Dual Character - UF

Reifier · Nov 10, 2011

Hi guys,

I'm *pretty* much done with my first UF...and maybe I should have asked this before I started the novel but I kinda only found about this place well after I was neck-deep into it.

Anyway, my question is do you think its commercially viable/doable/a good idea to have two main characters - both in first person, both female, one is 23 - the other 17?

I assure you I have a very good reason for it, however as I'm writing my query, I can't seem to get my head around trying to explain the situation - like my mind blanks because there's just so much different factors that are involved - well I think that's why anyway.

What do you guys think? Any tips? Would be greatly appreciated.

Bufty · Nov 11, 2011

Welcome.

I hope your manuscript and query letter are written more clearly than this.

chickenrising · Nov 11, 2011

I should make it clear I don't know anything, not at all. But

It should be fine. I see a lot of people here who worry about every little thing, but I have to believe that you're better off in long run taking risks and doing what's best for your story instead of trying to confine it.

I gotta believe, man. I gotta.

Zombie Kat · Nov 11, 2011

I don't think having two pov characters is a big problem, don't worry about it! As long as the two characters have their own stories that fit well together, it should be fine. One thing to consider, though, is the age range of your readers. I think 17 is on the upper edge of YA whereas 23 is adult - will an adult want to read about a 17-year-old and vice versa? Although I'm not an expert on UF so don't know if these ages are reasonable.

When you write the query I would suggest you stick to one character. Even if they are both vital to the story, I would focus the whole query around one of them and mention the other in passing. Here is a good example of someone who did it well: http://queryshark.blogspot.com/2011/03/199-ftw.html

Good luck!

rainsmom · Nov 11, 2011

Zombie Kat beat me to it. Pretty much every word.

ChaosTitan · Nov 11, 2011

One of the biggest hurdles with using two first person POV in one story is making each one unique and distinct from the other. If both POV sound just like the other, it's harder for the reader to separate the characters.

dangerousbill · Nov 11, 2011

Reifier said:
Anyway, my question is do you think its commercially viable/doable/a good idea to have two main characters - both in first person, both female, one is 23 - the other 17?

I'm beta-reading a novel with two MCs written in third person, alternating pov, and it works. There's no reason it wouldn't hve worked in first person, too. The chapter heads contain the character names to limit confusion, but the style is different and characteristic for each pov character, so the names aren't necessary.

cherita · Nov 11, 2011

ChaosTitan said:
One of the biggest hurdles with using two first person POV in one story is making each one unique and distinct from the other. If both POV sound just like the other, it's harder for the reader to separate the characters.

This, definitely. If they're not unique, distinct voices, it might be better for the reader to make one of them third person. It's so frustrating as a reader to not be able to tell which character is which, so easy to get lost and confused. I never made it through The Historian for that very reason.

As for the query, reading all the stickies in Query Letter Hell will help. By the time you're done with that, you'll understand just how much better your query will probably be by following only one POV. This example from Query Shark should help too. Good luck!

Susan Coffin · Nov 11, 2011

The bigger question is if the story works as written?

Reifier · Nov 11, 2011

@Bufty - Since AW is a forum, I automatically write in a more conversational way, but I admit, as a first time writer, you sure did hit a sore spot.

Everyone else, thanks for your helpful comments, I appreciate the links provided too. I think writing my query with the focus on one person would be a good idea - didn't think about it before because I felt I was doing the other MC an injustice, now I'm starting to see the angles I could use to keep them both in the loop.

@Zombie Kat :
I read somewhere that more people were 'dipping' into other age groups - biggest example would be the Harry Potter books. I know I'm no J.K Rowling, however the way society is going these days - age does seems just a number, with the 'youth' period increasing. Additionally, I've become increasingly frustrated by the stuff out there constituting as YA, typifying certain aspects of teenagedom as revolving around boys, clothes and popularity - though that's not really the problem - its the way some authors seem to really think teenagers are stupid. I'm not a teenager anymore but I can't remember being that dumb - making mistakes yes but not being illogical about it. It was one of the reasons why I got into reading Adult UF/F books because I couldn't stand how the characters in some YA were acting.

My point is though, that I don't think 17-23 would be too far off esp. since the events in my book isn't particularly one or the other - that the 23yo may even be younger in certain aspects of her life.

Susan Littlefield said:
The bigger question is if the story works as written?

Please elaborate, its been a long day for me.

Again, thanks heaps everyone.

Jamesaritchie · Nov 12, 2011

Like pretty much everything else, it all depends on how well you write it, and how well you tell the story. Done well enough, anything works. Done poorly, nothing works.

zerosystem · Nov 12, 2011

If the story is well written, has a captivating plot, an interesting conflict and a satisfying resolution to that conflict, then you should be fine. So long as the two main characters aren't unlikeable, that is.

Dual Character - UF

Reifier

No Stamina

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

chickenrising

Zombie Kat

Bacteria are your friends

rainsmom

Feeling like an old timer

ChaosTitan

Around

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

cherita

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Reifier

No Stamina

Jamesaritchie

zerosystem

practical experience, FTW