Having reread the whole novel straight through, some of the errors shout out at me.
One of those errors, is having the secondary character competing with the main character, with the threat of taking over the plot.
Latchmin, the Main Character is 11, and too obedient. She is coming across as good, but not interesting. The secondary character, Sumati, 14, is stronger, wild, and wilful, and inevitably, her plot line is more interesting.
I have decided to change the plots slightly, and now put the two girls, Latchmin and Sumati parallel to each other. Basically, they both have the same problem, but they each deal with it differently. I am bringing them closer in age too, to even things up- maybe 12 and 14.
Here are some of their differences:-
Latchmin comes from a wealthy home. Sumati comes from a poorer home.
Latchmin has educational goals. Sumati has matters of the heart forefront in her mind.
Latchmin does as she is told. Sumati does what she wants to do, disregarding what she should do.
Lathcmin appears weak. Sumati is strong without a doubt.
Latchmin is reactive. Sumati is proactive.
I have a problem... Latchmin is in danger of being overshadowed by Sumati in the book. That must not happen.
Therefore, I am rewriting Latchmin so that the reader sees more of her Point of View, so as to identify more with her - her fears, her thoughts and her weaknesses. She is afraid that her parents will force her into early marriage. Her main weakness, is that she is too obedient, but that also means that she does the right thing. She also has a strong view of right and wrong.
In the end, Latchmin's strengths must be greater than her weaknesses.
But in the beginning, Latchmin must draw in the reader with her plight - she has a grave illness - a killer.
About Me
- Marilyn Rodwell
- The Wedding Drums - my novel set in an early 20C village in Trinidad is almost here. Two young girls, Amina and Sumati plot to escape their arranged marriages and plan to live life following their own dreams. But Sumati falls in love and runs away, putting Amina's plans in jeopardy. Neither of them bank on what is in store for them. Soon they face the adult world of scheming men, corruption, prostitution and violence, and life in the village will never be the same again.
Good post, Marilyn. I have had a similar problem with my protagonist in my novel, Save the Last Dance For Me, according to the critiques I have had from NWS. I still haven't decided how I'm going to make her stronger.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't easy Anne, especially if you've grown with the character as you've written it. It is then hard to change her personality and behaviour. I have just finished rewriting the first three chapters, so hopefully I have made a start in portraying my Main Character with a stronger personality. We'll see!
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