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- May 26, 2011
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So I'm finally starting to work on the revisions for my book. One of the things I am trying more consciously to go right this go around is the scene, chapter and POV setup.
I realize that *anything* is possible. I could have one character's pov for a whole chapter and then have another character doing the next and alternating them. I could have different characters povs within the same chapter provided they are starting a new scene (or that I am careful in switching while in a scene). All chapters do not need to be the same length. (Something that is hard for me to accept, but that is ultimately true.)
What I am wondering is how quickly the pattern that I am using for POV needs to be established? For instance, I know that chapter one is fully going to be Sarena's POV. Chapter two I have a choice: it can fully be Kesyl's or Sarena could share it with him because there is a major change of location half way through.
I know there are going to be at least two sequences in the book -- one near the middle and one at the climax -- where all three of the characters who have POV in my book will be using it close together. Part of my revision notes have addressed trying to "stay with" a character for as long and smooth a period of time as possible, and I was happy to realize I only had a couple scenes where the characters actually did bounce at all.
I'm just trying to make this decision as much as I can now so that I (hopefully) don't have to write each of these scenes again because of this. I will if I feel it will make the book better, of course, but it's so much easier to make decisions like these in the planning before a round of writing rather then to get half way through and start going "Uh-oh..."
Anyway, thanks for your time.
I realize that *anything* is possible. I could have one character's pov for a whole chapter and then have another character doing the next and alternating them. I could have different characters povs within the same chapter provided they are starting a new scene (or that I am careful in switching while in a scene). All chapters do not need to be the same length. (Something that is hard for me to accept, but that is ultimately true.)
What I am wondering is how quickly the pattern that I am using for POV needs to be established? For instance, I know that chapter one is fully going to be Sarena's POV. Chapter two I have a choice: it can fully be Kesyl's or Sarena could share it with him because there is a major change of location half way through.
I know there are going to be at least two sequences in the book -- one near the middle and one at the climax -- where all three of the characters who have POV in my book will be using it close together. Part of my revision notes have addressed trying to "stay with" a character for as long and smooth a period of time as possible, and I was happy to realize I only had a couple scenes where the characters actually did bounce at all.
I'm just trying to make this decision as much as I can now so that I (hopefully) don't have to write each of these scenes again because of this. I will if I feel it will make the book better, of course, but it's so much easier to make decisions like these in the planning before a round of writing rather then to get half way through and start going "Uh-oh..."
Anyway, thanks for your time.
