In the first FW book, I have a break in setting. Right when things are getting dangerous for my group of characters, the Main (Ben) leaves the area and the book enters 6 chapters where he is elsewhere (being trained-- kinda). The reader does not get to know what is happening with the rest of the characters. Even Ben himself is very worried and constantly asking about their well-being.

The idea is to concentrate the story on Ben and what he is up to, while at the same time, creating a sense of anxiety for the others. Hopefully, the reader will be anxious to get Ben back to the action, so they can find out whats been happening to the others. (Of course, This will only work if I've managed to create characters that the reader cares about).

I really want to leave the reader worried and wondering, so there will be a good amount of anticipation about getting back to the group.

How effective do you think this could be?

I think that its very useful to use, as long as you don't over due it. My main character also gets seperated from the other main character, and you don't learn of his fate, until later, when he gets killed, gutted through the stomach by a spear from the main antagonist.

If you keep things moving and force the MC to be on his feet the whole time, then it works. If you just leave the MC muttering to himself and beomcing a worry-wort, than it kills the concept.

Well said.

It can be an effective way to build suspense, and to show the relationship that Ben has for the other characters, the anxiety and concern working to the writer's, and readers', advantages.

-sandragon13

I'm already anxious. That's how well it works.


When he finally does get back to the others will you have a little explanation of anything that happened while he was away? That could be interesting.

Elune wrote:

I'm already anxious. That's how well it works. When he finally does get back to the others will you have a little explanation of anything that happened while he was away? That could be interesting.

Ditto.

One instance of this that I thought worked really well was in Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy. Another character (major but not the MC) goes off on his own quest, and the MC receives occasional news of him, but the news is as troubling as it is helpful--for instance, at one point someone comes across an old campsite with signs of a skirmish but no indication of who won. Then the MC realizes some of the information he's getting is from an unreliable source... it's fun. (If only the final book didn't fall apart entirely.)