Hello all,
So I published my first novel late in 2016, and while it has done well and hit a best sellers list (albeit on Amazon), I have struggled to work on the remaining 6 books in the series. Finally, I've figured out why.
I introduce my MC of course in Book 1, instantly and then run the rest of the novel over a week-long span where everything is told via first person. This makes the book feel like a rush, or adventure, that snowballs with excitement and there really isnt much "rest" and no time lapses. I tell the story from the time she wakes up until she goes to bed for about a week until the final event happens.
While this works, I have so much more story I want to tell around other characters, and any sub-plots that are being acted out by others - say, a bad guy that "suddenly" shows up to do the bad thing - there is no element of suspense or surprise if it just, you know.....happens. I want to show the bad guys work and preparation rather than it seeming like an RNG event.
So now, I'm like shit - I need to rewrite book 1 in third person and tell multiple perspectives (which i prefer at this point).
However, here's the big question, Sage is the main character of this entire 7 book series I have fully outlined, - is it taboo or extremely bad practice to introduce her either at the end of Book 1 or the beginning of Book 2?
I feel as though I can tell an engaging story for Book 1 that sets the world up, gives plenty of backstory, and then introduces my will-be MC in a fully formed world. Otherwise i feel like my telling of the world in her first-person is so friggin limited to her own perception of it, which as a part of her character is flawed.
Thoughts?
So I published my first novel late in 2016, and while it has done well and hit a best sellers list (albeit on Amazon), I have struggled to work on the remaining 6 books in the series. Finally, I've figured out why.
I introduce my MC of course in Book 1, instantly and then run the rest of the novel over a week-long span where everything is told via first person. This makes the book feel like a rush, or adventure, that snowballs with excitement and there really isnt much "rest" and no time lapses. I tell the story from the time she wakes up until she goes to bed for about a week until the final event happens.
While this works, I have so much more story I want to tell around other characters, and any sub-plots that are being acted out by others - say, a bad guy that "suddenly" shows up to do the bad thing - there is no element of suspense or surprise if it just, you know.....happens. I want to show the bad guys work and preparation rather than it seeming like an RNG event.
So now, I'm like shit - I need to rewrite book 1 in third person and tell multiple perspectives (which i prefer at this point).
However, here's the big question, Sage is the main character of this entire 7 book series I have fully outlined, - is it taboo or extremely bad practice to introduce her either at the end of Book 1 or the beginning of Book 2?
I feel as though I can tell an engaging story for Book 1 that sets the world up, gives plenty of backstory, and then introduces my will-be MC in a fully formed world. Otherwise i feel like my telling of the world in her first-person is so friggin limited to her own perception of it, which as a part of her character is flawed.
Thoughts?
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