Considering a change of POV

popmuze · Oct 30, 2006

My book is still out with a bunch of agents. But lately I've been considering the radical step of changing my narrator's point of view from first person to omniscient.
One of the things I've learned about the book is that my narrator as a character is fairly unsavory, maybe not even likable. But I've given him some wonderful descriptions and insights that are kind of at odds with the rest of him.
I figure, if he's no longer the narrator, then these great descriptions and insights will belong to the authorial voice and might be regarded in a better light, instead of having to considered as coming out of the head of such a jerk.
Does this make sense.
By the way, I tried this rewrite on the first 50 pages and loved it (and actually sent it to an agent).
Of course, I could look at it again tomorrow and hate it.

Nakhlasmoke · Oct 30, 2006

Why don't you post two paragraphs for comparison?

At any rate, if you're happy to do all the rewrites, and you think it works better, go for it. Just don't delete the original in case you decide that you don't actually like the new version.

DeadlyAccurate · Oct 30, 2006

I agree with Nakhlasmoke; if it works, go for it. I changed from 3rd to 1st, because it just worked out so much better. I write in 1st easier overall.

Tracy · Oct 31, 2006

The POV is just one of many decisions the author has to make, and it's an important one to get right. So by all means, if you judge the new POV will work better, go for it.

The Lady · Oct 31, 2006

Your insights as to why you're doing it seem spot on. I reckon go for it, especially as you're already trying it and it's working.

seun · Oct 31, 2006

I'd say go for it. I'm doing something similar with one of my books (a tense change rather than POV) and the 35,000 words I've written so far are so much better than the original draft.

greglondon · Oct 31, 2006

changing my narrator's point of view from first person to omniscient.

My first writings tended towards omniscient, and sometimes I'd accidentally push into third limited. Someone pointed it out to me and explained the whole POV thing, and I realized that for me there's no juice in omniscient. I need to write from inside someone's head now, or I get bored with my own stuff.

One of the things I've learned about the book is that my narrator as a character is fairly unsavory, maybe not even likable.

I'd suggest trying third person limited. It gives you -some- distance from the character as opposed to first person, but it's not as distant as omniscient. But that's just me.

If you've rewritten it in omniscient and really like it, then the thing to do might be to go for it with omniscient.

Doug Johnson · Oct 31, 2006

popmuze said:
But I've given him some wonderful descriptions and insights that are kind of at odds with the rest of him.

If a character says something he wouldn't say, or thinks something he wouldn't think, then the writer hasn't portrayed him accurately.

popmuze · Oct 31, 2006

This may be one of the reasons my book hasn't broken through to representation, the disparity between the narrative voice and the narrator's character.
Hopefully, once I separate the two, the book will be dramatically changed.
Then people will have to find something else not to like about it.

ChaosTitan · Oct 31, 2006

popmuze said:
Then people will have to find something else not to like about it.

Or they'll start finding something to love about it.

Doug Johnson · Oct 31, 2006

popmuze said:
This may be one of the reasons my book hasn't broken through to representation, the disparity between the narrative voice and the narrator's character

Cheer up. All problems can be fixed with a complete rewrite.

popmuze · Oct 31, 2006

Doug Johnson said:
Cheer up. All problems can be fixed with a complete rewrite.

You may think you're scaring me, but I'm addicted to rewriting. That's probably why I can't leave this thing alone.

Doug Johnson · Oct 31, 2006

I'm on day one of fixing a POV/narrative problem. I figure it'll take about three months. Not scary, but a very inefficient way of making money.

Soccer Mom · Oct 31, 2006

It sounds crazy, but halfway through my last WIP I changed both POV and tense. And it worked. If it feels right, do it.

FYI--I did post some snippets in SYW comparing the two and got lots of feedback on wht people liked.

PeeDee · Oct 31, 2006

A warning: Make sure you're doing it because you think it'll improve your book and not just because you've realized that your POV character is a jerk and you don't like being in his head anymore.

Just a thought.

popmuze · Nov 1, 2006

Interesting point. But the truth is, I don't think I was really in his head for most of the time. He was in mine. I was giving him all my best thoughts and observations, when most of them he really had no use for and probably wouldn't have thought of on his own.
If I was to really go inside his head, I'd have to eliminate the best writing in the book and substitute a much more toned down version.
Of course, sixteen more revisions down the line, I may wind up doing just that.

Considering a change of POV

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed

Nakhlasmoke

yes

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

Tracy

The Lady

Critical Member

seun

Horror Man

greglondon

Planet Wookie techno geek

Doug Johnson

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed

ChaosTitan

Around

Doug Johnson

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed

Doug Johnson

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed