The book I am writing has several characters in it all of whom are interesting, they are all part of an informal group they don't know each other particularly well although in the end some will get to know each other in ways they didn't expect. Is it always necessary to have a main character in order to build a story that people will read? Do readers demand that one of them be the main character?
Hi June,
Your question made me think of 'The Book and the Brotherhood' by Iris Murdoch - it follows a group of old friends after a reunion party. I'm not sure that any one in particular would be considered the 'main' character, and the narrative just switches from following one to another. So I would probably say that, no, it doesn't have to matter.
Good luck with it!
Thank you Kate and Geoff I appreciate both replies and both are helpful. Unusually for me I have been reading a few books that give advice on how to write instead of doing what I normally do which is rush headlong into a project without a single thought about a right or wrong way to do it. This time, I thought I might try playing by the 'rules' but yes, time to be brave I think. Thanks.
I'm not a novelist but may I suggest that, as the author, you set the rules for your novel; but be prepared to take the consequences in terms of acceptance/approval. Soap operas on TV shuffle several main characters why don't you have a go in your novel? Be brave and have a play.