Mixed POV

lfraser · Jan 17, 2007

My WIP is necessarily in third person limited, because my three main characters observe different events and end up in different places.

The trouble is that one of them, the character that I see as the driving force in the story, keeps talking to me in first person. I'm comfortable writing in both first and third person, so from a writing perspective that's not a problem, but I'm wondering if that would feel strange to a reader. I have seen mixed POV's in novels, but those were written by far, far better writers than I am.

What do you think? Should I stick with the original plan and stay in third person, or should I give in to the character and let her speak?

I briefly considered using first person for all of the characters, too, but that's far harder to do and I'm not sure I'm capable of carrying it off.

maestrowork · Jan 17, 2007

If it works, as long as you keep the POVs consistent. But by having one character 1st and the other 3rd, you are making that one character more "intimate" with the readers than the others. If that's what you want, it's perfectly fine.

lfraser · Jan 17, 2007

Thanks. I'm pretty good at maintaining POV. That's one thing I've found to be quite easy.

I think she is supposed to be the most intimately understood character, because she is the one who is able to act when the other two can't, and she is the one who has to experience the most change in the story. I'm just concerned that halfway through the novel I'll change my mind and decide that third person was the better choice after all, or that one of the other characters is equally as important, in which case I would start to get very annoyed with myself.

The other characters do experience change, but one of them has that change forced on her as the story-triggering event and is incapacitated for the first half of the story, and the other is limited by the fact that he is a person of some status and can't just bugger off and have an adventure whenever he feels like it. He's more of an anchor in the story line. At least that's how I see him right now.

Edward G · Jan 17, 2007

In the book, House of Sand and Fog, the author has two different characters and uses the first person for each one of them, a third character is done in the close third person. So long as you don't mix them in the same section or chapter, it shouldn't confuse the reader at all.

You shouldn't say other writers are better than you. That's a con put on you by school teachers no doubt. If you don't believe in yourself, how will you join the pursuit of the Great Story?

Gordon

J.S Greer · Jan 17, 2007

Im not a huge fan of changing POV's, or tenses for that matter.

I agree with the above that it can work, but I think your main character can "Talk" just as effectively in third as they can in first.

Inkdaub · Jan 18, 2007

Well I'm reading a book right now called Zero Game by Brad Meltzer. He is a Dan Brown(big ideas and moderate writing skill) type guy and is about as talented a writer. Anyway, in this Zero Game, we have our protag in first person and along we go for a few chapters. Then something happens...something important yes...and we switch to another guy who becomes our protag and is now in first person. This other guy was in third person before, naturally, as we had a different protag who was in first. Our new protag remains in first for the rest of the story. If it sounds confusing it isn't...but it is awkward.

I would say don't do that.

TsukiRyoko · Jan 18, 2007

First person is generally more intimate, and combined with a third person POV, the intensity the reader shares with each character will differ. If you want the reader to have a stronger relationship with one character, I'd say go for it.

Adagio · Jan 20, 2007

Inkdaub said:
Well I'm reading a book right now called Zero Game by Brad Meltzer. He is a Dan Brown(big ideas and moderate writing skill) .
I would say don't do that.

Yes, I read that book and it jarred me. His other book, The Millionaires, is written in the same style: MC tells his story 1st pov, present tense. Then the author changes to 3rd for other characters.

I started my novel (only two povs, one 1st, one 3rd) but I after I read so many arguments against this switch (not only in this board), I changed my mind and now I write in 3rd.

Adagio

Novelist in Paradise · Jan 20, 2007

You use whatever's best for the story you want to write. Sometimes it's the story that tells you, sometimes you have to take charge and decide.

Keep in mind first person requires an authentic character's voice--his or her unique outlook on the world--as I am (re)discovering to my chagrin after having my editor toss my ms. back to me.

Don't let the rules rule you.

If the story makes it to an editor, then you listen.

pdr · Jan 21, 2007

Listen to your character!

...the character that I see as the driving force in the story, keeps talking to me in first person.

Then listen to her! Don't fret over what is right or wrong according to anyone else or a mythical editor who hasn't even seen your work. If that character's saying I am to you then go with it.

Matt McKee · Jan 21, 2007

Novelist in Paradise said:
Don't let the rules rule you.

Hear, hear! Write in your voice - or in the voices that come to you - the way that comes naturally and let your story tell itself.

I found that when I started to worry about what I was supposed to do and how much my story wasn't following the rules, my writing cramped up and almost sent the whole thing off the rails for good.

Wait until you get some objective readers to digest your work and then tell you what they thought of the perspectives. If it felt natural to you while you were writing, you might be surprised how well it reads.

Mixed POV

lfraser

Bored and Frantic

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

lfraser

Bored and Frantic

Edward G

J.S Greer

Feel the power!

Inkdaub

wrapped in plastic

TsukiRyoko

Forced into cell phone life

Adagio

Novelist in Paradise

Ah, the joys of dengue fever

pdr

Matt McKee