1st person present/3rd person limited past POVs in one novel

meowzbark · 12-27-2012, 03:28 PM

In my WIP, I have two POV characters. POV1 ends up "possessing" POV2's body. When POV1 possesses POV2's body, she receives POV2's memories...and so POV2 is written in the past, while POV1 happens in the present. But because I arrange the story chronologically, the POV switches happen prior to the body merging, though POV1 doesn't "know" POV2 until the merge.

It feels natural for me to write POV1 as first person present and I'm not sure how feasible it is to write her POV as third when she does "switch" bodies with multiple existing characters. POV2 I currently have as third person limited. Both POVs are needed to tell the story properly.

Should I rewrite one of the POVs to make the book either entirely present tense or past tense?

Basically

POV1 : first person present
POV2: third person limited past

EDIT: I could feasibly write both POVs from first person POV, but I can't write both from third person POV.

WillSauger · 12-27-2012, 03:45 PM

I've never seen the use in switching tenses to show flashbacks... seems more like a gimmick to me.

I hate present tense (unless done extremely well). Some people might be the other way around. If you have a book with one tense and the reader is enjoying it, and switch on us... we might not like it any longer. Stephen King did this on me...

I also have to press that not all people have even one tense down to effectively write in it, so switching might create more problems. (Though if you understand the basics, its down to vocabulary).

I also don't like when books switch narratives on me. Unless the there is a really, really good reason for having 1st and 3rd together, I would like to see either multiple 3rd or a single 1st.

That's just staying consistent so you're not throwing the reader around. If you change one thing, the reader feels on edge for the rest of the story, expecting something else to change at any moment.

But then, why can't your character just "switch" into first and we (the reader) would know that she's in a different body? If you make that clear that she's inside someone else, you can keep your single 1st present tense.

Or, or... use 1st omni during the flashbacks, and keep it present tense! It sounds just like it sounds. Have her enter the flashbacks and watch the person in 3rd, but keep within the 1st person narration. The narrator will be able to pull up thoughts and knowledge from the possessed girl. (Oh boy, this might be very hard though). Tricky.

Do what you wish, how you wish. If done well, I'd have no complaints.

SomethingOrOther · 12-27-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzbark

Should I rewrite one of the POVs to make the book either entirely present tense or past tense?

No. You should do what you want to do. Your original setup is fine.

jeffo20 · 12-27-2012, 04:01 PM

Agree with SomethingOrOther on this one. I've seen plenty of books with POVs that switch like this (I'm reading one now) that work just fine. Go with what feels right.

meowzbark · 12-28-2012, 05:11 AM

Thanks for the advice!

rwm4768 · 12-28-2012, 08:24 AM

I've read one book I can think of that was partially in third person past, partially in first person present: Ilium by Dan Simmons. Simmons also goes all over the place with tense and point of view in Hyperion, and I found it worked in both books.

Danalynn · 12-28-2012, 08:34 AM

I agree, I think your original set up will work just fine. Go with what feels right to you. Your beta readers will be able to tell you for sure how well it works from a readers perspective.

BlankWhitePage · 12-29-2012, 08:44 PM

I don't see anything wrong with your current setup. Stick with what you feel works best, you can always revise it in the next draft.

itsaplane · 12-29-2012, 09:59 PM

Do what you feel feels right! That's the way to go, always.

flapperphilosopher · 12-29-2012, 10:23 PM

I've certainly read books that do this. The Blind Assasin, by Margaret Atwood, has first person present tense, first person past tense, and third person past tense, depending on the POV. It won a Booker. I'm all for "if it feels right, go for it"-- your subconcious can be very clever.

The Otter · 12-30-2012, 04:24 AM

I once wrote a novel where flashbacks were done in present tense and the present was written in past tense. Counter-intuitive, maybe, but it worked for me and for my beta. There are lots of books that switch tenses and POVs. It can be confusing if you're not careful, but if it feels right, then go with it; if there are issues, you can iron them out in the edits.

12-27-2012, 03:28 PM	#1
meowzbark practical experience, FTW Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 449	1st person present/3rd person limited past POVs in one novel In my WIP, I have two POV characters. POV1 ends up "possessing" POV2's body. When POV1 possesses POV2's body, she receives POV2's memories...and so POV2 is written in the past, while POV1 happens in the present. But because I arrange the story chronologically, the POV switches happen prior to the body merging, though POV1 doesn't "know" POV2 until the merge. It feels natural for me to write POV1 as first person present and I'm not sure how feasible it is to write her POV as third when she does "switch" bodies with multiple existing characters. POV2 I currently have as third person limited. Both POVs are needed to tell the story properly. Should I rewrite one of the POVs to make the book either entirely present tense or past tense? Basically POV1 : first person present POV2: third person limited past EDIT: I could feasibly write both POVs from first person POV, but I can't write both from third person POV. __________________ Desdemona - YA Dark Fantasy, on 2nd draft revising: \|Book Review Blog\| \|Twitter\| Last edited by meowzbark; 12-27-2012 at 03:39 PM.

12-27-2012, 03:45 PM	#2
WillSauger (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 3,887	I've never seen the use in switching tenses to show flashbacks... seems more like a gimmick to me. I hate present tense (unless done extremely well). Some people might be the other way around. If you have a book with one tense and the reader is enjoying it, and switch on us... we might not like it any longer. Stephen King did this on me... I also have to press that not all people have even one tense down to effectively write in it, so switching might create more problems. (Though if you understand the basics, its down to vocabulary). I also don't like when books switch narratives on me. Unless the there is a really, really good reason for having 1st and 3rd together, I would like to see either multiple 3rd or a single 1st. That's just staying consistent so you're not throwing the reader around. If you change one thing, the reader feels on edge for the rest of the story, expecting something else to change at any moment. But then, why can't your character just "switch" into first and we (the reader) would know that she's in a different body? If you make that clear that she's inside someone else, you can keep your single 1st present tense. Or, or... use 1st omni during the flashbacks, and keep it present tense! It sounds just like it sounds. Have her enter the flashbacks and watch the person in 3rd, but keep within the 1st person narration. The narrator will be able to pull up thoughts and knowledge from the possessed girl. (Oh boy, this might be very hard though). Tricky. Do what you wish, how you wish. If done well, I'd have no complaints. __________________ Don't Fear Failure. "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn" -- Alvin Toffler. Last edited by WillSauger; 12-27-2012 at 04:01 PM. Reason: Lare nighr, you forger rhe "R"

12-27-2012, 04:01 PM	#4
jeffo20 practical experience, FTW Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Central New York Posts: 1,456	Agree with SomethingOrOther on this one. I've seen plenty of books with POVs that switch like this (I'm reading one now) that work just fine. Go with what feels right. __________________ Blogging at The Doubting Writer

12-28-2012, 05:11 AM	#5
meowzbark practical experience, FTW Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 449	Thanks for the advice! __________________ Desdemona - YA Dark Fantasy, on 2nd draft revising: \|Book Review Blog\| \|Twitter\|

12-28-2012, 08:24 AM	#6
rwm4768 practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,860	I've read one book I can think of that was partially in third person past, partially in first person present: Ilium by Dan Simmons. Simmons also goes all over the place with tense and point of view in Hyperion, and I found it worked in both books. __________________ My writing blog: http://ryanmuellerwriting.blogspot.com/ WIP: The Man in the Crystal Prison (Upper MG Contemporary Fantasy): 66K Revising and Editing White Fire (Epic Fantasy): 114K Revising and Editing.

12-28-2012, 08:34 AM	#7
Danalynn NEVER give up!!!! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Troy, Ohio Posts: 806	I agree, I think your original set up will work just fine. Go with what feels right to you. Your beta readers will be able to tell you for sure how well it works from a readers perspective. __________________ * That's a point well put, and a timely suggestion that we'll bring up at the very next board meeting a week from Tuesday . . . I don't know why, it's just policy *

12-29-2012, 08:44 PM	#8
BlankWhitePage figuring it all out Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Winter Garden, Florida, USA Posts: 62	I don't see anything wrong with your current setup. Stick with what you feel works best, you can always revise it in the next draft. __________________

12-29-2012, 09:59 PM	#9
itsaplane all the feels, ALL OF THEM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 183	Do what you feel feels right! That's the way to go, always. __________________ Writing: YA CONTEMP Phantasmagoria 2k/70k HIATUS. YA URBAN FANTASY Demons Don't Sleep 72k/60k REVISING. YA SCIFI PLOTTING YA SUPERHERO OUTLINING

12-29-2012, 10:23 PM	#10
flapperphilosopher writing like it's 1927 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 557	I've certainly read books that do this. The Blind Assasin, by Margaret Atwood, has first person present tense, first person past tense, and third person past tense, depending on the POV. It won a Booker. I'm all for "if it feels right, go for it"-- your subconcious can be very clever. __________________ "Writers aren't exactly people... they're a whole bunch of people trying to be one person." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald My blog, connecting with people of the past through their photographs: The Passion of Former Days

12-30-2012, 04:24 AM	#11
The Otter Friendly Neighborhood Mustelidae Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: In the room next to the noisy ice machine, for all eternity. Posts: 896	I once wrote a novel where flashbacks were done in present tense and the present was written in past tense. Counter-intuitive, maybe, but it worked for me and for my beta. There are lots of books that switch tenses and POVs. It can be confusing if you're not careful, but if it feels right, then go with it; if there are issues, you can iron them out in the edits. __________________ Feet of Clay, my novella, is now available from Torquere Press.

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