Does a story need a clear main character? - Writers Forum

Bettybot · 03-02-2008, 06:43 PM

In a novel I'm in the process of writing, I have three main characters and I would very much like to keep them equal. I don't want to have one main character and two sidekicks. When I submit my work for critique, this seems to incur frustration. I keep hearing one of two complaints. The first complaint is that they can't figure out who the main character is. The second complaint is when a reader has decided that one of the three is the main character, and then complains that this character does not have enough focus. Is it common for readers to want one single main character? Or is it alright to have more than one, but I'm handling it in the wrong way? Does anybody have any insight on this issue? The novel is written in third person viewpoint, and each chapter shows the viewpoint of a different character.

Non Serviam · 03-02-2008, 06:48 PM

It's perfectly normal to have several viewpoint characters.

But are all these characters in the same place at the same time?

Bettybot · 03-02-2008, 06:56 PM

They are three characters all going on an adventure together. The viewpoint isn't the trouble. The trouble is that readers seem to be frustrated that I haven't picked one of the three to be the main character.

seigfried007 · 03-02-2008, 07:33 PM

I know the feeling. Some people can get over the lack of distinct MC, some can't.

My 3rd-person limited WIP has 11 main view point characters (2 additional POVs only occur a few times in one book or another during the five-part series). Of those, I would consider two to be MCs. Readers either loved it and raved to their friends, or they couldn't stop complaining about the 'lack of focus'. They said it was 'jarring' and that the story 'didn't go anywhere'. It's not that it didn't go anywhere (all kinds of things were happening--lots of action and drama and development) but that it was the view of one main conflict through numerous portholes of POV. Big conflicts tend to take lots of people to tell the whole story and not everyone's a reading multitasker.

Most of the writers I know would advise you to turn one into a slightly more 'main' character to give the readers more focus.

How do you determine who the MC ought to be?

HippoHead · 03-02-2008, 07:35 PM

ur readers are idiots.

i think it sounds like a good idea.

have three main characters!
it'd make the story more interesting, giving it different points of view on every chapter.

Non Serviam · 03-02-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bettybot

They are three characters all going on an adventure together. The viewpoint isn't the trouble. The trouble is that readers seem to be frustrated that I haven't picked one of the three to be the main character.

Sure. The pertinent question was: Are all your viewpoint characters in the same place at the same time?

If so, I think I can diagnose the problem. If not, please post the piece in question so I can have a look?

Bettybot · 03-02-2008, 08:20 PM

I very much appreciate your offer to review my work, but I'm afraid I'm not comfortable posting it in a public setting. To answer your pertinent question: They are usually in the same place at the same time. However, their viewpoints differ because they are all very different characters who hold contrasting attitudes to what is going on and different views on their relationships with each other. They do get separated from time to time, though. The novel opens with one of them looking for the other, before they fall down the rabbit hole.

Non Serviam · 03-02-2008, 08:29 PM

Fair enough with not posting it.

I think the challenge is almost certainly looking at the same place through different sets of eyes. You can do that, but it's quite challenging.

Offhand, the only example I can think of where this is done in published work is Robert A. Heinlein's Number of the Beast. Which is in some ways an atrocious novel, but Heinlein does handle having four viewpoint characters in the same place at the same time fairly well--do you have access to a copy you can look at?

omginternetlord · 03-02-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bettybot

They are three characters all going on an adventure together. The viewpoint isn't the trouble. The trouble is that readers seem to be frustrated that I haven't picked one of the three to be the main character.

I'm not sure if there absolutely has to be a main character, but there'll need to be some differentiation between them for sure.

Personally, I like there to be a main character.

lin · 03-02-2008, 09:37 PM

Lot's of wannabes (and idiots) are convinced that it's vital to have a single lead. The dumshit word "protagonist" crops up a lot. When you mention great works that have several equivalent characters they ususally say, "Oh, but that's an ensemble piece." In 17 states it's okay to just kill them for that crap.

Certainly you can have a bunch of buddies on a road trip, a group of people trying to figure out who the killer is, etc.

Any decent love story has at least two characters of equal importance, no? Three is better yet.

What you're doing is not a problem. And has been done by fine writers. One good example would be Ken Kesey's "Sometimes A Great Notion". So to hell with 'em.

I just don't see this as that big a challenge to a writer or a reader who's head is located somewhere other than up his elbow.

The focus thing is a different matter. If your character is to diffuse to care about, that's not good. My blind hunch would be it's not necesarily true, just the nimrods unable to come to grips with a story distributed between different viewpoints and narration.

The "different eyes" thing can be an extremely powerful tool for you, for everything from adding dimension to creating tension, to use as humor. One character lovingly describes some object's beauty or somebody's wonderful character...two chapters later the gross character describes in in a way that makes it sound ridiculous, of the writes off the character's personality, sudden reducing her from "sublime earth spirt" to "dimwit hippie" or some such.

We can't tell how well you're pulling this off, but there is nothing wrong with the tack you've taken and it could be something very right. Get different readers...or just use their insights into missing commas and dismiss the lame parts.

NickK · 03-02-2008, 09:38 PM

The way I see it, any number of main character is fine as long as they are all developed well. In fact, I often enjoy writing with multiple main characters because you are able to convey different viewpoints on a single event or concept.

For a good example of a book with multiple main characters, I'd look at George. R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. He cycles through numerous characters from different factions and areas in the world.

If you're going to have all your characters be in the same place at the same time most of the time though, I'd be very sure that cycling between their viewpoints actually adds something. Or else it is just irritating and unnecessary for the reader.

Mike C · 03-03-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bettybot

They are three characters all going on an adventure together.

Sounds like an Enid Blyton adventure! She, incidentally, had no problems with five, or even seven, main characters.

slayerofangels · 03-03-2008, 09:54 AM

Different viewpoints is a fine tool, but it can become confusing sometimes, and even then, like anything, it won't be to everyone's tastes. Some people prefer to have one character they can like or hate, others don't, its not an indication of whether a story is good or bad. The only way you'll really know is through good critiques. Not much help, but there it is.

lin · 03-03-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Different viewpoints is a fine tool, but it can become confusing sometimes

So can using one character, if poorly done.

BTW, in Sometimes a Great Notion, Kesey suddenly had a chapter narrated by a new voice without doing any intro or stage-setting. Readers could not immediately tell who it was that was telling the story. It became plain after a couple of pages.

We readers did not lose our equilibrium and run off into the night in confusion and loathing. Like most readers, we read on, trying to figure out who it was who was speaking.

WAY to much discussion about writing assumes that readers are ADD morons who need to be carefully clued in and handheld at every turn.

Mike C · 03-04-2008, 12:56 AM

And if the Kesey example is too intellekcherul... Stephen King's The Stand had, what, about 500 main characters? Or it seemed like it. The point is, he made it work.