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My character is watching a replay of his last memories before he went into some kind of coma-like state. For simplicity's sake, let's just call it a video.
My problem is the story is told in first person. How can I get the reader to distinguish between present time MC who's watching the video and thinking about it verses the past MC who is in the "video"?
My options are:
A) put the video in italics and the real-time thoughts in normal print
B) use past perfect tense. "I had laughed."
C) call the video MC "video me" or "past me" or "memory me."
D) Mention what's going on is taking place on the video. "On the screen, I was laughing."
I prefer B, but it feels repetitive to write "had" before every verb. This is my go-to option for now, but I was wondering if it would start to get repetitive. Thoughts? Which one do you think would be easier to understand?
Also, I would prefer not to start the chapter earlier because the reader is supposed to think he's dead and not in a coma-like state, but if it comes down to it, I'll take that too.
ETA: The video is supposed to be an emotional time for the MC and I want the readers to feel it as well.
My problem is the story is told in first person. How can I get the reader to distinguish between present time MC who's watching the video and thinking about it verses the past MC who is in the "video"?
My options are:
A) put the video in italics and the real-time thoughts in normal print
B) use past perfect tense. "I had laughed."
C) call the video MC "video me" or "past me" or "memory me."
D) Mention what's going on is taking place on the video. "On the screen, I was laughing."
I prefer B, but it feels repetitive to write "had" before every verb. This is my go-to option for now, but I was wondering if it would start to get repetitive. Thoughts? Which one do you think would be easier to understand?
Also, I would prefer not to start the chapter earlier because the reader is supposed to think he's dead and not in a coma-like state, but if it comes down to it, I'll take that too.
ETA: The video is supposed to be an emotional time for the MC and I want the readers to feel it as well.
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