P.O.V. - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T14:39:04Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:12990?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A13096&feed=yes&xn_auth=no>>By the way, can't wai…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-27:537324:Comment:139322007-03-27T14:57:35.693ZChrista Fausthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/faustfatale
>>By the way, can't wait to read Hoodtown, I've heard so many good things.<<<br />
<br />
The bribery must be paying off.
>>By the way, can't wait to read Hoodtown, I've heard so many good things.<<<br />
<br />
The bribery must be paying off. When I think about it, it's s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-27:537324:Comment:139262007-03-27T14:54:32.087ZN. J. Lindquisthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/njlindquist
When I think about it, it's strange. I particularly love a good first person mystery - especially with a character who has a weird sense of humour. But I’m actually writing a multiple POV series in which the first book had 14 POV characters and the second has 11. All in third person, of course. But some are close and some not-so-close.<br />
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Basically, when I switch scenes, I’m usually also morphing from one character into another. If you watch Star Trek, sometimes I feel a bit like Seven of Nine…
When I think about it, it's strange. I particularly love a good first person mystery - especially with a character who has a weird sense of humour. But I’m actually writing a multiple POV series in which the first book had 14 POV characters and the second has 11. All in third person, of course. But some are close and some not-so-close. <br />
<br />
Basically, when I switch scenes, I’m usually also morphing from one character into another. If you watch Star Trek, sometimes I feel a bit like Seven of Nine in the episode in which the people she’d assimilated kept popping up and taking over. Or just call it multiple personality disorder. But then, I’m a writer. <br />
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The weird thing is, I do write first person – I have five coming-of-age novels for teens written from first person (17-18 year-old boy’s) perspective. Yes, I know - really weird. But they work. Or so I’ve had 17-18-year-old boys and their parents tell me. <br />
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I think the reason I can do this is that even though I’m an introvert and not at all in your face, I was always good in drama – had lead roles in high school – and I day-dreamed a lot. Plus I studied psychology as well as English. Always been interested in what makes people tick. Give me a moment and I can get myself into a new character. And I really am there – can feel what they would feel, see what they would see. <br />
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Of course, to do multiple POV you have to know your characters fairly well. I try to set that up before I start writing.<br />
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I think every book needs to be told in the way that’s best for it. I teach a lot of writing classes, and one thing I suggest is that people don’t always have to stick with their first thought. Take the same scene and write if from different points of view. Try it third and first and even second. Try it close and further away. Even try it from different characters’ points of view. Find out what works best for that particular story. I think where it has bugged m…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-27:537324:Comment:138452007-03-27T13:14:09.230ZBarbara Fisterhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Bfister
I think where it has bugged me (but then again, sometimes has actually worked - go figure) is when a series written in first starts throwing in scenes in third because, well, we can't give up on the familiar brand, but the character can't be where the action is for a particular scene, so let's just cheat a little. <br />
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Or sometimes I think the author just got bored and thought "I'd rather do this character in first" - maybe easier for the writer, but more work for the reader. <br />
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This reader, anyway.
I think where it has bugged me (but then again, sometimes has actually worked - go figure) is when a series written in first starts throwing in scenes in third because, well, we can't give up on the familiar brand, but the character can't be where the action is for a particular scene, so let's just cheat a little. <br />
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Or sometimes I think the author just got bored and thought "I'd rather do this character in first" - maybe easier for the writer, but more work for the reader. <br />
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This reader, anyway. I don't switch from first to…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-27:537324:Comment:136832007-03-27T04:32:57.303ZJannie Ballietthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/tjannieballiett
I don't switch from first to third, because I always write in third person--<br />
but my current MIP is an experiment of switching POVs between three main characters.<br />
<br />
I've seen it done before, and read where others shun it and say it's breaking all<br />
the rules, but I think anything is possible if you can pull it off. If you're good enough,<br />
you can break the rules eloquently.<br />
<br />
I prefer writing in third because it is a more broad range to develop. I have<br />
chapters that dialogue does it all for…
I don't switch from first to third, because I always write in third person-- <br />
but my current MIP is an experiment of switching POVs between three main characters. <br />
<br />
I've seen it done before, and read where others shun it and say it's breaking all <br />
the rules, but I think anything is possible if you can pull it off. If you're good enough, <br />
you can break the rules eloquently. <br />
<br />
I prefer writing in third because it is a more broad range to develop. I have <br />
chapters that dialogue does it all for me, but my third person narrative has a <br />
great leeway in setting up what dialogue misses. Characters can't always convey what a narrative can. All this talk about first and…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-27:537324:Comment:136722007-03-27T03:45:09.737ZJoy Calderwoodhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Dragonlily
All this talk about first and third, what about second? Personal feel with the ability to stand back and be objective at the same time. By the time my story is done, maybe second will be in fashion.<br/><br/>On the other hand, I like being the exception, so maybe I should warn you all away from it. ;-)
All this talk about first and third, what about second? Personal feel with the ability to stand back and be objective at the same time. By the time my story is done, maybe second will be in fashion.<br/><br/>On the other hand, I like being the exception, so maybe I should warn you all away from it. ;-) I'd add Joseph Finder to that…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-27:537324:Comment:135942007-03-27T01:55:41.733Zspyscribblerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/spyscribbler
I'd add Joseph Finder to that list, David J. I loved the way he used first person in Paranoia. For awhile, I couldn't figure out why it had such an expansive, third-person feel. While it doesn't, technically, have different POVs, it does have different identities.<br />
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There's Cassidy the Wyatt-man, Cassidy the Trion-man, Cassidy the son, and Cassidy the friend. They are four different POVs, four different reactions, with four different character traits.<br />
<br />
I just think that's the coolest thing since…
I'd add Joseph Finder to that list, David J. I loved the way he used first person in Paranoia. For awhile, I couldn't figure out why it had such an expansive, third-person feel. While it doesn't, technically, have different POVs, it does have different identities.<br />
<br />
There's Cassidy the Wyatt-man, Cassidy the Trion-man, Cassidy the son, and Cassidy the friend. They are four different POVs, four different reactions, with four different character traits.<br />
<br />
I just think that's the coolest thing since strawberries and chocolate fondue.<br />
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Barbara, I'm not crazy about switching from first to third, either. I like it better than switching from first to a different character's first, though. <br />
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If my story is in first, I'll sometimes write a bit of it in third first. And then I'll do the opposite if the story will be in third. It helps my third go deeper and my first become more transparent. What David J., said. If you n…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-27:537324:Comment:135672007-03-27T01:10:31.089ZJohn McFetridgehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
What David J., said. If you notice, it isn't working. It's one of Elmore Leonard's 10 rules - worth checking out for sure. And the way he writes each scene from a specific character's POV is terrific. Almost first person, but not, and he never has the writing, "sticking his nose in."<br />
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I only want to hear what the characters have to say, but I also want to know what they're thinking - or what most of them are thinking, in their own voice. I (almost) never want to hear the writer, and as a writer…
What David J., said. If you notice, it isn't working. It's one of Elmore Leonard's 10 rules - worth checking out for sure. And the way he writes each scene from a specific character's POV is terrific. Almost first person, but not, and he never has the writing, "sticking his nose in."<br />
<br />
I only want to hear what the characters have to say, but I also want to know what they're thinking - or what most of them are thinking, in their own voice. I (almost) never want to hear the writer, and as a writer I figure no one wants to hear me. That fictional "you" is what…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-26:537324:Comment:132112007-03-26T17:30:08.635ZStephen Blackmoorehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sblackmoore
That fictional "you" is what I love about first person. When I read that I feel like I'm being drawn into a partnership. It's one way, sure, but I'm engaged in ways more personal than if it's a distant, or even close, third.
That fictional "you" is what I love about first person. When I read that I feel like I'm being drawn into a partnership. It's one way, sure, but I'm engaged in ways more personal than if it's a distant, or even close, third. I like first, I like third, I…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-26:537324:Comment:132032007-03-26T17:25:22.324ZBarbara Fisterhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Bfister
I like first, I like third, I like third that's really first but without using "I" except in dialogue. There are characters who need to be in third because they would never go around talking about themselves, but you can (sneakily!) get in their heads through third. So, fine.<br />
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What drives me absolutely batty, though, is when one chapter is in first and the next in third. I obviously need to find the right medication for this problem, because it is now perfectly okay and standard and every…
I like first, I like third, I like third that's really first but without using "I" except in dialogue. There are characters who need to be in third because they would never go around talking about themselves, but you can (sneakily!) get in their heads through third. So, fine. <br />
<br />
What drives me absolutely batty, though, is when one chapter is in first and the next in third. I obviously need to find the right medication for this problem, because it is now perfectly okay and standard and every other book I pick up does this. I just need to learn to cope. <br />
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I'm not crazy about spiders, either, but they don't bother me nearly as much. I'm like you, Christa. I can…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-26:537324:Comment:131912007-03-26T17:15:12.305ZDavid Terrenoirehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Terrenoire
I'm like you, Christa. I can write first person all day. Like Ray I think it's because of that acting thing, getting the feel for the rhythms of speech, treating the reader like a confidante or bar buddy with casual asides. You can get away with a lot. Backstory? Easy. Backstory in third person? Hard.<br/><br/>By the way, can't wait to read Hoodtown, I've heard so many good things.
I'm like you, Christa. I can write first person all day. Like Ray I think it's because of that acting thing, getting the feel for the rhythms of speech, treating the reader like a confidante or bar buddy with casual asides. You can get away with a lot. Backstory? Easy. Backstory in third person? Hard.<br/><br/>By the way, can't wait to read Hoodtown, I've heard so many good things.