tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post805129318482848833..comments2023-12-09T00:33:24.572-08:00Comments on Novel Matters: Three's a Crowd, or Four or Five...Bonnie Grovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-75782266263850834822010-06-22T10:45:33.218-07:002010-06-22T10:45:33.218-07:00I have designated a few characters vital to the st...I have designated a few characters vital to the story for third person, with the majority of the view point with my main character. It all contributes to the story and the rest of the book in the series. I seperate the points of view by chapters so as not to confuse anyone. I think it works well. When it's done, I'll know if I am successful if my critique group reads it the same way.Nikole Hahnhttp://www.thehahnhuntinglodge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-29282224594466747752010-06-22T10:38:41.397-07:002010-06-22T10:38:41.397-07:00Oh my goodness, Anonymous, this is a mess. We did ...Oh my goodness, Anonymous, this is a mess. We did a search for your e-mail on our account now that we have all of your information, and we can't find it. Odd.<br /><br />Where did it go? Is this a premise for a story? <br /><br />That said, we are terribly sorry for not following up as we should have. <br /><br />Will you forgive us? <br /><br />We are so very happy to have you as a follower. <br /><br />Thanks for your understanding.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-67351168988088337262010-06-21T19:05:59.478-07:002010-06-21T19:05:59.478-07:00Anonymous, please accept our apologies. We'll ...Anonymous, please accept our apologies. We'll make sure all the books have been mailed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-85025842317860664822010-06-21T18:39:33.451-07:002010-06-21T18:39:33.451-07:00wow ... so, add this one here because i don't ...wow ... so, add this one here because i don't know where else to add it and though i emailed, i never got a response.<br /><br />i was the 200th person to join the blog ... and apparently a book from each author was the prize ... <br /><br />hmmm ... not holding my breath, since i emailed patti my details as per the instructions in the post on that day and never heard a word.<br /><br />maybe the 300th person will have better luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-45600203974879599482010-06-21T17:19:23.292-07:002010-06-21T17:19:23.292-07:00I wrote my YA novel in third person, multiple POV....I wrote my YA novel in third person, multiple POV. An editor who's showed some interest in the work felt that the multiple viewpoints created too much distance and asked me to rewrite it in single POV to create a more "immersive" reading experience. <br /><br />She was right! I've just finished the rewrite and it's made the story so much stronger. I never realised how much my choice of POV had held the main character at arm's length until I saw the level of empathy and immediacy that could be achieved with a different approach.<br /><br />Now let's just hope the editor likes it too... :)Karen @ a house full of sunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17787916466155321686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-45482360299625734222010-06-21T15:37:21.854-07:002010-06-21T15:37:21.854-07:00My current work (the book that never ends) alterna...My current work (the book that never ends) alternates between two characters POV (the POV switches each chapter).<br />I wrote the first chapter in third limited, past tense. I loved it. Happy, happy!<br />Then I went to write the second character's chapter. He INSISTED on first person present. He simply wouldn't speak to me any other way.<br />I had to go back and ask my first chapter character how she felt about first person present.<br />Kindly, she agreed.<br />The result was powerful - richer than I could have hoped for.<br /><br />Those edits I'm working on are line edits - enriching language and meaning. But the story remains.Bonnie Grovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-71785449075618650892010-06-21T13:58:41.497-07:002010-06-21T13:58:41.497-07:00First person narration often comes more naturally ...First person narration often comes more naturally for me, too, Mia. Part of the reason I enjoy writing so much is it allows me to experience life from another person's point of view. And I love the challenge that comes with filtering process--how much does my narrator know? How much of what he or she says is true to the facts of the story, and how much of it is beyond what this particular character can understand? Which gets me into the narrative subject that fascinates me the most: the unreliable narrator. I just love it.<br /><br />But I do agree that it definitely depends on the story. Some require one fixed first-person narrator. Some do amazingly well balancing two points of view (I have Debbie's Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon in mind, specifically--having the alternative perspectives gave both characters so much more depth of personality than they might have had if only one of them had told the story). And some writers have an uncanny ability to make themselves disappear in the third person. Which always blows my mind.<br /><br />I agree, though. More than two narrators, and my head starts to spin.I, Flaviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604696938121361203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-42415367213559034822010-06-21T13:42:23.985-07:002010-06-21T13:42:23.985-07:00I'm working with this now because I wrote the ...I'm working with this now because I wrote the rough draft of my current WIP in third person, but in my re-write, my main character is in first person present tense, while the other three characters (labeled with each POV change) are in third past. Jiggling and juggling to see if it will work. Ack! Suggestions?Rachael Phillipshttp://rachael@rachaelwritesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-31860264666076338462010-06-21T12:44:52.376-07:002010-06-21T12:44:52.376-07:00Fascinating discussion! I'm working on my firs...Fascinating discussion! I'm working on my first multiple POV story. Again, the story required more than one voice. I mix it up a little by putting one POV in the present. My next novel will have four characters tops and one POV. Period.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575415697841348226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-6273236400563216822010-06-21T11:49:46.433-07:002010-06-21T11:49:46.433-07:00I write almost strictly in third person. The times...I write almost strictly in third person. The times I've tried first person, I've ended up changing back to third after a few chapters. For some reason, I feel closer to the characters that way--and it seems I can make them more relatable to readers that way as well.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-30921184591545407502010-06-21T09:25:48.331-07:002010-06-21T09:25:48.331-07:00I agree that the story itself dictates the POV, bu...I agree that the story itself dictates the POV, but I find myself writing in first person more often than not. I didn't for a long time, but now I love the intimacy it creates. Yes, it can be confining, but I find that a challenge I love to tackle. As for reading, I don't mind if it's first person or third (2nd would be the most challenging by far)or if it's multiple, but I'm with you, Debbie, too many points of view get very confusing, and I don't read to be confused.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-9638670911289072762010-06-21T08:48:24.974-07:002010-06-21T08:48:24.974-07:00The stories write themselves for me. I did decide ...The stories write themselves for me. I did decide at the seventh novel to write mostly in first person, which for many years I detested, but I included third person POVs. I wouldn't be reading much now if I still didn't like first person since it seems to dominate fiction.<br /><br />I imagine the less seat-of-the-pants a writer is, the more he actively decides what point of view the story will be. In my second novel, it started out in the omniscient POV, and I had no idea it would. That POV eventually morphed into third person, but in the end the story read like a fictional biography.<br /><br />I love a variety to read--if it works for me: anything goes. Lots of characters, different POVs, a few characters, I love all kinds of writers and their stories. Formulaic doesn't work for me unless the writing and the story are sensational. <br /><br />Travis Thrasher is the most inventive when it comes to POVs. He wrote the entire novel Blinded in second person POV. In another of his novels he switched POVs and used them all, and it worked. I like the rules being broken or at the least flexed by a good writer.Nicolehttp://hopeofglory.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-75069068738038591502010-06-21T07:49:14.445-07:002010-06-21T07:49:14.445-07:00I find first person is more immediate. It draws th...I find first person is more immediate. It draws the reader up close to the action, but it is restrictive, too. My first book had mother-daughter alternating first person viewpoints, and it just fit. But my next book had more characters and I found that third person made it less confusing. But I generally prefer to read first person viewpoints.Debbie Fuller Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09174333267329587740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-66360476886152765762010-06-21T05:08:17.455-07:002010-06-21T05:08:17.455-07:00I like writing in first person, because I feel mor...I like writing in first person, because I feel more connected to the characters that way, and I can see the story through their eyes. Not that you can't do that in other POV's, but for me, first person is more personal and easier to write (personal preference). However, I agree with Wendy; it has to fit. Different stories call for different POV's.<br /><br />I've also read bestselling novels by talented authors that confused me. Usually because there were 4+ viewpoints, and I kept getting the characters mixed up. I love 1 or 2 viewpoints, and I don't mind 3. But more than that? It better be a darn good story or I'll be putting it down.Miahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06847210876356844336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-38034229675955424162010-06-21T04:58:13.661-07:002010-06-21T04:58:13.661-07:00I’m partial to first person. However, I used third...I’m partial to first person. However, I used third in Noble Efforts and first in The Partridge Sacrifice.<br /><br />It has to fit. It's like trying on shoes (which I took my children to do the other day and we found hundreds of ants on them in a Marshalls--yuck!). If there are ants that show up on the MS when you're writing in first, maybe it's time to try it in third.<br /><br />There's my Aesop Fable for you today. ;D<br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-24296634285947029002010-06-21T04:27:58.299-07:002010-06-21T04:27:58.299-07:00I seem to write mine in third person though I'...I seem to write mine in third person though I'd love to do it in first sometime but I don't think I would be able to offer as clear a picture of my story.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.com