I have 3 viewpoint characters and I was planning to alternate their chapters, so ABCABCABC.

However, the story seems to start for two of them before it really starts for the other, chronologically, so I wondered whether it matters if one is left out at the start and comes in later? It wouldn't be too much later - they'd probably just miss the first round.

What does the panel think? Would it work, or would readers think "who on earth is this new character?"?

Deb

I don't see why not. Though you could try slipping in tiny sections from the beginning so that the reader isn't left thinking wtf?

I think Douglas Coupland does something to this effect with Girlfriend in a Coma where the first chapter is written by ghost who sets the scene but then disappears only to resurface much later in the book.

I'm sure I've read some other books that introduce a character late on or play around with the structure in a similar way, I'll get my thinking cap on and see if I can remember the titles.

My experience is that readers don't specially take notice of the pattern of this kind of thing - they just happily go with you to the new place as long as you make sure you've taken them with you.

Emma

Thanks v m Emma and Geoff. Okay, I won't stress it too much and will see how it pans out.

Deb