Need help! I am quickly becoming confused.com.
I've been reading a number of articles about when to introduce the main character of a story. All seem to agree it is within the first few pages (or even the first few paragraphs). What are your views?
My completed first draft (third re write) introduces a main character in the first paragraph (the antagonist) but his true identity remains secret for the bulk of the story. Then follows the inciting incident and only after that is the protagonist introduced (around page 15, start of chapter 4).
Would welcome any views.
Thanks very much.
Who is the main focus of your novel? Maybe your antagonist is the one you're really interested in, which is why he's up front, and the protagonist is definitely second-favourite. It may not be the positioning of the protagonist as a very late entry in Chapter 4 that's the problem: it may simply be that your book isn't about him at all, but about the other guy.
Lorraine
I try to put the MC I the first line, or at least the first sentence. Maybe that's one result of using prologues, where he doesn't appear. I think it's important for the reader to know who's most important in the story - I have two MCs so can be a bit more flexible - as early as possible.
I did what you did and introduced the antagonist at the beginning of my novel, but that meant I would have to have to introduce a flashback to see why the antagonist hates the protagonist. Flashbacks are fine when skilfully written. I'm no Margaret Atwood so I changed the beginning of my novel. I decided to stick to an Aristotelean-Plot. What Aristotle refers to as a chain of events. A leads to B, which leads To C, which leads to D, and so on. There is less chance of slips, trips and pitfalls if you keep the plot as simple and as straight forward as possible.
Below are a several tips which may already be obvious to you, but might help other readers.
You should steam in Medias Res on the first page.This can be a unique voice, a startling action, a bit of dialogue. Introduce the main character as early as possible.
Also, give the reader a puzzle to solve, something to worry about, something to read on to find out what happens next. It must start on page one, not page 3.
Ground the reader in the setting. The reader needs to know immediately WHEN and WHERE the story is taking place. Specific sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) should cue the reader to the exact location, even if you don’t specifically say where we are in the first couple paragraphs.
I hope that helps.
Good luck.