How do you write a book with multiple main characters?

How to Successfully Feature Multiple Main Characters

1. Think Reader-First. You want nothing to stand in the way of the reader’s experience. …
2. Make Your POV Characters Distinct. In subsequent books in the Left Behind series, I used as many as five different perspective characters for one novel. …
3. Choose Carefully.

How do you write a book with a large casting character?

10 Rules for Handling Large Casts of Characters

1. Rule #1: Characters Should Exist to Represent Theme and Move Plot (Preferably Both) …
2. Rule #2: Fewer Characters Are Better. …
3. Rule #3: Avoid Repetition by Recognizing Which Archetype Each Character Represents.

How do you write a book with multiple people?

10 Great Tips on How to Write a Book With a Co-Author

1. Suppress your ego. …
2. Edit each other’s work. …
3. Trust each other. …
4. Put the book away for a time and come back to it. …
5. Pick Your Battles. …
6. But Fight For What You Want. …
7. Keep Challenging Each Other. …
8. Strike the Right Balance.

How do you write a book with two POVS?

5 Tips for Writing From Multiple Points of View

1. Hone in on the most important character. …
2. Use different perspectives to build characters. …
3. Stick to one point of view for each scene. …
4. Clearly define perspective shifts. …
5. Give each character a unique perspective and voice.

What makes a good character cast?

The perfect cast



One of the hallmarks of a perfect cast is the ability to put any two individuals in a situation and still interest the reader. This requires not only that each character is interesting in their own right, but that they have something to say about every other character.

How many characters do you need in a story?

A good rule of thumb might be: Include as many characters as needed to tell the story and evoke the proper style and scope—and no more. For intimate novels, this number might be as small as 2-5 secondary characters, and for broader stories, this number might be 20-30.

Can you write a book in both first and third person?

There is no rule that says that all parts of a story must be written in the same POV. Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling novel Dragonfly in Amber mixed first person and third person POV throughout the story. The reader was never confused. And that’s what matters — you want your reader to never be confused.

How do you write a collaborative story?

In a collaborative story, each person takes turns telling the part of the story.

1. Pick the Writers. Invite trusted friends, babysitters, or family members to write the story with you. …
2. Decide the Author Order. …
3. Start the Story. …
4. Story Writing Tips. …
5. Ending the Story.

How many POVs is too many?

Don’t use more than three. While those tips are good general advice, they’re often not specific enough to actually answer our question. Our story might seem to need more than the standard advice would recommend.

Is it okay to switch point of view in a book?

Two: When you change perspectives, you must make sure the reader knows which character she’s viewing the story through—not just sometimes, but all the time. Changing perspective at chapter or section breaks can help with this clarity, but it is possible to change within paragraphs and still maintain clarity.

How many POVs should a book have?

Readers can get much more intimate with your characters this way. There’s no hard and fast rule about how many POVs you should limit yourself to. Some experts and writing coaches will tell you no more than 3 to 5 POVs. But it’s your story to tell, so you should decide who tells it and how.

How do you make a cast diverse character?

Tips for Developing Diverse Characters

1. Listen. Listening is one of the main characteristics we need to write any story, as inspiration can come from places we could never imagine. …
2. Include your experiences. …
3. Get beta readers. …
4. Remember that your goal is to tell a story.

What is a cast character?

Definition of cast of characters



—sometimes used to refer to a group of people who have important roles in a book, story, or event The cast of characters includes President Johnson and his top advisers during the Vietnam War.

How do you organize your character?

Tip #1 Master list – Keep a master list of characters. List names, ages, a short description, the characters’ roles in the story, and the chapters they appear in the story. This list keeps you from putting too many characters into a story. It also serves a quick reference to keep pesky logical errors at bay.

How do you introduce the main character in a story?

Here is some writing advice to help you introduce your characters as effectively as possible:

1. Don’t get bogged down in physical appearance. …
2. Give your character a memorable character trait. …
3. Start with backstory when appropriate. …
4. Introduce a character through action. …
5. Introduce the main character as soon as possible.

What makes a good character introduction?

There’s no need to linger and give details. Introduce your protagonist early. This not only gets the story going right from the start, but it also tells your reader who they’re supposed to be rooting for. Other major characters can come in later, but your main character should show up in chapter one.

How many characters should you introduce in the first chapter?

You involve up to five to eight characters in the beginning and add more in later chapters to which it’s most preferable when their roles are smaller. Depending on the size of the story, remind the reader who they are and what they look like in casual description of what they’re doing in scenes.