I think I'd rather do that than write a book with more than one main character.

First and foremost, if you know of a great book with multiple protagonists, PLEASE LIST IT!

I'm revising a manuscript for a fellowship application. I love the book, but it's a challenge, because for what I wanted to accomplish, I ended up with six five protagonists (I killed one yesterday -- hoping to murder another one tomorrow.)

I'm reading like mad. When I first outlined the novel, I read The Joy Luck Club, The First Wives' Club, and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

They did not help.

Recently, Donald Maas, in his book Writing the Breakout Novel, insisted that the only way to make a multiple-protagonist novel work is to ensure that the group is paramount. It must become a character of its own, with hopes, goals, obstacles, and a story arc.

Well, okay. I think I mostly did that, but early reviews of the opening chapters from the critique buddies were overwhelming with -- you can't switch characters NOW! I just got into the story!

So I've been a Google-Maniac, looking for other multi-protag books. I have found:

How to Make an American Quilt by Whitney Otto
Babyville by Jane Green
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Stand by Stephen King
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

I have the last three on my shelves. I'm going to start outlining them tonight, and try to find the other two tomorrow. In my Google-mania, I found an AWESOME and lengthy set of blog posts on pitfalls of writing this type of book at Anne Mini's site.

But I'd love to have more to look at. I don't think the thriller/action books are going to help me. Mine is more women's fiction.

If you know some--bring it on!