Viewpoints of protagonist and antagonist
Asked by Anna Bottoms on September 21, 2020
My story is written from a son's viewpoint. A prologue would help understand the father. Thoughts?
1. James picked up his son and carried him back to his bed wondering how he was going to do this alone. He didn’t know how to love. Shoulders slumped, he let resignation settle in. It wasn’t fair! Angela left him alone to deal with Ryan. Every memory of his own childhood filled him with rage. The walls of his well-constructed life crumbled exposing memories he’d rather forget.
2. Ryan slouched in the back corner of writing class his long legs stretched out into the aisle. He scowled as two girls came through the door and headed toward the opposite corner. Smiling at everyone they passed, they exuded happiness from every pore. He locked eyes on the one with dark hair and shifted in his seat, prickling with irritation. Why did he feel this way? No one that nice could be real. People wear masks to hide who hide who they really are. Look at him. No one knew his secret.
Jerry's Answer
To me, Anna, prologues are cheating. I'd stick with your main character and let the reader deduce an understanding of the father through him.
Les Edgerton is great on this: http://amzn.to/2jbe1vf