Hello!
I am not new to writing, with a couple of books published traditionally, but this time it's getting to me. I am writing a suspense and started out with it a bit over a year ago. Multiple 3rd person (limited), past tense. Very thriller like, with action and multiple plotlines that merge at the end (as if I ever made it that far). Unlike the other times, I got lost in my plot, that much that I quit writing the story and let it sit. Actually I took a sabbatical from writing altogether. A few months ago, I found my way back to writing and decided to tackle this story once again.
This time with two 1st person narrators, in present tense. It was testing the waters as before I was no friend of this combination at all. However, with that constellation it was so much easier to develop plot and character arc. Although there are two narrators, one has the lead. So far, so good. I feel it fits the story.
But...
I'm not getting more out of the story than 65k. Someone told me I need to bump it up, which I cannot without introducing another character's pov. (I hate first person narrators that are bumbling along, lost in self-reflection). It's a suspense after all, so I feel the story needs a certain tightness.
Are three first person narrators too many? Plus, the third one I have in mind may reveal to much. His part stays shady until the end, but in his design he can't be a deceptive narrator. I could use another character, but this would feel forced.
Back to third pov for all? With a three 3rd person (limited) setup like I started out and wrote almost all of my novels?
Is there a trend to first person/present?
How many first person narrators fit well into a suspense?
Better first person/past tense?
Suspense better in 3rd/past tense?
Humph. Any advice or opinion before I jump out of our window (first floor)?
I am not new to writing, with a couple of books published traditionally, but this time it's getting to me. I am writing a suspense and started out with it a bit over a year ago. Multiple 3rd person (limited), past tense. Very thriller like, with action and multiple plotlines that merge at the end (as if I ever made it that far). Unlike the other times, I got lost in my plot, that much that I quit writing the story and let it sit. Actually I took a sabbatical from writing altogether. A few months ago, I found my way back to writing and decided to tackle this story once again.
This time with two 1st person narrators, in present tense. It was testing the waters as before I was no friend of this combination at all. However, with that constellation it was so much easier to develop plot and character arc. Although there are two narrators, one has the lead. So far, so good. I feel it fits the story.
But...
I'm not getting more out of the story than 65k. Someone told me I need to bump it up, which I cannot without introducing another character's pov. (I hate first person narrators that are bumbling along, lost in self-reflection). It's a suspense after all, so I feel the story needs a certain tightness.
Are three first person narrators too many? Plus, the third one I have in mind may reveal to much. His part stays shady until the end, but in his design he can't be a deceptive narrator. I could use another character, but this would feel forced.
Back to third pov for all? With a three 3rd person (limited) setup like I started out and wrote almost all of my novels?
Is there a trend to first person/present?
How many first person narrators fit well into a suspense?
Better first person/past tense?
Suspense better in 3rd/past tense?
Humph. Any advice or opinion before I jump out of our window (first floor)?
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