Friday, November 9, 2007
A Wench With a View
On all pirate ships, the captain is always in charge. Every wench on board is aware of the captain’s point of view. If the captain wants to hear your side of the story, he’ll tell it…from his point of view. However, will there be a mutiny if the story is told from everyone’s point of view?
I have always written in first person. I like writing from the heroine’s point of view, and to be honest I find writing in third person very challenging. However in a story I am currently writing in first person, I regret my decision to tell the story from the hero‘s point of view. I feel limited, and from a writer’s perspective that is never good.
Writing in third person may be more difficult, but it adds so much more dimension to the story. It allows layering, not only of the plot, but also of the characters. In my current work I did well conveying the story from my hero’s point of view, but the climax of the plot was missing an integral piece. It lacked substance. Yes it’s possible to convey another character’s emotions through the eyes of your narrating character, but they can’t tell what they can’t see, and sometimes those are the most important details.
I’ve discussed first and third person writing with other writers. I’ve heard opinions from both sides of the coin. I have a friend who would never write from third person because she doesn’t enjoy reading a story written in third person. She finds the dialog and thoughts too confusing. Some other writers argue that first person writing is for beginning writers. To this, I have to say…have they read anything lately. Some of the best-known authors today write in first person and take it all the way to the bank.
With other writers, I have discussed the varying types of third person writing. Through discussion, I have decided that third person subjective would be my choice. The only thing that concerns me is losing control of my story. My muse and characters have always navigated my writing of their own free will. With more than one character telling the story I might find myself aboard a run away train headed straight for disaster.
Personally, I like to read stories written in third person. I don’t like second guessing character’s thoughts and actions. I like to know where they all stand, thus another reason to attempt third person. However from a writing standpoint I like to feel at one with my hero and heroine. For me third person gives a watered down impression of the emotional connection a writer conveys when using first person.
As Sin blogged earlier this week, I need to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. It’s a possibility I may never perfect a story in third person, but at this stage of the game what do I have to lose?
What point of view do you use when writing, and why? Does the author’s choice of first or third person narrative determine if you read their work?
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24 comments:
Great topic, Lissa. I write in third person but only because I love to get into the head of both characters. I even think you can have the POV of a secondary character as long as they are pertinent to the story and can give the reader insight they couldn't get any other way. Susan Elizabeth Phillips does an excellent job of this in Ain't She Sweet.
I don't base what I read on POV. I've read one of the Plum books and last year I read Beach Music by Pat Conroy which is written in first person and for me is an example of perfection. I highly recommend reading that book.
I toyed with the idea of writing my erotica short story in first person but to me it seems more difficult. I haven't made up my mind yet but I believe I should step out of the box as well. Maybe I'll try writing the first few pages in 1st person and see how it goes. *g*
Oh, and this is going to make me look like the dumbest pirate on this ship but can someone explain the different options for writing in third person?
Great Blog, Lissa!
I write in third person as well. I'm with Terri though, I think writing in 1st seems more difficult. I always find 1st person epiphanies hard to pull off.
And then I worry about the problem with narrative reliability. Meaning, that when you read something in first person, you have to always keep in mind that all the descriptions are from their point of view and to question the narrator's accuracy of portrayal. (ya know what I mean?)
So, I avoid all that and just write in 3rd.
Ter- rather than me go into it for you, here's a link about third person omniscient, objective, and limited.
http://www.writesville.com/writesville/2005/12/defining_point__2.html
Thanks Terrio!
And to describe the types of third person writing. Omniscient third person is when the story is told from an all knowing narrator's POV. Where as the most popular of third person writing is subjective in which a few of the character's POV's are written. Then there's limited which to me is like first person where one character narrates the story but delves into the other charcter's POV.
It was confusing for me to wrap my mind around the different types since I've always written in first person, but I don't like the limits of first person.
I'm trying to get the link to work, but I can't. Sorry...
Though, lissa's explanation is a good one. :) I just was trying to find you a website. grrrr.
Thanks Marnee Jo!
I agree. To me third person is the way to go but it would take time and talent to pull it off well.
From everything I've read from different writer's POVs, it mentions writing each individual scene from one character's POV, but I'm not sure that will get it for me. And I worry about making a mess out of dialog and emotions.
But I am determined to try!
I read both; I probably "prefer" third person, only because generally writers do a better job of telling the story in third (doesn't require as much "voice", in my opinion), but if you write in 1st, your voice better shine--it better be so different, so funny, so...Hallmark-Moment-Angsty at the right spots to make your readers willing to hear only your POV. The Plum books are hilarious; I love Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series (but not the fairies--so it's like I like this character's voice but not the other.); some chick lit....
I write in both first and third person. Not at the same time. I have a completed WIP where I don't think it could have been told except in HER POV. If you knew his POV the whole time and what was going on, the whole mystery would have been ruined; and her character growth at the end completely non-existent. (Honestly I'm not sure it's that existent now...but I know if Ben had let his POV be known, Livie's growth wouldn't have been visible at all.)
I write third person; the current WIP (for Nano, though technically I've toyed with it longer than that) is in 3rd person, and I'm having a great time writing from a man's POV. Complete fiction...but fun nonetheless.
I think if the author "headhops" less while in third person--i.e. talk in third, but commit to this character's thoughts and reactions for the whole scene, it gives a similar intimacy as 1st POV, but then gives you an opportunity later to hear/see the other character's reaction to the same scene. I think the key is not to headhop too much. (And I'm *NOT* saying you shouldn't headhop at all; I'm just saying most of the stories I've read in third that were 1st POV intimate-like seemed to focus in one POV at a time per scene.)
Aw, but that's what I love about the 1st person limitations--the fact that the narrator is "faulty"--that their impressions, prejudices, neuroses are clouding what is really going on. When you finally find out WHAT is actually happening, you've usually got such a grasp of what a neurotic person is telling this story, that all the mysterious stuff makes sense. I think it's fun!
But I think neurotic people are fun.
And I think you can get first person epiphanies. It doesn't mean you can't have a mentor that hedges the hero to that frame of thought...and if all else fails, do what I do and shoot someone. Epiphanies abound when that happens.
Marnee - the link works when the message comes through in email or we can cut and paste the address you put in. Thanks for posting that, I need to check it out.
Thanks to, Lissa, for the explanation. It's been too many years since I had that kind of English class. LOL! Third person is actually not that difficult as long as you keep in mind which character you are writing as.
For instance, if you are writing from the heroine's POV and she and another character walk into her apartment, it's not likely she's going to make an observation of what her apartment looks like. She lives there and has seen it a hundred times. But if you are in the other character's POV and you walk into the heroine's home, that person would be seeing it for the first time and you can give the description as a first impression.
You have to think of it like looking through binoculars. You can only write what you see. If you're looking out over the ocean, you can't see what's going on behind you. Same with thoughts. If you are writing in the hero's POV, you wouldn't know that the heroine is thinking he's hot. You could deduce it from her smile, the look in her eyes or even her body language but you can only make an observation, not know for sure.
I'd better stop now. I'm rambling. LOL!
Okay, and I have to say, I am an English major...graduated from college (granted it was a SMALL college) magna cum laude--and all those definitions of 3rd person confused me. I know they're right. They sound textbook, like we've covered them before....
I must be doing subjective 3rd POV.
How do you do limited 3rd? I'm going to have to go look at an example...that's the one that confused me most. Omniscient I knew--it reminds me of Charles Dickens...
I write in subjective 3rd but I catch myself slipping into omniscient. It's a bad habit of mine but I'm working on it.
Lis! Great subject babe!
I don't worry so much about what I'm reading whether it's third or first person POV. As long as the story line is strong and the characters are well put together, I don't care what POV you write in.
Although, I don't like books where there are TOO many POV's going on. That just confuses the hell outta me. Maybe that's just me. But I'm picky about that sorta thing. I like a little mystery in my books. And if I'm hearing it from all angles, there leaves nothing new for me to discover on my own.
As you know, I write in first person POV. I always have. Doesn't mean I always will. I'm toying with the option of doing my erotica submission in third person. Just for the simple fact I'm limited with words and it's hard to write a complete story in first person with a word limit. I've also been toying with the option of writing my paranormal WIP in third person, but the last time I tried that it was horrible. So I probably won't. I don't have the voice for third person. Maybe once I learn more control, my third person voice will find a home. Until then, I'm sticking with first person.
I write third... and I have to say, I think it's more challenging writing in first person... Because not only do you have only one characters take on the whole book. You have to convey the whole tone, setting and mood of others by that one person... so kudos to you.
I don't think I could go deep enough into explaining my other characters actions by writing first person...but someone that does really well on first person is keri arthur and her riley jenson series!
I agree Sin and Hellion, if too many "voices" are portrayed in a scene it's confusing and ruins the story for me.I don't want to read something that I have to decifer character's POVs. But, I have to say I like the challenge of making a story interesting enough from the heroine's POV that it carries the entire storyline:)
Thanks Tiff I've never heard of Keri Arthur I'll have to check out her series.
I agree Tiff. Keri Arthur has a good grasp on Riley's story. Her imagery is spot on as well. I just started Embraced by Darkness, but I have to say that I thought Dangerous Games was the best book in the series. I love Riley's fortitude and drive. Well and all the sex too. LOL
Does that mean there are two books called "Dangerous Games" because I read one (with LOTS of sex) but it wasn't by that author.
The reason I think I should try first person for my erotica short is because it is exclusively the heroine's story. The hero is more a tool (no pun intended *w*) used to accomplish her enlightenment about who she is and who she can be. The hero doesn't really arc through the story so I'm thinking first person is the way to go.
*running to book store*
A series with hot sex, how have I missed it?
Terrio I loved the tool comment, pun intended or not:)
Dearest Lis, you missed it because it's paranormal. Riley is a half vamp-half were. It's a really good series though. I think you should try it out.
"Oh I see'. said the blind girl...
Oh heck another forage into the land of make believe. I need to let go of my "this is not possible" attitude and read it for what it is:)
All of my mystery stuff is written in first person...it's the only way to keep the clues under control. If the reader knows what everyone thinks, it'll spoil the whole thing.
My romances are typically written in deep 3rd POV...I really love being able to tell the story from both sides and develop the character traits and insecurities of the h/h.
I recently wrote a romantic Valentine's Day tale in first person...it's currently making the rounds looking for a home, so I'm not sure how successful it was...
Hey, Ericka. Thanks for stopping by the ship.
That deep POV is hard and I admire anyone who can do it. I think those books are the ones that literally suck you in until you forget where you are, what time it is - you're just right there, almost standing next to the character.
Kudos to you. Did it take you a while to get to that or is that just the way it happened once you started writing?
Ericka, I agree with the mystery in first person. I like as a reader to be able to read along and figure the mystery out as I go. It takes all the fun out of it if you're seeing the world through the killer's eyes or through the detective eyes (if they don't happen to be the main hero/heroine). Writing mystery is the same way for me, if I knew what everyone was doing all right away, I'd spoil the mystery for myself and writing the mystery is half the fun!
I'm sure the Valentine's Day tale will find a home really soon! As we like to say around the ship, keep the faith and if you can't, find the rum the Capt'n has stashed below decks!
Thanks for stopping by!
Erika thank you for commenting!
I totally see the need for first person in a mystery novel. As you said it's hard to keep clues undercover, and the storyline suspenseful with more than one voice painting the story.
I love romance novels written with a holiday theme. I hope you find a home for yours soon.
Please stop by anytime, your input is greatly appreciated:)
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