1st person viewpoint question

[Tanuki]

I was wondering if the writers (or readers) could help me - I'm writing the 2nd chapter of a story written in 1st person viewpoint - how do people think about the writer describing actions or events that the main character cannot see or know about?

For example, after she leaves a room, two characters plot behind her back - is it ok to write that, or is it better to only describe what she can see?

Thanks!!

 

[Guest]

 

[rikaaim]

Re: Re: 1st person viewpoint question

Hi Tanuki,

I don't believe we've met. Welcome to the AH.

If you're writing 1st person then you eally can't divulge info outside of the main charcter's purview, IMHO. The behind the scene plotting of other characters must come as much of a surprise to the reader as the main character. Just one of the limitations of 1st person POV.

The trick will be explaining/understanding the trap once it's sprung so that it's plausible. Perhaps the main character has some kind of epiphany and pieces together what has happened from various events leading up to that moment, or you could reveal it in dialogue and/or actions between the main character and the schemers.

I hope this helps.

I would have to agree with Lime. Welcome to the AH and I hope you enjoy your stay. I would have to say that if you leak information that is outside of the main character, then you've dipped into a third person story, if only for the moment. Perhaps one idea you can try is to do one chapter in first person, then the following in third person and continue to alternate. I don't really like that thought much myself, but if you really want to show what's going on around the character, that may be a way to do it and still be true to the story.

 

[Guest]

I was wondering if the writers (or readers) could help me - I'm writing the 2nd chapter of a story written in 1st person viewpoint - how do people think about the writer describing actions or events that the main character cannot see or know about?

For example, after she leaves a room, two characters plot behind her back - is it ok to write that, or is it better to only describe what she can see?

Thanks!!

Hi Tanuki!

If you are writing in first person, that means you are writing it from a "I did this" perspective. In other words, you are writing it completely from the experiences of the main character. There is no way you can write about anything that character can't see or experience. You are writing the entire story AS the main character, there is no external narrative.

If you were writing it in third person limited, it would be possible, but you would have to have a clear break in the scene, where the POV of the characters changes.

The clearest way to write it would be in third person omnipotent. This is where you, the writer/narrator, sees all and can write from all POVs at once.

If I were you, I'd either change the way you are writing the entire chapter (which might not be a good idea, if you wrote the first chapter in first person - you have to be consistent). Or, I'd leave out that scene and try to write about it in another way, only describing what she sees, or hears.

Lou

Edit: Yeah, what Lime said. lol. He posted as I wrote out my reply.

 

[Lisa Denton]

For example, after she leaves a room, two characters plot behind her back - is it ok to write that, or is it better to only describe what she can see?

Thanks!!

If its crucial to the story you might could set up the plot from a different angle, especially if its short:

( I posted my question on a thread and walked away.

I wondered if Tatelou and Lime could actually be perverted enough to plan to simutaneously assault my nubile body with advice and suggestions, I hoped that the diabolical and evil Lisa and Rika would join them when they all ravaged my virginal yet longing cunt until I exploded with multiple orgasms multiple times.

Of course I figured that was just my imagination working overtime as I looked for fresh batteries for my vibrator and also to read the replies to my thread.)

 

[Boota]

It's difficult to pull off, but you can switch POV in different scenes to move the story. An example of where this is done really well is Nelson DeMille's "The Lion's Game". It's told from third person when they are in the antagonist's scenes and from first person when the protagonist is in the scene. The bulk of the story has the antagonist and protagonist several miles from each other and they've never met. This approach seemed to work really well.

 

[Weird Harold]

For example, after she leaves a room, two characters plot behind her back - is it ok to write that, or is it better to only describe what she can see?

Another common way of handling things tht happen out of view of your narrator/min character, is the "I didn't know it at the time, but found out later," ploy.

It dosn't work with a present tense first person POV, but in some styles of first person, telling what is learned later in the sequence events actually happened is permissible.

I eventully discovered that while I was in the toilet that those two bitches were plotting against me.

Unless it is absolutely critical that the reader know the details of the plot right then, it's best to leave it at something similar to the line above in italics. If you must reveal the details of the plot, a detour into third person POV in a sort of flashback is the best way to handle it.

 

[Evil Alpaca]

Another possibility would be to find some way of noticeably shifting to anothe person's first-person perspective. Write the story from the primary character's point of view, then give the reader some kind of clue that you've switched to the perspective of one of the plotters and continue on from there. It would be tricky to write that way, but might work if you feel it's important to know what's going on in that room at that moment instead of having to refer to it later.

 

[oggbashan]

One of the characters can tell the 1st person what has been discussed.

But is that character telling the truth, or lying, or telling it from a biased perspective? You can build many plot twists into someone's reported conversation.

Og

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I agree with Oggs, the best way to handle it is to have someone tell her about it later.

Welcome to the Ah

 

[Tanuki]

hey, thanks everyone, that's great info, and answers my question very well! I don't think I have the talent to do what Boota described, change viewpoints or characters within a story, so I think I'll stick to consistent 1st person. I've not read many 1st person books or stories, so it's sort of a new experience - and I like it!

I do like Lisa's idea of having the character imagine what might be going on behind her back. Sorry that I can't put all you crazy characters in my story though.

PS I've been in and out of the Author's Hangout (so to speak), but you probably never noticed me.

 

[CharleyH]

I was wondering if the writers (or readers) could help me - I'm writing the 2nd chapter of a story written in 1st person viewpoint - how do people think about the writer describing actions or events that the main character cannot see or know about?

For example, after she leaves a room, two characters plot behind her back - is it ok to write that, or is it better to only describe what she can see?

Thanks!!

I write almost always in 1st person. Link line The Screening will take you to how I overcame that. I don't think it is always necessary though, to know what everyone is thinking. The thing I like about 1st P - it puts you in mind with the person experiencing, to experience with that person, as if you are that person. In this respect, I would worry more what you are getting across: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. There will be no problem after that in my op.

EDIT: Welcome

 

[NoJo]

Hi, Tanuki.

I'm trying to write a thriller at the moment, and I find it really hard to keep track of who knows what, and when.

You have

1. The factual story, -- what's really happening
2. What each person in the story thinks is happening
3. What "you", the reader thinks is happening.

It's like a Rubiks Cube!

 

[Tanuki]

Re: Re: 1st person viewpoint question

The thing I like about 1st P - it puts you in mind with the person experiencing, to experience with that person, as if you are that person. In this respect, I would worry more what you are getting across: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. There will be no problem after that in my op.

EDIT: Welcome

Thank you! Yes, that's just why I like this story, I empathize with the character more so it makes the story more personal.

I was also wondering along the same lines, when writing 3rd person, when it's good to describe everything that goes on (someone called it omnipotence?), or when it's better to describe only what your main characters can see. That's the million dollar question i guess.

 

[CharleyH]

Hi, Tanuki.

I'm trying to write a thriller at the moment, and I find it really hard to keep track of who knows what, and when.

You have

1. The factual story, -- what's really happening
2. What each person in the story thinks is happening
3. What "you", the reader thinks is happening.

It's like a Rubiks Cube!

I like rubiks. Still, 1st person, you know what you know, and it depends on how well your character knows the other. The less they know, the less divulged, but if they know eachother, there is, like life a) the intuition b) that subtle smile, or that awesome moan.

Depends on the intimacy from the character to the other. Hm depends on circumstances, because with one POV you get for example: she was cumming, you thought she was, but later you discover she was not. You can only know what you sense in 1st, and I stick with the 5 + 6.

 

[gauchecritic]

On the other hand a first person narrative is very constraining, as you have found out. I see nothing wrong at all with going to 3rd person when you wish your audience to find something out that the main character is unaware of.

It's a very good ruse when surprise or tension is your intent.

 

[Boota]

I write mostly in first person. It's not really a conscious choice, that's just the way I relate stories easiest, I guess. With my novel I wrote it as if the main character were sitting next to you on a barstool and telling you how it all happened. I just had to keep in mind that some things he couldn't possibly know, but there are always ways for the character to surmise what is going on, or to explain in hindsight what happened.

My best suggestion I could give would be to try it both ways and see which works best for you. If it's really important that the reader know something that the main character can't know, dropping into third person for a scene might be your only option. But, if it's not imperative I would try to find a way around changing POV, simply for the consistency. It might seem a bit odd to drop into third person only once. Then again, maybe not. Rules are really spongy.