POV Changes

RocketFoot · Jul 20, 2009

I have started my novel in first person - me telling the story. But I don't really want to have the whole novel done in first person. I want to have character to character interaction beyond what I can describe myself in the first person. Is is bad to change the POV like this? I feel that if I can do it transparently, then it might be really cool! I'd like to hear some thoughts on this idea before I get too far into it! LOL

KTC · Jul 20, 2009

If it's done well, of course it works. Like anything else. A novel I thought was really well done is Catherine Bush's Minus Time. It has first and third switches. I wasn't jarred once. The switches were done smoothly.

OH...and welcome to AW!

Raphee · Jul 20, 2009

No, it isn't bad. Provided you do it well and as KTC said the transitions are smooth.

That said...there must be a reason other than what you want. It should be a demand of your particular story, that if you don't do 1st and 3rd then you can't convey what you want to.

And Welcome to the Cooler.

RocketFoot · Jul 20, 2009

Raphee said:
No, it isn't bad. Provided you do it well and as KTC said the transitions are smooth.

That said...there must be a reason other than what you want. It should be a demand of your particular story, that if you don't do 1st and 3rd then you can't convey what you want to.

And Welcome to the Cooler.

This is true, It does need to be 1st person to tell the story. Narration just wouldn't work for me. I just have to figure out how to smooth the transitions out so the story flows seamlessly!

maestrowork · Jul 20, 2009

Have you tried doing it in close 3rd limited? That would make your transition to 3rd limited much more smoother without losing much of the 1st person intimacy.

RocketFoot · Jul 20, 2009

maestrowork said:
Have you tried doing it in close 3rd limited? That would make your transition to 3rd limited much more smoother without losing much of the 1st person intimacy.

Interesting. I need to maintain myself as the main character, but I think I could do something with close third.

I was hesitant to write in first person, but with the nature of my story (kind of like a journal or diary) it is hard to get around the first person aspect.

maestrowork · Jul 20, 2009

RocketFoot said:
Interesting. I need to maintain myself as the main character,

Is this autobiographical?

RocketFoot · Jul 20, 2009

maestrowork said:
Is this autobiographical?

It's going to be more like an account of fictional events as told by the MC. The MC is actually my persona but completely fictional. (If that makes sense? LOL)

MsGneiss · Jul 20, 2009

RocketFoot said:
It's going to be more like an account of fictional events as told by the MC. The MC is actually my persona but completely fictional. (If that makes sense? LOL)

I think what you are describing is known as a roman a clef, and I've written in such a style. I think it works best in first person, but would be curious how you make out, if you decide to switch to a different POV.

RocketFoot · Jul 20, 2009

sleepsheep said:
I think what you are describing is known as a roman a clef, and I've written in such a style. I think it works best in first person, but would be curious how you make out, if you decide to switch to a different POV.

That's what I am finding. 1st person is working best for me...but I still want to have character to character interaction. I might be able to accomplish this by having the other characters tell the MC about their interactions and then the MC relates them to the reader. Not sure what POV style that would be, but it seems like a valid option for me...

maestrowork · Jul 20, 2009

RocketFoot said:
It's going to be more like an account of fictional events as told by the MC. The MC is actually my persona but completely fictional. (If that makes sense? LOL)

Yeah, it makes sense. Just beware of Mary Sues.

RocketFoot · Jul 20, 2009

maestrowork said:
Yeah, it makes sense. Just beware of Mary Sues.

Another good point. Also one of the reasons I want to focus on other characters in the story.

maestrowork · Jul 20, 2009

You can still focus on "other characters" when doing 1st person. The Great Gatsby is a good example of "external focus" 1st person narrative.

RJK · Jul 20, 2009

James Patterson does an excellent job of mixing 1st and 3rd POV in his Alex Cross novels. If I weren't sensitized by all the attention we pay to POV shifts here, I would never notice how Patterson does it.

KTC · Jul 20, 2009

RJK said:
James Patterson does an excellent job of mixing 1st and 3rd POV in his Alex Cross novels. If I weren't sensitized by all the attention we pay to POV shifts here, I would never notice how Patterson does it.

Patterson has a stable of writers. He doesn't count.

RJK · Jul 20, 2009

@KTC - Whether it's Patterson, or one of his co-writers, it still works.

POV Changes

RocketFoot

Yep, that's me!

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Raphee

In debt to AW

RocketFoot

Yep, that's me!

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

RocketFoot

Yep, that's me!

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

RocketFoot

Yep, that's me!

MsGneiss

RocketFoot

Yep, that's me!

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

RocketFoot

Yep, that's me!

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says: