A Writing Question (probably a silly one!)

[English Lady]

Okay, I just remembered a piece I started for Valentines Day last year but never finished so I've read over what I've written and now I've got some questions for the AH.

Firstly, I've started out with the female's point of view and then gone on to the guys and then switched back to the woman's again. What do people think about stories that switch POV? I quite like it BUT I'd like to hear others opinion on it.

The other thing is that my female narrates in present tense and then my man goes all past tense. That's bad, isn't it? Should I change it so they're both using the same tense.

Thanks for all your answers, I know this is probably a very silly question to ask and I probably look silly for asking it!

 

[Guest]

Some people can do switching POVs very well. I would think as long as it's obvious that the shift has occured, then it shouldn't be a problem.

As far as tenses... Personally, I'd keep it all one tense. Makes it easier to read and flows better that way.

 

[NoJo]

Some people can do switching POVs very well. I would think as long as it's obvious that the shift has occured, then it shouldn't be a problem.

As far as tenses... Personally, I'd keep it all one tense. Makes it easier to read and flows better that way.

The way that sort of thing would work is if you tell the same story, twice, from two points of view, like witnesses at a trial might do. But it doesn't sound as though you're doing that.

Changing tenses seems a bit wrong.

 

[English Lady]

well i'm not usre if I can do it well, I don't think I've done it before! I'll keep with it for now, I can always split the POVs if i don't like it and decides who's POV is more entertaining *L*

 

[English Lady]

The way that sort of thing would work is if you tell the same story, twice, from two points of view, like witnesses at a trial might do. But it doesn't sound as though you're doing that.

Changing tenses seems a bit wrong.

changing tenses seems a bit wrong to me too. So I'll sort that out

The way I'm doing it is the woman describes a scene, then the guy describes it from his POV. Hopefully,showing how both of them are at cross purposes and reading completely different things into exactly the same occurance.

If that makes sense.

 

[Stella_Omega]

changing tenses seems a bit wrong to me too. So I'll sort that out

The way I'm doing it is the woman describes a scene, then the guy describes it from his POV. Hopefully,showing how both of them are at cross purposes and reading completely different things into exactly the same occurance.

If that makes sense.

That's always a very erotic thing to me, so please do it!
It does take some hard work, though, to make the different viewpoints clear.

 

[NoJo]

changing tenses seems a bit wrong to me too. So I'll sort that out

The way I'm doing it is the woman describes a scene, then the guy describes it from his POV. Hopefully,showing how both of them are at cross purposes and reading completely different things into exactly the same occurance.

If that makes sense.

Yes, it makes sense, and it's exactly what I was describing. It's been done in films, most famously in the Japanese film Rashomon.

 

[cookiejar]

 

[English Lady]

Ahh, grand I'm glad I'm understood.

Right, on with the writing then!


thanks Vixen, joe and stella

 

[English Lady]

I have changed points of view in quite a few of my stories. I recently wrote a Victorian story that moved back and forth between man and woman. I love writing that way because I get a feel for both people. The tense change may be tricky but if done well I think it would be interesting.

Ahhh, cool. I don't know wether I can make the tense change work, I think it just looks kinda silly *L*

 

[cookiejar]

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Yes, it makes sense, and it's exactly what I was describing. It's been done in films

He Said, She Said... Kevin Bacon and... Elizabeth... oh what's her name... Perkins, that's it... ! Not a fantastic movie or anything... but another example...

fwiw, if the POV switch is clear AND has a point (as in this case) I'm all for it... as for switching tenses, only of it's a flashback scenario, really, does that work well... and even then, I hesitate...

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Okay, I just remembered a piece I started for Valentines Day last year but never finished so I've read over what I've written and now I've got some questions for the AH.

Firstly, I've started out with the female's point of view and then gone on to the guys and then switched back to the woman's again. What do people think about stories that switch POV? I quite like it BUT I'd like to hear others opinion on it.

The other thing is that my female narrates in present tense and then my man goes all past tense. That's bad, isn't it? Should I change it so they're both using the same tense.

Thanks for all your answers, I know this is probably a very silly question to ask and I probably look silly for asking it!

As long as the switches are clearly dileneated you should be fine. Many thrid person views tie the naration more closely to one character then the other. And first person with alternating limited POV is done fairly often.

 

[amicus]

Well, there are a zillion, 'how to write' books on the market and in the library and I think I read all of them way back when.

There are also creative writing and Literature courses in college where all the ingredients you mention concerning POV and Tense are discussed interminably.

The general thought then was, do not switch pov or tense.

It was said that this confused the reader and they would lose interest in the story.

I think, my opinion, that over time, readers have become more sophisticated. Just as the story line in movies back in the 30's 40's and 50's, was pretty much all one dimensional and told in first person, consider what you see in both theatre and television movies in our era.

It seems if you don't have parallel points of view, tense changes made abruptly and several story lines progressing simultaneously, then you bore the reader/viewer to tears.

However, and here is the caveate, it is not easy to accomplish.

I still have notes and scenes from a story about a guy and girl, each separately driving to the same restaurant from different directions. I tried to present the thoughts, surface and deep, past, present and future hopes and dreams of each person as they made their way to the restaurant.

They pass each other once inside and each notices the other and offers thoughts and possibilities to the reader. The tension of if they will meet, and how they will meet, who takes the initiative, how to respond and why and then of course, where does it go from there.

I found it very difficult when they reached a point of sharing a meal and a conversation, to maintain the dual point of view without confusing the reader and so the story sits to this day.

Good luck and by all means, give it a try!


amicus...

 

[English Lady]

I think that nowerdays you have to break those rules as you write, it's almost expected now. There is so much fiction out there, you have to do something to make your work stand out and an "easy" way to do that is write in a way that isn't expected.

I read a review of a book that has no real paragraph breaks and very little puntuation, including no speech marks at all. I think I should write something like that then I could totally forget about this grammar stuff that I find so difficult to get right

Thanks Amicus!

 

[MichelleLovesTo]

Jump.

That's called "Head Jumping." As long as it's a choice, and the writer is aware they're doing it, it could be quite effective. Romance novelists tend to do it quite a bit.

Unless there is a calculated reason for the tense changes, I'd lean toward making them consistent. Now if you want to make clear that they're really relaying their perceptions at different times from one another....

 

[fifty5]

Hi EL,

What do people think about stories that switch POV? I quite like it BUT I'd like to hear others opinion on it.
The other thing is that my female narrates in present tense and then my man goes all past tense. That's bad, isn't it? Should I change it so they're both using the same tense.

My take is that unless the 'now' shifts significantly (eg the story ends up with both characters looking back from years later), the consistency in tense needs to be for each POV internally. Using a different tense for each POV gives readers an additional cue about which one is currently in use.

If it feels right to write it that way, do it. Hell, it might not work, but that risk is always there.

 

[kendo1]

Just a thought, but have you thought about writing two separate stories?

Or two different chapters, whatever...

 

[hotchkiss]

Hi EL

I read the first few posts then skipped to the end so forgive me if I duplicate someonelses reply or am tooooo late.

In my opinion (for what thats worth) try it, Ive done it in the past to good effect to me at least, it can add to a story to give both sides emotions and feelings if done correctly. If you dont try you'll never know.

Hope all the family is well and a big kiss n hug (seasonal of course)

 

[hotchkiss]

Just a thought, but have you thought about writing two separate stories?

Or two different chapters, whatever...

Hey Kendo I love the skankin Madness AV

 

[English Lady]

thanks michelle

eff - I've changed the tense so it's all past as I thought it jarred changing from tense to tense, though I'm sure someone with more talent than I could pull it off better.

Kendo...thats what wil happen if this experiment fails. I'll break the POV down and choose my favourite characters view and use that.

HK good to see you, love! Yeah, I'm giving it a go hope you're well and had a good'un! Christmas that is

 

[Belegon]

EL, I would have made it all one tense too, so looks like you took my advice before I could add it to the others...

and if you actually are pyschic could you please give me next week's lotto numbers? I promise to use the money for good causes...

 

[English Lady]

EL, I would have made it all one tense too, so looks like you took my advice before I could add it to the others...

and if you actually are pyschic could you please give me next week's lotto numbers? I promise to use the money for good causes...

I'm sorry but I cannot use my powers to make money,but incase you do win the lotto, I'm officially a good cause