Many new writers accidentally slip into this POV, where they report from one character's perspective and suddenly jump into the other character's thoughts. While I just felt for the first character, I'm ripped out of the perspective and thrown into the other one; basically, I'm told to stand back and watch. Something, I personally don't like as a reader.
The other thing is that it takes away a lot of suspense and secrecy. I also often feel that the characters end up a little flatter than those who have to work hard to find their answers.
To name an example:
Judy tells John that she is in love with him. John loves her too and is delighted, but doesn't say anything or denies his feelings for her because he is in a relationship. Key is: the reader knows John feels the same and can get frustrated because he doesn't act on them.
Third person limited would be Judy being in love and wondering if John feels the same, or vice versa. Judy would have to read his expressions, weigh his answer.The reader keeps wondering and you have a great page turner, because you want them to be together in the end.
Those who read my books know that I'm a big fan of second person POV (you), though my Branded series is in first person POV (I). Although I love a challenge, I don't think I'll ever attempt third person omniscient. Limited, yes, but not the former. I think it's extremely difficult to do it well.
What's your favourite POV; whether it is as a reader or as a writer?
Sometimes it works, sometimes not Stella. If the story is being told by a 'storyteller' it works. If one of the main characters tries it, then it doesn't. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, Jack. How are you doing?
DeleteI'm not sure if I would agree with you. It doesn't depend on if you're a good storyteller or not, rather than if the POV fits the story.
I like novels written in the first person because the writing feels more intimate and conversational.
ReplyDeleteHello, Zaki
DeleteWelcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by. I agree. First person feels like a friend telling me about what happened to her or to him.
Since you like 1st person, do you mind present tense? I know that many have trouble with that tense.
Hi Stella, thanks for the welcome. Another thing I like about the first person is it helps to sustain the illusion of reality. It's obviously not possible for a story-teller to know what's going on in the minds of different people, as happens in a third person narrative. But it is possible for someone to write about their own thoughts and experiences. However, using the present tense would create another impossibility, of writing about events as they happen rather than afterwards. Maybe it would work if the author were keeping a journal of current events. I'm not sure because I can't think of an example in any book I've read.
ReplyDeleteHi, Zaki
DeleteI'm asking because I wrote the Branded series in 1st person present tense and I quite like that tense. Yes, it's immediate, but, to me, it's not much different to the past. I do understand, though, that people have their difficulties with it.
Hi Stella,
ReplyDeleteI love writing in present tense first person. I find it so much easier to really get in the character's head but also to help the reader connect. Having said that, my novel is written in third person and when I finished it and started on the edits, I realised I had a hell of a lot of head-hopping going on that really made it hard to read. Even for me. I re-wrote the whole thing, but limited POV to the heroine with some of the hero's POV in it, but only when the characters voices were really well established. I think it reads much better now. Great post.
Elpi
Hello, Elpi
DeleteI think first person is a great POV. Often used by beginners and I was one of them, and even present tense. I came across a lot of people who said they won't even start a book when they knew it's 1st person POV present tense. If done well, I think, you forget about it altogether. Many readers don't care what POV, as long as it's engaging. If I'm honest it's mostly writers who say they hate it. Why is beyond me as I agree with you that it's throwing you into the 'now' of the character; you basically walk in his or her shoes.
Congratulations on the edits and that they seem to be successful. Sometimes you need to play around a bit and a change of POV can massively improve the reading experience.
As you know by now, I'm very much a third person type writer. Even in reading I tend to lean toward third. Something about first person was too intimate for me. Key word: was. Of all my WIPs, I am going back to the beginning with two of them and restarting in first POV. I can't really explain why, but they needed to be told from that angle. It's definitely an interesting take thus far. I'll never rule out either POVs, but I do dislike head hopping.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Another intriguing post :)
Hello, Wendy, love. How nice of you to pop by. You probably think I have all but forgotten about you. I haven't. I've been busy with moving and sorting all the things out and also trying to get CS on the way to be published this week.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, sometimes you just feel that a diffent POV might work better for a story. A hell of a lot of work to change it, though, but often worth it. :-)
Personally I hate 1st and 2nd person POV. It breaks my immersion in the story because I know that i'm not actually doing or saying any of the stuff im reading and honestly I just feel silly reading a book where the author is inserting me into the potion of the main character.
ReplyDeleteI want to be able to identify with the main character I do NOT want to BE the main character.
Somehow blogger doesn't notice me when a comment was posted. I'm really sorry I'm late with my reply. Didn't mean to ignore you.
DeleteI can see how this can be irritating. I had the same problems when I stared reading 2nd person POV.
I think the trick is to be that good, that the reader doesn't realise he's the main character, walking in someone else's shoes.