There's a chance that there is no single main character in 'the story of a novel'. It could be more about the collective experience of all those involved in the novel - the author, the editors, the publishers, and even the readers. It might tell the story of how all these different parties contribute to the life of the novel, so it's more of an ensemble - type of 'story' rather than one centered around a particular character.
Perhaps it's a character that represents the idea of the novel itself. For example, if the novel is about a journey, there could be a character who embodies the concept of the journey and is the main focus in 'the story of a novel'. This character might interact with other elements like the characters from the actual novel or the different stages of the writing process.
It could be a detective with a troubled past. He's really good at solving crimes but has his own demons to fight, like alcoholism or a broken relationship.
It could be a curious child. Children are often attracted to strange things, and this child might find the bag and be the first one to experience the horror within it.
The main character could be a reindeer that gets separated from Santa's sleigh. The reindeer then has to find its way back while having various adventures in the human world. Along the way, it meets different people who are either kind or mean, and through these encounters, the reindeer spreads Christmas cheer and eventually makes it back to Santa just in time for Christmas Eve.
The main character might be a girl who is a bit of a loner. She has only her broom as her constant companion. She goes around the town or countryside with her broom, and the story could be about how she finds friends or a place where she belongs through her experiences with the broom.
It could be the jilted lover. The one who was left broken - hearted and is now full of rage and a desire for revenge.
It could be a baker. Bakers often play important roles in stories related to food, especially when it comes to creating a special Christmas treat like a creampie.
Maybe an immigrant who has faced discrimination because of their accent when speaking English. This person could be the main character in an 'English Hate Story', as they associate all the bad experiences with the English language itself. They might feel that if it wasn't for English, they wouldn't have had to endure such humiliation.
The main character could be Ralphie himself. He might be writing an autobiographical - style story where he is the protagonist facing different challenges in his daily life.
It could be a child who is excited about Christmas and has some big dreams for the holiday.
It could be an older woman, perhaps a widow, who has a long - held secret from her past that she has never shared. This secret could be related to her late husband or something she did in her youth.