Writerly things

Feb 27, 2011 21:46

Dear authors on my flist,

Talk to me about points of view, please.

Rambling ramble inside )

writing, questions

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Comments 11

jennifergale February 28 2011, 03:55:14 UTC
Not at all!

-I think the first thing you were describing is probably inadvertent on the part of the author. I catch myself doing it.

-I think it's fun to write tight third and have the MC misunderstand/assume untrue things about other characters. :)

- The clearest way to switch perspectives is to use scene breaks between each character switch.

- The most important thing is to be consistent... If the story is 80% one character and 20% another, it'll feel funny...though there are always exceptions. :P Even 60/40 can feel a bit off.

That's my two cents, anyway. :D

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flyingcarpet February 28 2011, 04:01:42 UTC
It's funny you should ask, since I was just thinking about how I am so devoted to alternating POVs that I'm kind of stuck in a rut with it sometimes. :P ( ... )

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plaid_slytherin February 28 2011, 04:29:32 UTC
I'm looking at you, Nora Roberts

OMG. I've read ONE of her books and this was seriously the thing that made me not want to read more. It was driving me up the wall. Fanfiction has ruined me for real books, probably, but I hated that.

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ladywhizbee February 28 2011, 04:13:52 UTC
Ok, so I don't ever change POV mid-sentence, mid-paragraph, let alone mid-section...like...yeah...EVER. So read what I write next with that in mind ( ... )

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plaid_slytherin February 28 2011, 04:27:44 UTC
Gosh, I switch POVs all the time. I only stick to one POV in REALLY short stuff. When I do switch, it's always dilineated by **. I love switching POVs; I really like getting into other characters' heads and just immersing myself in their viewpoints. I also like showing characters' actions from other characters' points of view. I am such a nerd!

I keep suspense/conflict based on the fact that the CHARACTERS don't know what each other is feeling. To me, that's the best kind of drama when the reader knows what both are thinking but neither knows how the other feels.

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beautiful_fic February 28 2011, 07:57:40 UTC
For someone who used to hate reading books with more than one POV, it's all I write these days. Normally, I'm alternating points of view per chapter. This is a great way to do it for someone who's used to sticking to one POV, because you can get in the mindset at the beginning of the chapter and stick with it.

Alternatively, say I'm writing a shorter piece, I do it in scenes and break it up with horizontal lines.
Good luck with it!
B xxx

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