As A Reader Would You Have A Problem...?

Anitraka · Mar 3, 2006

I know this has been mentioned kind of before. But I was for more of a straight answer. I'm writing a scary book. I would love to have my book writen in 1st person of each character so the reader would know whats going on in the character's mind. but my very first chapter is in 3rd person omniscient. It has two scenes introducing the characters. But it's way too small to brake up the chapter into two. As a reader would you have a problem reading from one POV for one chapter but the rest is in first person?

~Thanks

veinglory · Mar 3, 2006

It would probably bother me but I can think of other books that do this sort of thing. One book I read recently had a chapter in 2nd and went into third (thankfully) after that.

Perks · Mar 3, 2006

It doesn't sound like a problem to me. One of my favorite books, although it isn't horror, is A God Against The Gods by Allen Drury. It's done all in first person from various characters. I loved that treatment because you watched the story unfold from everyone's bias, so eventually, you shaped an unbiased account of what happened. If you'd like to see a book executed in that style, I highly recommend it. (I highly recommend it on its general merits too.)

The first chapter sounds like it'll function as a prologue and as much as they're (the ubiquitous THEY) are always on about the evils of the prologue, I just don't know that many readers who share this quirk.

Stew21 · Mar 3, 2006

Well if you only do omni in the beginning of the first chapter can you call that a Preface and then go into the style of the 1st chapter that you were aiming at using?

CaroGirl · Mar 3, 2006

I would have a problem with it if it were done poorly. I think you can do anything, as long as it works. Experimenting is what keeps fiction exciting, but, again, only if it works.

In terms of your ms, perhaps you could consider making your first chapter a prologue instead. Readers expect a prologue to be different from the rest of the book. In a different voice or different time.

Stew21 · Mar 3, 2006

I think Perks has it right!!
=)

Perks · Mar 3, 2006

Thank you, Stew. I can tell already you're an excellent asset to the community.

Anitraka · Mar 3, 2006

Well I get into detail about the characters. There's a scene that Jennifer meets up with someone in school. Then the other scene Madison is meeting someone else at school as well but two different places.

MadScientistMatt · Mar 3, 2006

How about using a framing device for the first person narrative? The narrative could be diary entries, testimony as told to the police, or whatever fits the story.

Stew21 · Mar 3, 2006

Anitraka said:
Well I get into detail about the characters. There's a scene that Jennifer meets up with someone in school. Then the other scene Madison is meeting someone else at school as well but two different places.

I'm picturing the movie segue line here and not sure how to do it as you are describing for a novel:

"Meanwhile, back on the ranch....."

Anitraka · Mar 3, 2006

There is more than one character that i want in first person. One chapter will be one person than the other chapter will be the other character.

Anitraka · Mar 3, 2006

Prologue

Thank you all for the help. I have made my decision and i'm going to use the first chapter (3rd person) as my prologue.

Again thank you all.

Stew21 · Mar 3, 2006

Sounds good. Then you can alternate chapters by your two characters' POV.

Anitraka · Mar 3, 2006

Yes I can

I'm excided... *opened up her green Mead folder and started working on her horror story*

Akuma · Mar 3, 2006

Well, F. Scott Fitzgerald did it near the end of his The Great Gatsby.

And seeing as people seem to idolize him, I think you'll be fine.

aadams73 · Mar 3, 2006

Anitraka said:
I know this has been mentioned kind of before. But I was for more of a straight answer. I'm writing a scary book. I would love to have my book writen in 1st person of each character so the reader would know whats going on in the character's mind. but my very first chapter is in 3rd person omniscient. It has two scenes introducing the characters. But it's way too small to brake up the chapter into two. As a reader would you have a problem reading from one POV for one chapter but the rest is in first person?

~Thanks

Pick up a copy of THE POISONWOOD BIBLE if you can and see how Barbara Kingsolver handles it. She does almost exactly what you're talking about.

aghast · Mar 3, 2006

Ask yourself a question why you need a 3rd omni to introduce your character and why you cant just let the first person introduce hjimself? is it because the story dictates that or is it beause the author just doesnt know how to tell the story from the same pov and if the answer is the latter than you have a problem

Anitraka · Mar 3, 2006

aghast said:
Ask yourself a question why you need a 3rd omni to introduce your character and why you cant just let the first person introduce hjimself? is it because the story dictates that or is it beause the author just doesnt know how to tell the story from the same pov and if the answer is the latter than you have a problem

I know how to write it to where they introduce themselves... it just doesn't fit right in the story. But i've made my decision.

reph · Mar 3, 2006

You can show a character's thoughts and feelings without using first person. How? Use third person. It's done all the time.

Pike · Mar 4, 2006

I just thought of two books that flip, sparingly, back and forth from 1st to 3rd and they are James Patterson's Roses Are Red, and Violets Are Blue. In the first book, the 3rd person scenes come from his Mastermind character who is pulling poor Alex Cross's strings. We get to see inside his head while Alex tries to do the same from the outside. At first I didn't know what to make of it but as the book progressed I found it unnerving knowing all the details and watching the master detective kicking himself every step of the way. It worked out well as far as reading it.

Danger Jane · Mar 4, 2006

That wouldn't bother me. POV changes can be really refreshing.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 5, 2006

POV

I suppose you could make it work, though I think that first chapter would make it rough.

You can show what's in a character's mind in third person. Just use different POV characters in different chapters.

illiterwrite · Mar 5, 2006

I've done it just as you described, making the first scene a prologue and then moving into first person throughout the rest of the book (though I only have one first-person narrator).

Anitraka · Mar 6, 2006

Pike said:
I just thought of two books that flip, sparingly, back and forth from 1st to 3rd and they are James Patterson's Roses Are Red, and Violets Are Blue. In the first book, the 3rd person scenes come from his Mastermind character who is pulling poor Alex Cross's strings. We get to see inside his head while Alex tries to do the same from the outside. At first I didn't know what to make of it but as the book progressed I found it unnerving knowing all the details and watching the master detective kicking himself every step of the way. It worked out well as far as reading it.

I have not read "Rose's are Red" and "Violets are Blue" I love Patterson. I would love to read those books to see how he does it. but I can't find "Rose's are Red." I was reading one of his books "The Big Bad Wolf" last night and noticed that one of the chapters was writen in 3rd person. Most of the book is writen in 1st.

PastMidnight · Mar 6, 2006

Another book that I thought of that switches between 1st and 3rd is Debbie Taylor's The Fourth Queen. The chapters alternate between one character's 3rd person POV and another character (who admires her from afar) and his 1st person POV, written in the form of a journal. The author does a good job of showing a different style and different voice for each of the two POVs. I know this is a little different than what you were talking about, but the two POVs alternate between chapters.

As A Reader Would You Have A Problem...?

Anitraka

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Stew21

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Stew21

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Anitraka

MadScientistMatt

Empirical Storm Trooper

Stew21

Anitraka

Anitraka

Stew21

Anitraka

Akuma

Rare Writer Pokemon

aadams73

A Work in Progress

aghast

Anitraka

reph

Fig of authority

Pike

Chivalry ain't dead

Danger Jane

Jamesaritchie

illiterwrite

Anitraka

PastMidnight

Oponionated