Please, someone tell me again about POV...
- Thread starter circe!
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Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
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circe! said:
It is not so much that you can't change POV, it is that if you do change POV too often, it makes your story confusing. Kerrie cites a good example of how NOT to change POV.
The only time I can think of where a POV change is necessary, is if there is something important happening (plotwise) that the main POV can't see or hear.
Whispersecret
Clandestine Sex-pressionist
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You can change pov's within a story. Personally, I enjoy seeing things from different characters' points of view. Knowing the thoughts of the main characters allows me to see more depth and makes the events of the story mean more.
That's not to say you can't write a good deep story from one character's point of view. For instance, if the story is in first person, obviously you're stuck with one pov, and first person stories are often more intimate than third person. As always, it depends on the story and the writer.
Just remember, if you change pov's too often, the reader starts to feel like they're watching a ping-pong match. I'd suggest analyzing a story that you think was well-written and see how they handled pov switches. My advice is to stick with one character for a bit before changing to another. I've also noticed that in climactic scenes, writers often go for the omniscient/all-seeing pov because events are moving quickly at that point, and you don't have time to delve deeply into the thoughts with smooth transitions.
Hope this was helpful.
That's not to say you can't write a good deep story from one character's point of view. For instance, if the story is in first person, obviously you're stuck with one pov, and first person stories are often more intimate than third person. As always, it depends on the story and the writer.
Just remember, if you change pov's too often, the reader starts to feel like they're watching a ping-pong match. I'd suggest analyzing a story that you think was well-written and see how they handled pov switches. My advice is to stick with one character for a bit before changing to another. I've also noticed that in climactic scenes, writers often go for the omniscient/all-seeing pov because events are moving quickly at that point, and you don't have time to delve deeply into the thoughts with smooth transitions.
Hope this was helpful.
Madame Pandora
Deliciously Aware of Impending Sins
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I enjoy reading stories with multiple character POV's as well, and I think that's pretty common. My story Janie & Dell continues to be my best-read story and it begins in a first person POV from the girl, then halfway switches to a first person POV from the male.
Here is what I'm wondering. Circe, did you mean the character POV, or the TYPE of POV.
If done well, it is very common and readable to switch between characters in 3rd person POV, and 1st person as well.
HOWEVER
I haven't seen many authors who can carry off a switch in the TYPE of POV (ie, going from a 3rd person perspective to a 2nd or 1st person perspective). I've seen a scattering of authors do it, but it's a tricky walk. Better off with what we used to call a "3rd person omniscient." Do they still use that term?
MP
Here is what I'm wondering. Circe, did you mean the character POV, or the TYPE of POV.
If done well, it is very common and readable to switch between characters in 3rd person POV, and 1st person as well.
HOWEVER
I haven't seen many authors who can carry off a switch in the TYPE of POV (ie, going from a 3rd person perspective to a 2nd or 1st person perspective). I've seen a scattering of authors do it, but it's a tricky walk. Better off with what we used to call a "3rd person omniscient." Do they still use that term?
MP
nitengale
Need a shoulder?
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Along the same lines.....
Would it make for a poor or difficult read to have say three POV's? i.e. Let's say there are three characters, and in the beginning the reader is allowed to read what each other feels/thinks about the other....so the reader would see something like (suzies story) blah, blah, blah, and then (Jeff's story) blah,blah, blah, and (Mutt's story).....and then, the narrator would pull it all together with how their lives then merge. No? I'm just looking for something different without making myself nuts and the reader yawning...or confused.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks =)
Would it make for a poor or difficult read to have say three POV's? i.e. Let's say there are three characters, and in the beginning the reader is allowed to read what each other feels/thinks about the other....so the reader would see something like (suzies story) blah, blah, blah, and then (Jeff's story) blah,blah, blah, and (Mutt's story).....and then, the narrator would pull it all together with how their lives then merge. No? I'm just looking for something different without making myself nuts and the reader yawning...or confused.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks =)
Alex De Kok
Eternal Optimist
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nitengale,
I tried your idea, recouinting the same events from the POV of each of the three main characters. The tales were each to stand completely independently. I had so much trouble in keeping track of the threads that I gave up. Perhaps if I had kept them in sequential timelines instead of simultaneous, it might have worked.
Still, reworking two parts of the trilogy gave me
Kate
and
Meg
which have pleased at least some of the Literotica readers!
Alex
I tried your idea, recouinting the same events from the POV of each of the three main characters. The tales were each to stand completely independently. I had so much trouble in keeping track of the threads that I gave up. Perhaps if I had kept them in sequential timelines instead of simultaneous, it might have worked.
Still, reworking two parts of the trilogy gave me
Kate
and
Meg
which have pleased at least some of the Literotica readers!
Alex
