It wasn't a case of getting the protag to be honest, it was the fact that until I wrote the opening scenes, I hadn't realised just how traumatised she'd be. The story was supposed to be a black comedy, but her state of mind just ruined the following scenes as she was still too preoccupied by what had happened.

I don't think you can get that sort of detail from a synopsis -- at least I can't, therefore they're useful, but only up to a point.