Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes, #12

[driphoney]

The problem I see most often when editing isn't so much changing POV from time to time, it's changing POV in the middle of a paragraph or sometimes even a single line. Or starting off from one POV and changing to multiple viewpoints. You think you're in the head of one character and all of a sudden you're forcibly injected into the head of another. Generally this is because the author doesn't truly identify with either of the characters more than the other, but only wants to move them around like dolls to create his fantasy.

I agree that multiple, equal POVs can be done quite well and I see it pretty often in mainstream fiction. Yes, you'll tend to get more of one person than another, but a 70/30 split seems a bit extreme. I'm always suspicious when people try to teach writing as if it were mathematics.

All in all it's a useful instruction, but I think Bickham's numbers can be tossed.


-B

Except for all the expert writers who post on the forum here , I think this is probably one of the biggest issues. It's a newbie writing mistake. I've done it and had it pointed out to me. Now I'm paranoid about POV. I don't even really understand POV. The most troublesome area is the sex scene. All of a sudden you're trying to describe feelings and sensations and movements. It's all too easy to get tangled up in a messy knot. I can see why so many write stroke in first person.

Someone mentioned third person compassionate. Whassat?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

McKenna,
This is so wonderful of y ou to post all these old ass threads. You've given me more fabulous rules to break than I ever knew existed.

 

[Monkey_Face]

There are exceptions to every rule, no doubt.

In the book, the author actually points to The Great Gatsby as a novel where ambiguity prevails about who the main character is. From Bickham, "Even in a novel like The Great Gatsby, the character Gatsby ultimately is not the most important character. Nick Carraway is the one who is finally moved ...changed ...made to see a different vision of the world, and so decides to go back to the Midwest at the end of the story. Nick is the narrator, the viewpoint character, and finally the story is his, and the meaning derived from his sensibilities, whatever the novel may be titled."

I remember having an argument with a friend back in high school about who the main character was in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He never did get why I thought it was the Chief.

 

[McKenna]

Except for all the expert writers who post on the forum here , I think this is probably one of the biggest issues. It's a newbie writing mistake. I've done it and had it pointed out to me. Now I'm paranoid about POV. I don't even really understand POV. The most troublesome area is the sex scene. All of a sudden you're trying to describe feelings and sensations and movements. It's all too easy to get tangled up in a messy knot. I can see why so many write stroke in first person.

But it's such a lovely knot!

McKenna,
This is so wonderful of y ou to post all these old ass threads. You've given me more fabulous rules to break than I ever knew existed.

Smartass.

I remember having an argument with a friend back in high school about who the main character was in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He never did get why I thought it was the Chief.

I would have to read the book to understand, I think.

 

[driphoney]

But it's such a lovely knot!

[Sigh] I could use some lovely knotting. Today I had an internal ultrasound and when he got done sticking his 12 inch skinny electronic dildo in me I wanted to ask him if it was as good for him as it was for me and wondered where I might find a cigarette!

 

[McKenna]

[Sigh] I could use some lovely knotting. Today I had an internal ultrasound and when he got done sticking his 12 inch skinny electronic dildo in me I wanted to ask him if it was as good for him as it was for me and wondered where I might find a cigarette!

Coincidences of coincidences, I had the very same procedure done today as well. "This might get a bit uncomfortable," always makes me nervous, especially with a stranger poking around in my innards.

 

[driphoney]

Coincidences of coincidences, I had the very same procedure done today as well. "This might get a bit uncomfortable," always makes me nervous, especially with a stranger poking around in my innards.

At least you got the warning! I just got to yell unexpectedly (and not erotically!) Oh. Then he tells me not to change, fiddles with his computer, grabs a paper and dashes from the room. I went from "no-worries, just womanly issues" to "he's so shocked at what he's seen, he's alerting the doc I've got 6 minutes to live!"

It was a nerve-racking 3 or 4 minutes.

 

[bridgeburner]

Nice bump, baby!


As I read through the thread again I kept thinking about Stephen King.

He's written several novels with multiple "main" characters and changing POV and it's never confusing. He'll even kill a main character and that somehow doesn't diminish that character's importance nor suddenly make the story belong to the survivors. He will give more time to some of the "main" characters than to others, but you still find yourself equally caring about more than one person. If you're familiar with his work, think about The Stand, It, Desperation, The Regulators, The Dark Tower Series.

So there, Bickham.

Stephen King isn't the only author to do this, but he was the one who first and most firmly came to mind.

This is also not to say that King is the greatest writer alive. He does what he does better than almost anyone in his genre and he has a surprisingly good track record for someone so prolific. Also, for someone who truly excels at the short story he's written quite a few damn good novels.


I'm going to stick with my initial pronouncement and agree with those who say consistency is paramount.

Change your POVs as needed, but do it deftly.

 

[ms.read]

DripHoney were you okay? (sorry for thread stealing.) i'm still trying to work on finding Plot! I write in first person. I know that third person is using he/she they all the time. What is third person omnicient? or limited?

 

[driphoney]

DripHoney were you okay? (sorry for thread stealing.) i'm still trying to work on finding Plot! I write in first person. I know that third person is using he/she they all the time. What is third person omnicient? or limited?

Hey! I think I shanghai'ed it! But it wasn't exactly ripping along, so I wasn't worried!
I forgot to put a decent ending on my post. Sorry. When the guy came back he told me he just went to make sure the pictures turned out okay. As for the results, well, I'm supposed to get a call tomorrow. Bet it's just for another appointment. You know how it goes. Thanks for asking! And McKenna, I hope everything is fine with you.

As for your questions. I hope someone drops by soon with good answers. I'd like to learn this better myself. And I'm with ya on plot!

I'm going to stick with my initial pronouncement and agree with those who say consistency is paramount.

Change your POVs as needed, but do it deftly.

There is the rub!