Havoc

Im asking myself how much storyline's can you put in a story? If you already have five main characters who each have their own problems explained troughout the story, how much aditional stuff can you trow in before it gets realy confusing? Ofcourse it depends on the content of the storyline, but can I get some general reply's?

Kat

Five main character's seems like a lot. I think as long as each is distinct and individual that you sholdn't have a problem. They also need to converge and interact with each other at some time so you see how they relate.

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DL Ferguson

Well, is it confusing to YOU? Do you understand each character's relationship to the others and do you understand why each character is doing what they're doing and more importantly, WHY they're doing it? Chances are if you are a firm understanding of what your characters are doing and why they're doing it, it can't help but come out in your story because you will make it clear to the reader.

Maybe the story you're telling doesn't need to support as many subplots as you think it does. That's why I always write my stories and novels for myself first, because I'm telling the story to myself first. Here's a quote from Mario Van Peebles (writer and director of novels, screenplays and a helluva actor in his own right) that might help you out:

"For me, writing a story is like cooking a meal; I throw in different spices and ingredients to suit my taste because even if nobody else wants to eat it, I've got to eat for the rest of the week so I might as well make it to suit what I like."

Havoc

hehehe nice quote . Well I understand every storyline, but that becouse I write it I already know whats gonna happand and how the problems will eventualy be solved (or not).
But thanks for that!

shaggy

As much as you can handle.

The most "complicated" plot I made out in my novel involved 3 key players (all 3 have more or less equal weightage as the "heroes" or protagonists), a villain and his sidekicks (that's another 3 chara) and a supporting cast of 3 more. So that's 9 characters I consider important, that is, without any one of them, the story would suffer. There is one main theme for the entire novel but as many as 3 important sub-plots. It wasn't easy to write at all, but it worked out in the end.

I think it's important to include only those sub-plots that will develop the characters as well as advance, and not simply prolong, the story.

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Kermie04

As many as you think you can include without you becoming confused by your own storylines. I think the decision lays primarly in yourself. If you are confused by numerous storylines, then I think other people will be as well.

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Nazareth

Remember, for the most part, we live in an instant society & don't like to have to work to read (Some people don't mind- But I think for the most part, people want an easier to follow plotline)

You're 5 characters 'should' all have basically the same conflict goal ie: something they all are trying to solve, or overcome, or fet around etc. Each character's dynamic conflict should all revolve around the central problem like :

The world is going to be blown up- 5 characters will each handle the situation differently-

1 will be timid, and shirk responsioblity-

1 might be bold, but lack planning, and get in trouble because of this trait-

1 might be super organized, but suffer from troubled childhood and freaks out when dealing with the stress of trying to save the world (Or woman, or man or town or whatever they trying to save in your story)

1 might have leadershgip qualities but lack sentimental qualities that might be necessary for the success of the mission

Each will have a backstory that inhibits the mission or central goal somehow & You'll be developping each character around their unique problems while keeping your eye on the central goal.

It's hard to have 5 main characters- but much easier to have 1 main, and 4 supporting characters- Your audience needs to connect with a character & won't really appreciate jumping back and forth- for the most part

Shianra

The book (and I use that term loosely) I'm currently working on has one central character at first. Then I got bored of that and decided to make her pet cat another main character. Hell, why not?

The idea for another book that I'm gonna have a go at will have 5 characters.

It's true many readers don't like working to read. My prob as a reader has always cropped up when I just don't LIKE one of the main characters. I skip through their segments of the book to get back to the characters I do like. Anyone else do that?

Anyways, I think a good way to remove the "work" element is to make the reader like all the characters. Like in terms of

character one: i identify with them
character two: He's really cool and mysterious
3: she's an idiot, but really funny
4:this one is just sooo cute and fluffy
5: I hate this guy, but damn he's fun to hate!

eh, you get my point. Right?

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Havoc

One thing you should never do is skipping a characters scene cuz you don't like him. Even though you may not like him, a scene with the character mostly is a real contribute to a story.

Shianra

I know that sirrah. And really, I DO force myself to read through those bits anyays. But the temptation is there to ignore them.

I think only one author has actually incted me to not read the entire thing word by word. Usually it irks me too much to leave a book unfinished. I left a decent book on a plane flight to malaysia once and was devastated! never seen that book anywhere since...

err, anyways, I was just saying that whenever a reader feels like they WANT to skip ahead then something's wrong. No?

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safari invasion

I think Havoc's original question is an interesting one. It is very easy to overload a story with too much storyline and too many characters. As writers, we have an easier time following it beacuse we created it. We write these characters everyday. We aren't confused. It all makes sense to us, but more importantly, does it make sense to the readers?

The series I'm working on currently has one main character (the protagonist) as well as the people that surround him. There are his two closest friends and then many, many others who the reader doesn't get to know as well, but are still necessary as a supporting cast. Additionally, there are the other elements to the story which all involve other characters. This creates an environment with a lot happening and a lot of characters to consider, but it is balanced out by the main conflict. So if nothing else, the reader can easily follow that main conflict and hopefull the other elements will make sense and fall into place.

I also try to write in stopping points where I essentially narrate the important events up to that point. It's not like I just stop and say "this is what has happened", but it still suits as a subtle way of straightening things out.

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gabriella

"One thing you should never do is skipping a characters scene cuz you don't like him. Even though you may not like him, a scene with the character mostly is a real contribute to a story."

A writer should love all his characters, in a way, I learned that the hard way.

I had planned on making a fanfiction, and there were two best friends - one I liked, one I didn't. And I mean just plain didn't like him. I would always do stuff to humiliate him, to prove to the world the stupidity that only I saw when the author came out with the book.

I made him bland, lifeless, just somebody who had to be there. But because he was one of the main characters, everything was one cheap shot after another whenever he was there, which ruined my favorite character. There was nothing.

But then I made him from another man's friend to my own friend, after changing his entire identity and personality. Now I love him, and now everything just comes to life with him.

So, if you hate your character, then get rid of him or redo him until you like him and can work with him for the long hours every day it takes to make a novel.

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Shianra

i love MY characters! I only have the one really, some chick. She's cool.

Oh, wait. I think her cat's a main character now too... I love them both anyway.

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ValoH

I d love to see your characters. I usually only have one character, and it's difficult for me to understand him. But don't let them go because of some "rule"..

moonandsun

It's hard not to fall in love with your charecters. I mean, I spend three hours or more a day with them, I'm telling their stories, it's hard not too. But, I also love my villains.

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