a poisonous snake in the MC's sleeping bag with the MC, and the zipper is busted. Or the MC has honey spilled all over him and there's a grizzly bear downwind of him.

Or maybe the MC could have multiple personalities and the conflict is raging among them, and one personality has control of an arm that's holding a knife and wants to commit suicide.

That stuff could work . . . maybe.

But too often, the MC is navel gazing. Or the narrator is dumping backstory. Or the narrator is describing stuff, like a sunset. Or the writer is narrating angst and thinks everyone just luvs his writerly voice.

If you want to start with your MC alone, well, if you can make it work . . . that's all that counts. . . .

But, dang it, I sure rather have use of both of me arms when in a fight. But that's me.

And of course, there are some bookstore browsers (and readers) that skip down to the first lines of dialogue to evaluate the story. Or so I've heard.

imo.