Synopsis With Two Main Characters
by Vijay Kumar Kerji
(India)
Hi, Glen,
Thank you for your time.
After completing the first draft, I started filling plotting workbook. In my romance work, Hero and Heroine share an equal number of chapters with their own third POV. They each have their own goals, requirements, consequences etc.
My question is, whom I should consider as MC while I fill the logline and write the synopsis (which I send it to agents, eventually)? Both appear like main characters. Being a male writer, I am inclined towards the hero. (And he is the loser in the end and his role is a bit negative). I need your advice.
Thank you so much for your help!
Vijay Kumar Kerji
Answer: Hi Vijay,
Romances are almost invariably written for a female audience, and therefore have female main characters. Your ideal reader wants to imagine herself in the shoes of the heroine.
The male romantic lead is usually the impact character. However, it is also common to make him a secondary point-of-view character with his own inner journey. (From his perspective, she may be the impact character.)
Incidentally, the 8 plot elements (goal, requirements, forewarnings, etc.) usually refer to the overall throughline rather than the subjective throughlines of the main and impact characters. In a romance, the overall throughline is generally the plot that gets the two lovers to interact so their relationship can develop. (Not that there's anything wrong with anything you're doing, if it makes the story more compelling.)
The subjective throughlines follow the inner conflict and growth of the main & impact characters and that of their relationship.