I wrote my first novel entirely in first person. Now I'm trying to write another novel in third person and I'm having a little trouble making the switch. Anyone else have this problem and have suggestions on solving it?
Writing in First Person then Switching to Third
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First, a question. Is your problem due to just getting used to writing in third since you spend so much time writing in first, or is the problem because somewhere in the back of your mind you think the story could be told better in first but you're using third because of some reason you've been given or told?
Hmmm probably a little of both. Now that I think about it Dreams would probably be better in first person. I just thought it would be fun to write it in third person plus I know some people hate stories written in first person (I'm not one of those people). My other WIP is best in third person since there are a couple main characters.
Read some books in the same POV in which you're writing. I've found that when I switch around, it takes time to acclimate to the new POV style, but reading helps ingrain it.
I agree with Chaos. It's easier to switch POVs when you've read a couple of stories in the POV you want to write in. If you're constantly reading first, it's going to be difficult to write in third and vice versa.
There is no one way that's a 'correct' point-of-view. You should do what you think is best as a writer. Then, pass it on to beta readers, family, friends, strangers, book club members, the cashier at the grocery store, etc. and see what they think about it. They're the ones that are going to be buying the book.
There is no one way that's a 'correct' point-of-view. You should do what you think is best as a writer. Then, pass it on to beta readers, family, friends, strangers, book club members, the cashier at the grocery store, etc. and see what they think about it. They're the ones that are going to be buying the book.
One thing I've done with adequate success is written the scene, story, or chapter in first, then gone through it a sentence at a time and changed it to third. For me, this produces a better result than writing the draft in third. Go figure, huh?
Maryn, who usually writes in first
Maryn, who usually writes in first
Thanks for the idea. I've got a tough scene I'm working on, and I think it would be easier to tackle in first.
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Try doing a few writing exercises that are not as emotionally charged for you as your WIP. That might allow you to flail around a bit more while you find your feet without judging yourself as much.
I can't imagine doing a line by line rewrite, by the way. My 1st person narrators always color the voice so much that taking that out would be very difficult.
I can't imagine doing a line by line rewrite, by the way. My 1st person narrators always color the voice so much that taking that out would be very difficult.
Maryn's way works for me.
Short stories are a good way to practice. I wrote one in first, then discovered the magazine editor didn't favour first, so I re-wrote into third. It worked and was surprisingly easy to do.
Short stories are a good way to practice. I wrote one in first, then discovered the magazine editor didn't favour first, so I re-wrote into third. It worked and was surprisingly easy to do.
Actually, I just strugged with the opposite problem. I was writing 3rd person, and the new piece I am working on is in first. Essentially, what I did was picked up a couple of books written in First person and read them to see how the authors did everything. In your case you should see: does the author jump from character to character? does he/she know things before the character does? etc. Give it a shot. It worked for me and since I've easily been writing in first person (which I have never done before).
Ruv Draba
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As a suggestion, before you write a scene take a moment to try and be conscious of the persona of the narrator; the characters and what they will each want from the scene; the environment in which the scene occurs; the readers and what they're expecting.
If you can make those things vivid in your head before you write then you'll make fewer viewpoint errors, but you should also get some side-benefits like knowing where the scene is going, having a better feel for how to write it, and being able to surprise the reader more often.
If you can make those things vivid in your head before you write then you'll make fewer viewpoint errors, but you should also get some side-benefits like knowing where the scene is going, having a better feel for how to write it, and being able to surprise the reader more often.
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