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How many MC's are too many?

My current plan is to write as many tangled storylines as I can, weaving in and out of each other, and then just stick with the ones that are most compelling. But if I had no restraint, I think I would have 20 to 30 MC's

@DanIsWriting Ask George RR Martin. 🤣 I wouldn’t worry about the number and just make sure the story is compelling and that each one is moving it forward.

@TheRealDelia YES! THANK YOU! The more MC's I have the more I can kill! This is perfect justification.

@DanIsWriting Exactly! Especially with horror stories. Make the reader empathize and then…☠️ ⚰️ 💀 🧟‍♂️ 🧛 🦇 🐺 👾 👹 🦑

@DanIsWriting I wrote a story that had eight MC’s alternating chapters. It was enjoyable, getting into the heads of so many different characters. ☺️

@JanGoesWriting that sounds like a good number of characters. Did you find it difficult to manage? And did it effect the readability of the story?

I've heard so much advise from those "dont do this, I have the answers" people who say not to have more than 4 main characters. I've always taken it with a heaping tablespoon of salt.

@DanIsWriting Whether it was readable or not isn’t really for me to say. Those who read it seemed to enjoy it, though.
I didn’t find it difficult, really. I’m on the autism spectrum, so I’m able to compartmentalise a little easier than some people. It was fun.

As for people who have ‘rules’ about writing ... well, most of the time these ‘rules’ are made by academics that spend more time talking about writing than actually writing.
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@DanIsWriting If you can find a fun, interesting and compelling way to break a ‘rule’, then I see nothing wrong in going for it.

I, sometimes, take it as a personal challenge. 😅

I’ve set up a Chekov’s Gun situation more than once, just to pull the rug out from under it. 🙄😂

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