Main Character- Need help

rostaria01 · Sep 27, 2008

Hey there,
I have written in my plot outline, which is central to the whole story, that she gets possessed. Since I am writing from first person, how would I show the reader this. Would the thoughts be from Rose's (MC) Perspective or the being that possessed her? Please thoughts and Idea's would be gratefully received thanks.
Rostaria

kct webber · Sep 27, 2008

Does the thing completely take her over, or does it just talk inside her head?

If it just talks to her, you could put its thoughts in italics and hers in the normal narrative. Use second person when it's talking directly to her.

If it takes her over, that's harder. I think a marked change in voice could accomplish it if you want to write from its POV. If you want to write from her POV, she could just kind-of be along for the ride--watching what the thing inside her doing and helpless. But that could get old if done for too long.

I did much the same thing in a story I did, but I wrote in third--and the thing inside my character didn't make the MC do anything. It just yammered at him.

rostaria01 · Sep 27, 2008

it takes over and wreaks havoc. It doesnt happen for long though. because the darkness tries to kill her boyfriend, with her ownsword and the love that she feels for James banishes the darkness.
I know its a bit clique but love does conquer all.

underthecity · Sep 27, 2008

In my own book, there are ghosts that appear and take over characters. It's in third person, and the action is described when the possession takes place. The very next scene is now from the ghost's POV, still in third person.

In your case, I might suggest the character experiencing the possession through her eyes, then the next scene, either from the spirit's POV, or have it still from her POV, but she's experiencing what the spirit's doing, she's just unable to do anything but watch. And that would be a pretty terrifying experience.

kct webber · Sep 27, 2008

If you're really careful about it, you can switch from 1st to 3rd for the sequence where it takes over. A lot people who write in 3rd switch to 1st for visions, flashbacks, etc.

rostaria01 · Sep 27, 2008

I was thinking that would be a better Idea, but at the mo, i have it in these words exactly.
Rose can only watch as it wrecks havoc, the fight and struggle ensues, she is fighting so hard to get out, but the darkness inprison her with guilt. Its not until the shadow has James on the floor, with the sword poised above his heart does she escape.

I am thinking that if I don't drag it on to long. I can make it through Rose's eyes watching.

Danthia · Sep 27, 2008

Tricky. Who becomes the narrator in that situation? Is the woman still aware of what's happening to her? If so, you could probably just keep in her POV and show what's happening to her as she'd see it. If she's not aware, then you could either shift to third, or stay in first with the voice and personality of what's possessed her.

GLAZE_by_KyrstinMc · Sep 27, 2008

I don't know what kind of possessed this is-- had she turned crazy or are her thoughts just twisted?

If she's gone phsycho, then have her describing something outrageous she's doing and that she has no problem or objections to it. She doesn't think it's wrong, but people all around her are screaming in the mean time.

kct webber · Sep 27, 2008

rostaria01 said:
Rose can only watch as it wrecks havoc, the fight and struggle ensues, she is fighting so hard to get out, but the darkness inprison her with guilt. Its not until the shadow has James on the floor, with the sword poised above his heart does she escape.

I'd chop this up a bit. I'd use short, choppy sentences and fragments. It does a good deal to give a sense of helplessness, pace, fear ,and confusion. There's an immediacy problem here as well. Granted, this is all I've read, but I can't feel any emotion in this whatsoever. I'm not trying to be cruel--just calling it as I see it. Your telling me a lot; you're showing me nothing.

rostaria01 · Sep 27, 2008

Its a shadow solider from the shadow dimension. It can possess anything alive.
Its here because the dimension walls are breaking down.

JustGo · Sep 27, 2008

I say have some fun with it. Feel free to run for a couple of pages - show exactly what the spirit makes her do, describe how she's trying to fight back against it, horrify the reader. Just don't make it last too long, as has been said.

rostaria01 · Sep 27, 2008

kct webber said:
I'd chop this up a bit. I'd use short, choppy sentences and fragments. It does a good deal to give a sense of helplessness, pace, fear ,and confusion. There's an immediacy problem here as well. Granted, this is all I've read, but I can't feel any emotion in this whatsoever. I'm not trying to be cruel--just calling it as I see it. Your telling me a lot; you're showing me nothing.

This is just the first plot draft. I am just writing ideas down. I will be working on expanding this after I finished writing it all down in my head.

kct webber · Sep 27, 2008

rostaria01 said:
This is just the first plot draft. I am just writing ideas down. I will be working on expanding this after I finished writing it all down in my head.

Ah. Good. I was secretly hoping, 'I really hope that this isn't it.'

rostaria01 · Sep 27, 2008

This isnt It Promise

Samantha's_Song · Sep 27, 2008

Hi Rostaria,

I don't know if this would hel you any, but if it's still available, try getting a copy of The journal of Edwin Underhill by Peter Tonkin. This is only a short book; it's about a man who is transforming into a Vampire and he tells of the mental changes which are going through him

regdog · Sep 27, 2008

I would tell it from both you MC's perspective and then the perspective of what is possessing her.

Have Rose saying how she feels something coming over her and how her body and what it feels like having something invade her body and mind.

And then switch to the thing that is possessing her saying how it is trying to kill her boyfriend

Sort of

"Who's there," I said looking around into the darkness. But nothing was there. "I know you're there." But nothing is there. I'm looking at nothing but I can feel something standing right in front of me.

It's touching me, what the hell is touching my arm!! It's burrowing into my skin, Jesus I can feel something burrowing into me. Stop!!!

"Hello dear, this won't take long."

"Who are you what are you doing to me. Get out of my head." I scream to no one, but there is someone, they are inside me, inside my head.

"I need you to do something for me, and I find this way is much easier. Relax."

"NO I..."

"See isn't it easier when I take over.

Robert Vernon · Sep 28, 2008

Maybe you should rely upon the reader's imagination. If you keep your descriptions minimal, and stark; focused on matters not central to the possession, you might create a periphery that will hook the reader and get your job done better than you had hoped.

Telstar · Sep 28, 2008

Make her fight the darkness in her mind. And then she talks and think and act differently once she's possessed.

FOTSGreg · Sep 28, 2008

In his book Dreamcatcher Stephen King had an alien entity take over one of the characters. In both the book and the movie based on it the character builds a psychological reality for himself that the entity has to find him in. Since he builds in puzzles and refuges to take shelter from the entity in, it makes it very difficult for the entity to find and break the character's mind and also allows the character to maintain his own sanity when he's cut off from using his own body.

You might want to take a look at that as an example of how to deal with possession.

rostaria01 · Nov 25, 2008

Thank you everyone for the good ideas. Thanks for the help

The Lonely One · Nov 25, 2008

RunawayScribe · Nov 25, 2008

Personally I think it'd be fascinating to try a POV switch between Rose and the being that possessed her, but it's your call. Whatever you think will work best for your story.

browneyes106 · Nov 25, 2008

^ I agree maybe switch the POV between Rose and the being that way you could show both of their intentions.

johnnycannuk · Nov 26, 2008

rostaria01,

Two possibilities, in my opinion:

1. Your MC is aware she is possessed and is unable to do anything about it and she describes the actions she is going through to the reader. This description can be as both an observer (her thoughts) and in conversation with the entity possessing her as she fights to regain control.

2. She is unaware of her possession and must piece together what is happening after blackouts (where the entity takes her over) - sort of a reverse Memento (if that is possible.

Both have lots of possibility for tension and suspense, though I think the first one is more psychological, which is what I think you are looking for.

Main Character- Need help

writer warrior

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

writer warrior

Finestkind

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

writer warrior

Danthia

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

writer warrior

Digging through graves of giants

writer warrior

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

writer warrior

At least I don't need backing-up

The Scavengers

I create people

Today is your last day.

writer warrior

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

It is what it is.

No, I'm little people now