Must characters interact?

Good Apollo · Jun 21, 2012

My novel has probably 6 major characters, and they do interact, though not all at once. Is this alright? I know most endings enjoy characters coming together, but I think it would be a total deus ex machina to bring them all together in one place for the sake of literary tradition. They're usually in groups of 2-3. Thoughts?

Drey of Boon · Jun 21, 2012

Are they all POV's? I don't think you need all your characters in a room at the end of the story saying, "Phew, what an adventure!" as long as they all serve a purpose along the way and aren't left dangling at the end.

But can I ask - are you sure you really need that many major characters?

Good Apollo · Jun 21, 2012

Sorry if I made it seem like the story uses them lightly - the book is fairly space-opera-ish, and as such, it reflects various segments of this world. A politician, a soldier, a pilot, etc. - they are all interwoven around the central plot, and they will certainly all be resolved, but I do need their POV to tell aspects of the story.

Chasing the Horizon · Jun 21, 2012

I don't see any reason why they all have to come together. Just usually, at the end of a large cast book, everyone is involved in the final strike against the main villain. That's part of what ties all the aspects of an epic fantasy or space opera together. However, they could all contribute to the final battle without needing to be in the same place, depending on how it's all choreographed.

Good Apollo · Jun 21, 2012

Oh, definitely. It'd be a travesty to have my characters quietly dine while the world falls apart.

Thank you for your input!

rwm4768 · Jun 21, 2012

I think readers have an expectation that the characters are all working toward the same climax. They may find it disappointing if that doesn't happen. But if it's the only way to tell your story, go with it.

Kewii · Jun 21, 2012

rwm4768 said:
I think readers have an expectation that the characters are all working toward the same climax. They may find it disappointing if that doesn't happen. But if it's the only way to tell your story, go with it.

But do all characters have to interact with each other to work towards that same climax?

Let's say, the climax involves a battle of some sort. Couldn't they all be involved in it without knowing each other? Apollo has a politician, a soldier, and a pilot all involved. Feasibly, they could all participate in that battle but never know the others are involved.

Good Apollo · Jun 21, 2012

Thanks for your input, guys.

Kewii, that is certainly my plan. Some of the characters share romantic relationships, some are under the jurisdiction of others, and some are forced to work together at certain points. They all end up meeting one another at some point, but I think it would just be the start of a bad joke to have a giant space-clown-car plowing into battle..

"Okay, so there's a pilot, a doctor, a soldier..."

gingerwoman · Jun 21, 2012

What genre is this book?

Todd Young · Jun 22, 2012

I don't see any reason why they all need to interact at some point. I'm pretty sure I've read novels where some of the characters don't meet the others.

Good Apollo · Jun 22, 2012

Did you feel they were complete? Todd?

It's a large-scale science-fiction, Ginger.

Brian Rush · Jun 22, 2012

I don't think there's any hard and fast rule here. Whatever makes the story flow and character development work is what you should have them do. It's even possible to create a story with (say) two main characters who never directly interact at all, but each put things in motion that impact the other. They might each not even know the other exists. I think that might make an interesting story told from an alternating first person PoV.

Good Apollo · Jun 22, 2012

True. I've wanted to explore that option - seems a bit daunting, though.

frimble3 · Jun 22, 2012

As long as you give each major character his/her own ending, I don't think they all have to be 'together'.
The guy who goes into combat, and is actually there when the enemy breaks and runs; the guy who flew the plane that dropped him off, and then has to struggle to get home safely; and the guy at headquarters, biting his nails because he can only visualise what's happening from incoming reports, are all part of the same victory, even if they never meet.

WriteMinded · Jun 22, 2012

Duh. I don't get it. I don't see why you'd think this could be a problem. Some rule you read somewhere? If so, please tell me about it. I don't want to miss any rules.

dawinsor · Jun 22, 2012

An example of a book where the POV characters don't all meet is Maureen McHugh's China Mountain Zhang. Not all of George Martin's characters meet either. It can work.

Good Apollo · Jun 22, 2012

WriteMinded said:
Duh. I don't get it. I don't see why you'd think this could be a problem. Some rule you read somewhere? If so, please tell me about it. I don't want to miss any rules.

Sadly, yes. Lots of inexperienced wanna-know-everything'ers making blog posts about characters "needing" to come together.

Thank you for the examples and help, everyone. Gives me a bit more faith in the concept.

Raventongue · Jun 22, 2012

You know, not only is the separate parts of a same victory thing totally acceptable, but in a novel with a lot of main characters I'd say the reader will actually appreciate it being done that way. A large cast that sticks together like glue is something a lot of folks find hard to get into, yeah?

Brian Rush said:
I think that might make an interesting story told from an alternating first person PoV.

<derail> I wrote a short story like that last year! I was inspired by a joke someone made on TVTropes. </derail>

Good Apollo · Jun 22, 2012

Great point!

Coco82 · Jun 23, 2012

Is your WIP a stand alone book or part of a series? Just out of curiosity.

I'm doing something similar storyline wise and I don't think the main characters have to meet up or interact either. I know some of mine defintely won't because they run in different circles.

Good Apollo · Jun 23, 2012

Right now it's a standalone. I wouldn't want to make it into a series unless an agent / publisher was genuinely interested in the material. I may just be a whore for marketing, but I like to write what people are willing to read. I do feel that the world is developed just enough to "entice" people into the finer aspects of the universe, you know, to be explored in any possible sequels or related literature.

What are you doing with yours?

Lady Ice · Jun 23, 2012

They don't have to all meet up for a big battle at the end but I think the links between them should be strong.

Good Apollo · Jun 23, 2012

Good point. I've been looking through my plot to see if it has enough inter-personal contact.

SLTE · Jun 23, 2012

dawinsor said:
An example of a book where the POV characters don't all meet is Maureen McHugh's China Mountain Zhang. Not all of George Martin's characters meet either. It can work.

If all of George Martin's important characters came together at the end of his Ice and Fire books, they'd have to rent a convention hall to fit everybody in the same room. At least Tyrion could ride on someone's shoulders to free up space.

So, yeah, I don't think everyone has to interact at some point. It can't hurt in order to tie the story's threads together, but there are other ways to do that.

Raventongue · Jun 23, 2012

SLTE said:
If all of George Martin's important characters came together at the end of his Ice and Fire books, they'd have to rent a convention hall to fit everybody in the same room.

To be fair, this is one of the big reasons behind the growing backlash against Martin.

Must characters interact?

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