Couple Of Questions For Y'all...

[Tom Collins]

One question is a technical one, about handeling a certain type of story, and the second one is purely a fact checker.

1) When writing a FPP story from two seperate perspectives, how do you handel the change from one character narrating to the other one to make sure your readers won't be confused? Do you head each section with the characters name, do you simply use a few centered asterisks to indicat the switch, or are there other ways that I'm unaware of? Would y'all mind telling me what method you use and why that method works best for you and your readers?

2) I need to know how Guinness comes when you're in a bar in America. I've been told it can be gotten on tap and in a can, which is usually poured into a glass because of the viscosity of the brew, but can you get it in a bottle? I'd swear that I've seen bottles in comercials, but I kow I could be miss remembering.

es for everyone.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

To look at your first question. I have no good ideas. I've tried that and it always comes out hokey. Maybe someone with more experience can help.

As far as Guiness is concerned, I've always gotten it on tap, however, I have seen it served in bottles and cans (bottles more often). Generally, I've only seen it in bottles in the grocery stores. In this city you cannot buy beer, wine, ale or stout in the liquor stores.

Hope that helps.

 

[minsue]

Yes, they sell Guinness "Draught in Bottles".

 

[impressive]

One question is a technical one, about handeling a certain type of story, and the second one is purely a fact checker.

1) When writing a FPP story from two seperate perspectives, how do you handel the change from one character narrating to the other one to make sure your readers won't be confused? Do you head each section with the characters name, do you simply use a few centered asterisks to indicat the switch, or are there other ways that I'm unaware of? Would y'all mind telling me what method you use and why that method works best for you and your readers?

I've seen it done with the asterisks (which is what I use) and the names (Duel Citizen's "Riding the Rain" springs to mind as an example, IIRC).

 

[CopyCarver]

One question is a technical one, about handeling a certain type of story, and the second one is purely a fact checker.

1) When writing a FPP story from two seperate perspectives, how do you handel the change from one character narrating to the other one to make sure your readers won't be confused? Do you head each section with the characters name, do you simply use a few centered asterisks to indicat the switch, or are there other ways that I'm unaware of? Would y'all mind telling me what method you use and why that method works best for you and your readers?

2) I need to know how Guinness comes when you're in a bar in America. I've been told it can be gotten on tap and in a can, which is usually poured into a glass because of the viscosity of the brew, but can you get it in a bottle? I'd swear that I've seen bottles in comercials, but I kow I could be miss remembering.

es for everyone.

You can go with the centered asterisks, but that device is often to indicate passage of time rather than change of perspective. Readers should be able to draw the distinction, but some, alas, will get confused.

It's sometimes helpful to place the character's name in the first line or two, as a "cheat sheet" for the reader. If John has been the focus, and now we're hearing from Mary, the change of perspective should be clear to anyone.

As others have said, something called Guiness is available on tap, in bottles, and in cans. Sadly, none of the three come within 100 miles of the Guiness in Ireland--same name, very different brew.

 

[jushorny]

I've seen Guiness in bottles and cans, but would probably seem more wuthentic, closest to Ireland possible, if was draught

 

[3113]

There is an Irish bar in San Diego which, I'm told, manages to get Guiness shipped in from Ireland and it's as close to what you'd get there as can be in the U.S.

I have no facts to back this up, but the do serve it on tap.

And yes, it comes in bottles and can. The cans are actually better--or so I've heard. Again, that's hear-say, I can't be certain.

And I've used various methods of switching character to character. It depends on how you want the switch to be. I've done it with character's names--useful if you have two characters describing the same situtation from different pov's as I did in Bittersweet ch. 02. That is, two "first persons": Dave: "I ate the ice cream. All of it." then Bruce: "Dave was chowing down on ice cream. Bastard didn't offer me any."

Astrisks is good if you have two different third persons and want to keep them seperate. So one section is p.o.v. of Brenda--"She went to the market...." and that whole section is her pov of her time in the market. ***Asterisks*** Now we're with John as Brenda comes home from the market and he's making dinner. That whole section is his. I did that with Exchange Value.

Third way is just to switch in midstream. We're in Tony's pov, as he walks his dog and then he sees this beautiful girl. "He couldn't keep her eyes off her...." switch to the girl in the next paragraph, "Mary saw the guy eyeing her. He was cute, but not her type..." switch back to John, "Courage, John thought, you can ask her out...." etc.

Depends on what works best for the story.

 

[Tom Collins]

There is an Irish bar in San Diego which, I'm told, manages to get Guiness shipped in from Ireland and it's as close to what you'd get there as can be in the U.S.

I have no facts to back this up, but the do serve it on tap.

And yes, it comes in bottles and can. The cans are actually better--or so I've heard. Again, that's hear-say, I can't be certain.

And I've used various methods of switching character to character. It depends on how you want the switch to be. I've done it with character's names--useful if you have two characters describing the same situtation from different pov's as I did in Bittersweet ch. 02. That is, two "first persons": Dave: "I ate the ice cream. All of it." then Bruce: "Dave was chowing down on ice cream. Bastard didn't offer me any."

Astrisks is good if you have two different third persons and want to keep them seperate. So one section is p.o.v. of Brenda--"She went to the market...." and that whole section is her pov of her time in the market. ***Asterisks*** Now we're with John as Brenda comes home from the market and he's making dinner. That whole section is his. I did that with Exchange Value.

Third way is just to switch in midstream. We're in Tony's pov, as he walks his dog and then he sees this beautiful girl. "He couldn't keep her eyes off her...." switch to the girl in the next paragraph, "Mary saw the guy eyeing her. He was cute, but not her type..." switch back to John, "Courage, John thought, you can ask her out...." etc.

Depends on what works best for the story.

Eveyone's being quite helpful so far. I thank you all kindly.

Now, 3, this is a double FPP written by two authors. From what you've said, It would be best to use character names to seperate the sections so that readers are much less likely to become confused about who's voice they're hearing, right? And so that if they forget they can scroll bacl to the begining of the section and check.

*chuckling over the shameless plugs of your stories*

 

[3113]

Eveyone's being quite helpful so far. I thank you all kindly.

Now, 3, this is a double FPP written by two authors. From what you've said, It would be best to use character names to seperate the sections so that readers are much less likely to become confused about who's voice they're hearing, right? And so that if they forget they can scroll bacl to the begining of the section and check.

*chuckling over the shameless plugs of your stories*

Nothing shameless about them. I blush with shame each time I do that But an author's gotta do what an author's gotta do.

If it's written by two authors, then yes, I'm guessing that names would be the best way to keep the characters seperate. Which person is it going to be in? First? Second? Third?

If both characters are using first person, then absolutely, use names.

 

[Tom Collins]

Nothing shameless about them. I blush with shame each time I do that But an author's gotta do what an author's gotta do.

If it's written by two authors, then yes, I'm guessing that names would be the best way to keep the characters seperate. Which person is it going to be in? First? Second? Third?

If both characters are using first person, then absolutely, use names.

Everyone keeps missing the "FPP" that I been using to specify perspective...lol both POVs are First Person.

 

[jushorny]

But, as a devil's advocate, couldn't it be written without the character's names as heading, in such a way that, the reader is reminded and cognizant of which character they are following?

 

[minsue]

Everyone keeps missing the "FPP" that I been using to specify perspective...lol both POVs are First Person.

I was wondering what the hell you meant. I've never seen it abbreviated that way.

 

[Tom Collins]

I was wondering what the hell you meant. I've never seen it abbreviated that way.

LMAO...*gooses the gosling* How do people normally abreviate First Person Perspective?

 

[Tom Collins]

But, as a devil's advocate, couldn't it be written without the character's names as heading, in such a way that, the reader is reminded and cognizant of which character they are following?

Yeah, of course we could do that, Jus, I'm just worried about people getting lost in the story and blaming us...lol

 

[jushorny]

Yeah, of course we could do that, Jus, I'm just worried about people getting lost in the story and blaming us...lol

Nice Tom, distract me from the thread with the av

 

[jushorny]

Yeah, of course we could do that, Jus, I'm just worried about people getting lost in the story and blaming us...lol

Or maybe 1) we are not giving the readers enough credit, or 2) we did not wirte the sections distinctively enough to where the names are not required

 

[jushorny]

Bump

Anyone else care to add their two cents or more?

 

[Tom Collins]

Or maybe 1) we are not giving the readers enough credit, or 2) we did not wirte the sections distinctively enough to where the names are not required

Well, I keep hearing everyone bitch about how the readers bitch about stupid stuff. Why not cut them off at that pass and give them one less thing to complain about?

 

[minsue]

LMAO...*gooses the gosling* How do people normally abreviate First Person Perspective?

I'm sure there are a number of ways. I'm just used to seeing "1st person POV" or something along those lines.

 

[3113]

I'm trying to decide which AV's more distracting. Tom's or Jushorny.....

I'm sorry. What were we talking about?

 

[jushorny]

I'm trying to decide which AV's more distracting. Tom's or Jushorny.....

I'm sorry. What were we talking about?

LMAO

I'm sorry, I don't know you, but, *smack* We are just two struggling writers looking for free advice! Now, turn off AV's and got to first post of thread and read, diligently all the way through!

 

[FallingToFly]

As I ordered a Guiness on tap the other night, and then had to explain to the bartender how to build it (new guy, sweet kid, though)- yes, you can get it on tap.

 

[jushorny]

As I ordered a Guiness on tap the other night, and then had to explain to the bartender how to build it (new guy, sweet kid, though)- yes, you can get it on tap.

It was you!!!! Thannks so much for being understanding through your explanation, I felt very stupid

 

[3113]

LMAO

I'm sorry, I don't know you, but, *smack* We are just two struggling writers looking for free advice! Now, turn off AV's and got to first post of thread and read, diligently all the way through!

Use first names before each section to indicate who's first person pov it is. It'll work. Trust me.

Now...about your AV...anyway to get the zipper down just a little lower?

 

[jushorny]

Use first names before each section to indicate who's first person pov it is. It'll work. Trust me.

Now...about your AV...anyway to get the zipper down just a little lower?

Uh...yes...a few different ways come to mind immediately