Revisions and two versions of WIP. NEED HELP

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Raphee

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I have written my novel as:
1 First person with two narrators.
Then I changed it and went to Version 2 i.e
2 Third limited, five POVs.

I also had to modify the plot and came up with a stronger plot and story for No. 2 i.e. my 3P version.

Given to betas, I have had a mixed response: Some like the narrative style in 3rd persion, the bigger picture it paints.

Others say my first person is engaging because of the voice and humor.

I have been working on this for a year now. I want to go one way or the other, finalise the story and submit. But I am frozen. I dont know which version to go with. That has made me stop writing. I have been agonising over this far too long and thought I'd ask you guys for advise.

I can still revise the first person to get the story elements in from the 3P version. I just dont want to do it as experiment. I need to finalise this question for once and for all.
What guidelines/questions should I ask myself, to reach a conclusion.
 

David I

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That's one of those tough problems, and I can't give you a good answer.

Some questions to ask yourself, though:

1) You changed from first to third-limited. What were your reasons for this, and how important do they seem now?

2) Which voice(s) seem more natural to you?

3) I think close POVs should be kept to a minimum. (If you're writing true omniscient, you can chuck this guideline--but you aren't.) POV changes demand adjustment on the part of the reader--and also run the risk of having some POVs seem far weaker than others. But I think that switching between first-person POVs is even more demanding, since the change in narrative voice tends to be bigger. Which of the two setups is likely to demand more from your reader?

I tend to be a sucker for voice, so if people are praising your first-person version I'd be inclined to listen. But notice my use of the word "sucker" in the previous sentence...

Good luck!
 

Raphee

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David thanks, I know I have to answer this myself ultimately. However you have given me some worthwhile pointers. I'll try to answer:

1) You changed from first to third-limited. What were your reasons for this, and how important do they seem now?

My primary narrator is not the MC. He however tells 70% of the story. He is the one with the right voice. My MC is the 2nd narrator who speaks from her diary.
I had a problem with the 2nd voice and decided to attempt in 3rd P. However I never attempted to improve the voice of the MC, which was my reason for shifting to 3rd.


In writing the 3rd Person, I did flesh out the story better. Second thing I've noticed is that while other story elements have become stronger, my ending has become weaker in 3rd. It just seemed better in 1st.
2) Which voice(s) seem more natural to you?

I think I write better in 1st as a general rule. I am able to get under the skin of my 1st person narrator much more naturally. Albeit that i couldnt do it with two 1st person narrators.
In 3rd I struggle to see the world through the eyes of different people.
Of course, being unpublished, this is what I feel. I am not relying on what I have been told since the views vary.

3) I think close POVs should be kept to a minimum. (If you're writing true omniscient, you can chuck this guideline--but you aren't.) POV changes demand adjustment on the part of the reader--and also run the risk of having some POVs seem far weaker than others. But I think that switching between first-person POVs is even more demanding, since the change in narrative voice tends to be bigger. Which of the two setups is likely to demand more from your reader?

This is the most difficult to answer. There are pros and cons both ways. In 1st the intimacy and the voice was with the main narrator and not the MC.
In 3rd, since there are a lot of POV's but the ones that command the story are 4/5. I still dont call it omni, because of the lack of omni narrator. It is a very wide 3rd though. However the whole novel is geographically set in a tight location geographically; so evryone is connected to everyone
This wide 3rd also hinders the intimacy with MC, however the scope as a novel got bigger even better. Certain areas like voice became weaker.
From the readers perspective: I am guessing, that 1st might draw them in easier. Still the two narrative voices are not easy.
Question here: Is it a problem if the reader develops intimacy in 1st with narrator and lessor so with MC.

Thanks a lot.
PS: FYI:My novel is what you could label mainstream, literary, contemporary; I hate these words as well as upmarket. Unfortunately, I dont know any others.
 

Bufty

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Start another novel.

I see you are a 'winger' - that invariably means going back and changing things to allow for things that happened that were not foreseen at the outset.

Go with whichever version you prefer.

As to your intimacy question - it seems to me the reader should bond with the person who is most affected by the unfolding events and if there is a first person narrator (Watson) and an MC (Sherlock Holmes) I would imagine that person to be the MC, although it may not necessarily be the case. The first person narrator is the one through whom the events are witnessed and he is normally used for a reason.
 

Danthia

Which version do you feel most passionately about? If you hand them to fresh readers (who will brutally say when/if they stop reading on you), which hooks them faster and keeps them reading longer?

Forget the stuff that you love, as authors tend to like the history, backstory and world-building we've created. What grabs the reader and holds them tight? THAT'S the version that stands the best chance at also grabbing an agent or editor.
 

loiterer

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This is a genuine dilemma.

You noted that your story in third person took on a greater scope but weakened the voice. In your position, I would ask myself: is this more of a character-driven story, or is it driven more by plot/event? If the former, then first person might be best; if the latter, then stick with third. If you are not sure what type of story it is, then I'd ask, how do you feel about sacrificing your first person voices in switching to third?

Personally I'd say if a story works in first person, you should tell it that way, but that's just me. It's a pity you don't have someone willing to read both versions whose opinion you can fully trust.

Question here: Is it a problem if the reader develops intimacy in 1st with narrator and lessor so with MC.

No, it is not a problem. First person is more flexible than is often assumed. Bufty mentioned the Sherlock Holmes stories: perhaps I misunderstand his/her point, or perhaps Bufty unusually identifies with Holmes, but generally in the Sherlock Holmes stories the reader identifies with the narrator Watson; it is through Watson's eyes we appreciate the genius of Sherlock Holmes. If the stories were told through Sherlock's eyes, everything would be more matter-of-fact and the dramatic tension of the stories would be lessened.
 

JoNightshade

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First of all, I'd start working on something else and leave this be. I know it's already been a while, but you need to have something else on your mind before you can look at this objectively.

Secondly, it sounds to me like you 1) Enjoyed writing your first draft, 2) Like your primary narrator, and 3) think the ending's great. If I'm right, the only reason you switched to third person is because you were having trouble with the other narrator. This is not a problem with story or perspective - it's a problem of your abilities, which can be fixed. Therefore my suggestion is to put this aside for a while and then come back and work harder on your second character's voice. Maybe you had trouble with it initially, but if you work on it I'm sure you can do it. :)

Incidentally, I have swapped perspectives in at least two novels that I can think of. So I understand your dilemma. I had a really engaging first person narrative, but to tell the entire story I wanted I needed more control and omniscience. So it turned into third. I lost the wonderful voice, but for me I think the tradeoff was worth it.
 

Raphee

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Thanks to all of you, the feedback has been wonderful and I am pondering over all these points.

Over the weekend I have again been reading these versions. I also spoke to one beta who had read my 1st person and bless her soul is reading the 3rd person.
According to this beta: there are problems with the 3rd, that need to be rectified; however she sees no one reason why I should switch back to 1st. The thing that has bothered her is the no. of POV's.

Jo, I do love writing in 1st and that always tends to color my perspective.

Loiterer, good point; this novel is more character driven, but the events start unfolding in the second half.
Your question about how I feel sacrificing the voice: Really, not too bad. I just want to get the best story out for submission, whichever it is. I do know that the intimacy is being seriously dented in the 3rd person; because of so many POV's.
 

Raphee

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Which version do you feel most passionately about? If you hand them to fresh readers (who will brutally say when/if they stop reading on you), which hooks them faster and keeps them reading longer?

Forget the stuff that you love, as authors tend to like the history, backstory and world-building we've created. What grabs the reader and holds them tight? THAT'S the version that stands the best chance at also grabbing an agent or editor.
Danthia, as to first question, that is where I get confused; because of two feedbacks, some prefer third; others 1st. I'll see if can think this through and get back to you.
Ditto for second question I'll keep it in mind. Thanks a lot.
 

Raphee

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Start another novel.

I see you are a 'winger' - that invariably means going back and changing things to allow for things that happened that were not foreseen at the outset.

Go with whichever version you prefer.

As to your intimacy question - it seems to me the reader should bond with the person who is most affected by the unfolding events
Bufty, dead right. I am a winger.
Who is most effected is the MC in my novel, but she is not the primary narrator.
This is one of my biggest torments: Even in third, I set out with wide 3rd meaning that intimacy never developos with MC [Ifeel; and keep in mind that I hate my novel right now.] as much as it should. I am trying to work through this in revisions.
Please give any advise anyone can.
 

~grace~

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This is one of my biggest torments: Even in third, I set out with wide 3rd meaning that intimacy never developos with MC [Ifeel; and keep in mind that I hate my novel right now.] as much as it should. I am trying to work through this in revisions.

I love 3rd person. What I try to do with close 3rd-person is write 3rd but in the tone of the MC. So like if the MC were telling the story about herself. Sometimes when I have trouble I write a few paragraphs in first-person. With that little amount of text it's easy to then go in and switch it all into 3rd, and it helps get the tone back on track.

Hope that is at all slightly helpful....
 

Raphee

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Thanks grace. It is helpful. I have today done some work on the MS, thanks to all the different input I got.
 
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