Multiple P.O.V

cypher_lee · Jul 12, 2005

Hi there guys, i'm wondering if you could help me out.

With my current WIP i started out with one story told in the 1st person written in the from of diary entries. The problem then came when i reached a point in the story where the MC is in a coma like state, but still needs to be telling the story.

This wouldn't have been too much of a problem except i want the manner in which the story is presented to be feasible, by which i mean i want it to be like a document that could be found in the real world, not something that has a narrator from beyond the grave and whatnot.

I now find myself with 4 different points of view, each one telling its own story while at the same time tying into the MC story in some way or another.

The 4 POV i have are

1. Diary of the main character.

2. A web blog written by another character investigating who is posting mysterious comments on his blog.

3. The comments posted on the website, which is in fact the continued POV of the MC after he goes into a coma.

4. A transcription of doctor's notes made during the treatment of the MC.

I know it sounds a bit confusing at the moment, if you need me to clarify any points just ask. Anyways...

My question is this; should i axe the extra POV and focus on the main story, or should i pursue this sudden diversion in my work and see where it leads me. I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment with what's happened but also rather excited, the extra POV'S do have some good story material potential in them, i would just like to hear if any of you guys had this happen to you in the past and what advice you could give me.

Thanx.

jules · Jul 13, 2005

Finish writing it. Get some beta readers. If any are confused by it, consider a rewrite that will reduce the confusion. Otherwise, it sounds like an interesting story. I'm not quite sure what a character's viewpoint would be like while he's in a coma, but it could be intriguing to find out

Garpy · Jul 13, 2005

I'm not sure how you will pull off getting the MC's thoughts 'into' the real world if he's in a coma. Unless you go supernatural in someway.

Or...they could be thoughts he'd pre-written. Read 'PS I love you' by Cecilia Aherne....story about a woman who loses her true love, then 5 years later discovers a box of letters from him, one to be opened on each day of the year. You could try a similar device, in that these blog entries were prewritten by the MC in anticipation of his death/coma (assuming he would know it's coming)

It's certainly very plausible that your MC can have thoughts from the grave (or coma), that he/she can have an omniscient view of the story....is it essential to the story that your investigative character should be able to read these thoughts?

my tuppence...hope it helps

reph · Jul 13, 2005

There's evidence that comatose people have some awareness of their surroundings. If you want that part of the novel to be plausible, read up on what kind of mental activity a person in a coma is known to be capable of, and have your character act within those limits.

LightShadow · Jul 13, 2005

I was comatose for 3 months and I don't remember sh**. So, in my case, mental activity was lights out, nobody's home! However, I write from various character pov's, but it's all third person. You just can't change pov or scenes in a chapter unless you space it from the previous section. Personally, I change pov by chapter. I'm not sure, however, if it's okay to bounce from first person to third person, even if you change pov by the chapter. Anybody know the answer to that one?

cypher_lee · Jul 14, 2005

thanks for all the info guys.

Oh, and just to let you know, the story does have a slight supernatural bent to it, but nothing too extreme (at least not at the moment anyways).

See you all soon.

Multiple P.O.V

cypher_lee

jules

Bored fanatic

Garpy

keyboard monkey

reph

Fig of authority

LightShadow

defender of the blahs!

cypher_lee