How quickly should the main character be aware of the stakes involved?

gideonna · Nov 14, 2009

I'm working on the second draft of my YA Urban Fantasy novel and I need to raise the stakes massively.

The problem is, I don't seem to be able to shape it so that the main character is aware of her predicament until later in the story and therefore doesn't fully appreciate the risks that she's taking straightaway.

All the writerly advice that I've been reading mentions that the stakes are super-important. Is it a complete no-no to keep my main protagonist in the dark for a long time or is this OK, providing that I keep the reader interested by dropping little hints and building suspense in the earlier chapters?

Would love to hear everyone's thoughts!

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 14, 2009

Is the reader aware of the stakes? I think that's what's important.

MC's are allowed to be a little slower than the reader.

gideonna · Nov 14, 2009

The reader will most likely guess before the MC does, but as it's written in 1st person, they won't know much.

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 14, 2009

Is there some other sort of conflict going on before the MC finds out just how high the stakes are? Is there tension in the story to keep the reader interested until the MC figures things out?

jmascia · Nov 14, 2009

I think you'll be all right, as long as your readers understands what's at stake. Many times the MC doesn't know what's really going on until near the end of the novel anyway.

gideonna · Nov 14, 2009

There are all sorts of things happening around the MC - shadowy figures, break-ins, warnings, strange phenomenon. Hopefully enough suspense to keep a reader interested while the truth slowly dawns...

Toothpaste · Nov 14, 2009

Is there a plot though? Is she proactively doing something else while all this is happening to her? I know a lot of people don't mind their passive MCs (witness Twilight), but I think that is the exception rather than the rule. You can do a great reveal later on, but make sure that we care about your MC, and that she's doing something.

gideonna · Nov 15, 2009

Thanks for your comments, all. I'm still learning so this is useful stuff.

The MC is doing something else while all this is going on - chasing a boy, which eventually ties in with the other underlying strands.

I'm hoping that the whole thing will come together once I've tweaked it!

HMS · Nov 15, 2009

I think the MC needs to have something at stake ... some goal which is frustrated ... so you can motivate his or her actions. This goal may be something different from what the reader sees is at stake. Particularly for a young MC, he or she may think that something simple is at stake, like getting something to eat, but the reader knows that global survival hangs in the balance. (OK, I'm being dramatic here). The MC's ignorance creates great tension.

erin_michelle · Nov 15, 2009

^I agree. In my YA, I have the MC starting out believing one thing is at stake, but towards the end of her "quest" she finds there's a bigger issue going on in the background. I think the best thing would be to slowly build on the tension, instead of having the stakes slap your reader in the face during the last chapter.

gideonna · Nov 15, 2009

I hear what you're saying. I have to make my MC work harder. I need to give her chances to act way earlier in the story so that she can reveal her true self. Cheers for the tips - I'm going to lock myself in a dark room for a while to think about this.

Kitty27 · Nov 16, 2009

My MC has a lot going on. A murder mystery,family secrets,strange powers and a boy who is quite odd.

She's pretty clueless about the odd boy,but that's love for you. She's on her game with the murder and family secrets,so I figure I can drag out the reveal about the boy until the next book. But I leave plenty of hints as to his secret.

providing that I keep the reader interested by dropping little hints and building suspense in the earlier chapters?

This is perfect!

thothguard51 · Nov 16, 2009

If you're in first person, then I am not sure how you can show the big picture sooner rather than later to the readers. You can only show what the MC knows, thinks, or suspects.

But in 3rd peson, you can have other characters show the readers the big picture while keeping the MC in the dark.

You might try a combination of both; 1st person in the chapters dealing with the MC and switching to 3rd person of another character, protagonist or antagonist, other than the MC. If done properly, the MC is still left clueless but the readers can learn the bigger picture and are shouting to the MC not to belive so and so...

I've seen this done before and it worked well... But I would never transition between PoV's, 1st/3rd within a chapter. Keep the chapters seperate so not to confuse the reader...

Just a suggestion...

Gedaechtnis · Nov 18, 2009

I think that so long as the MC has motivation, you'll be fine. Characters who wander around annoy everyone. The MC doesn't have to know the stakes straightaway so long as he/she/it(well it is fantasy, you never know) has motivation(s) and there actually are stakes.

How quickly should the main character be aware of the stakes involved?

gideonna

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

gideonna

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

jmascia

gideonna

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

gideonna

HMS

erin_michelle

Foreshadowing Queen

gideonna

Kitty27

So Goth That I Was Born Black

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Gedaechtnis

likes toast and peppermint