novel

[Light of the World]

My friend and I are writing a novel in which we split it up between 2 character's points of view. How do you suggest we go about this?

The story about identical twin Princesses who are orphaned and split up. One of them, my character, doesn't want to take on the responsibilities of ruling a country; the other feels it is her duty. My character ends up going with her butler to the States. Her butler, desguised as her father, lives with her in a house as she unsucessfully tries to blend in.

The main characters are

Princess Faith Adrianna

http://elouai.com/doll-makers/view-doll.php?background=0000&elements=0000&wings=0000&base=0001&stockings=0000&shoes=0001&skirt=0204&top=0022&twopiece=0027&head=0060&mouth=0105&nose=0039&eyebrows=0001&eyes=0153&face=0000&makeup=0000&earings=0000&glasses=0000&hair=0136&scarf=0000&fullbody=0000&hat=0000&accessory1=0000&pets1=0000&pets2=0000&accessory2=0000&cover=0000 (http://elouai.com/doll-makers/view-doll.php?background=0000&elements=0000&wings=0000&base=0001&stockings=0000&shoes=0001&skirt=0204&top=0022&twopiece=0027&head=0060&mouth=0105&nose=0039&eyebrows=0001&eyes=0153&face=0000&makeup=0000&earings=0000&glasses=0000&hair=0136&scarf=0000&fullbody=0000&hat=0000&accessory1=0000&pets1=0000&pets2=0000&accessory2=0000&cover=0000)

Princess Arabella "Ara" Dawn (mine)

http://elouai.com/doll-makers/view-doll.php?background=0000&elements=0000&wings=0000&base=0001&stockings=0000&shoes=0001&skirt=0204&top=0022&twopiece=0026&head=0060&mouth=0105&nose=0039&eyebrows=0001&eyes=0153&face=0000&makeup=0000&earings=0000&glasses=0000&hair=0136&scarf=0000&fullbody=0000&hat=0000&accessory1=0000&pets1=0000&pets2=0000&accessory2=0000&cover=0000 (http://elouai.com/doll-makers/view-doll.php?background=0000&elements=0000&wings=0000&base=0001&stockings=0000&shoes=0001&skirt=0204&top=0022&twopiece=0026&head=0060&mouth=0105&nose=0039&eyebrows=0001&eyes=0153&face=0000&makeup=0000&earings=0000&glasses=0000&hair=0136&scarf=0000&fullbody=0000&hat=0000&accessory1=0000&pets1=0000&pets2=0000&accessory2=0000&cover=0000)
The setting will most likely be a small, fictional nation.

She, thinks that the 14 year olds should fight over the crown, but I like my idea better.

[James D. Macdonald]

Oh, dear.

Collaboration is always tough. This one sounds tougher than most.

Why not have 'em do both? One of the princesses wants to fight for the crown, the other one doesn't want the responsibility.

Let the one who doesn't want the responsibility be forced to take responsibility because legally she must. Let the one who wants to fight for the crown fight to take that responsibility, even though legally she can't have it.

I can see conflict in this story. Just don't let it spill out into conflict between the co-authors. Decide who has the final say on what parts of the writing process.

Above all, hang loose and have fun (http://elouai.com/doll-makers/view-doll.php?background=0000&elements=0000&wings=0000&base=0001&stockings=0018&shoes=0410&skirt=0000&top=0000&twopiece=0023&head=0032&mouth=0088&nose=0037&eyebrows=0034&eyes=0150&face=0000&makeup=0068&earings=0140&glasses=0070&hair=0831&scarf=0019&fullbody=0000&hat=0000&accessory1=0000&pets1=0025&pets2=0004&accessory2=0000&cover=0000).

[Kiva Wolfe]

Interesting story and I admire you for taking on such a challenging venture. You've received some stellar advice here to craft the tale, especially the part about experimenting and having fun.

My advice would be to make sure you establish how much alike or opposite the twins are: clarify their concerns, issues, problems, responses, abilities, flaws, and whether one or both are be-ers or doers. One experiences, the other acts.

Adopted at birth, I am presuming they don't know about the other. Do both girls feel a little empty, like there's a missing piece in their life? Will one or both succeed in reaching her goal? What is the ultimate goal and message? Where there is a goal, there is always an outcome, and where there is a risk or challenge, there's also a dividend or consequence at the end of the rainbow. With two POVs, try to form your story with dual personal journeys and benchmarks.

It'd make a great movie!