What do you like in a two parter?

[Solaris the Elf]

A two part story which contains the same story but with someone else's view of the story or would you rather see the story merged than read it as a two chapter story?

I'm just curious about what everyone thinks because I've just finished my two chapter Halloween story and I'm now thinking about merging it together.

 

[Whispersecret]

A very skilled author might be able to write the second part so that it seems fresh and delves into a significant part of the story that wasn't covered in part one. But most of the authors here are novices and haven't yet developed the skill necessary for that. So most of the time "he said/she said" type stories end up repetitive.

Your merging idea might be easier. This would involve changing points of view. If you opt for this, don't change povs too often. Watch those transition points carefully; they're easy to mess up because it takes a little bit of finesse to clearly identify whose pov you're in.

I hope this helps.

 

[BigTexan]

Orson Scott Card did this very well with the books "Enders Game" and "Enders Shadow"

However it takes an excellent writer to pull it off.

BigTexan

 

[Quasimodem]

John Fowls combined two, first person points-of-view most effectively in "The Collector."
In "Laura," Vera Caspary used four first person points-of-view, with each narrator taking part in the action.

Both these novels were made into films, "The Collector" in 1965, and "Laura" in 1944.

Although both movies did well at the box-office, the points-of-view in the film adaptions were - naturally - lost, and both films suffer in comparison to the novels.

Multiple POV can be done, if you are a good writer. The two authors noted, are experts.

 

[NaughtyMike]

A two part story which contains the same story but with someone else's view of the story or would you rather see the story merged than read it as a two chapter story?

I'm just curious about what everyone thinks because I've just finished my two chapter Halloween story and I'm now thinking about merging it together.

I like the 2 points of views, but I feel when it is two separate stories, you lose the effect of the different points of view. I experimented with one story, 3 for Tammy about a gang fucking from two different points of view. I placed the two points of view next to each other in alternate paragraphs changing the font for the two people involved. Thus if someone wanted to read a complete story from one point of view only, they could do so easily. However, I liked the way I cleverly had each person with different ideas and motivations and vantage point in a juxtaposition, so each character does not have the whole true picture. To be honest, I thought it was my best work, but I got very little feedback on the piece. I don't think the audience was ready for it or appreciated it.

 

[hrefnadrakis]

Two Parter

Here's my problem with two parters - I hate cliff hangers. I hate it when they just end without giving closure.

So basically I like a two part story where each part can stand on its own. For example - Full Moon Rising by Morganhawke. I can't remember the title to the second half but both parts can stand on their own because she gives enough background in the second part so that the reader isn't going "Huh?".

I'm currently working on a spin off for my Celuna's Hunt and its going okay but I don't consider it a part two because the two main characters from the first story will be moved to a secondary position in this one.

In a two part story, the main characters from the first story should remain the main characters. They shouldn't be relegated to any other position within the story. They should still be the main focus.

With your Halloween story Solaris, I would merge the two together.

One of the things that I've found necessary with POV is to make sure you're not changing POVs from one sentence to the next. It drives me nuts to read stories that do that. Eventually your brain is ping ponging back and forth so much that you can't remember who's saying or seeing what. Make sure there is a clear indication of who's POV it is. I find this is best done by paragraph separation. Sometimes, if its a long enough story, chapter separation works with the change of POV well.

Just a few suggestions.

Hrefna

 

[Pookie]

I'm working on what could be called a "two parter" I guess. It is two POV's that will alternate between chapters. Both POV's are experiencing separate "plots" that will eventually merge together late in the story as one POV. The plots are related significantly, but the reader will feel like they are in two different stories at times. There are places in each chapter where the two protagonists interact though in an attempt to keep the feel of one story. Neither plot would work well as a separate story, but together they compliment each other.

I completely agree with hrefnadrakis about changing POVs from one sentence to the next. It can be VERY frustrating to the reader if the change in POV's is unclear and if it changes very frequently.

Make sure your two POV's are not telling the same story. Each POV should reveal something the other does not. The reader will grow tired very quickly if the story seems to be re-hashing itself.

 

[Quasimodem]

I cannot recall the name of the film, but there is a movie - several, I believe - in the murder mystery genre, that use a similar technique.

The one of which I am thinking, follows a construction where the police interview a group of witnesses about a murder. Through this, we not only see the murder, but several versions of how it happened. Each version contradicts the other witnesses' story slightly, but eventually, one sticks out for being too unique on a statement of fact. That is the killer's story.

As I recall, the writer stacked the deck a bit, by making a couple of the character's less likeable. Naturally, in the end, it turns out to be a more likeable character.

Over the last several years, I have been working, on and off, on a multiple character story. Three couples, who you meet separately, have similar backgrounds. Eventually, they return to their common background, where they interact, to reach the conclusion.

The problem is to keep them on topic, and following the plot. They keep wanting to wander away, and have adventures that I did not plan for them to have.

Some days, stubborn characters can make writing a bitch!

 

[Solaris the Elf]

Stubborn characters can make writing a bitch!

How about stubborn plots?

My halloween story plot turned out to be for me very stubborn to even write. I may write a prequel to next year's Halloween story. But I'm not sure about that. I think I should just let my wild self take over and see what is written.

 

[Solaris the Elf]

My wild side has given me a good idea for a prequeal(sp) to my Halloween party, a masked gathering similiar to the Halloween but nothing serious, some revelation between Kevin and my main charater.

Just that they were romantic not fully erotic sex scenes, maybe a few kisses here and there, a grope and rub.

I'm not really sure.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I generally don't do the same story from two perspectives, but I've had some suggestions to write a prequel, of sorts for "Haunted Lover" from Claire's perspective. (for those of you who haven't read it...shame on you!!! just kidding----Modern day historian finds the journals of a New Orleans business man that recount his life, including his marriage to Marie and his relationship with his mistress Claire. In one of the last entries, we find out that Claire murdered his wife, and was killed.) I think this could work because although it takes certain moments from "Haunted Lover" it's really it's own story.

 

[TheEarl]

Just thinking of what Quasimodem said about films (ICBB to quote, sorry), have you seen Jackie Brown? Good film nayway, but one of its very good points was the fact that the pivotal scene was shown 3 or 4 times, following different characters. Each of the repititions gave you a different viewpoint on what was happening and gave you morei nformation until you finally worked out wtf was going on.

Very good author wrote in this style, always in the 1st person, but switching from character to character. Vague idea his name was Melille, but can't remember. Wrote a book called Junk which was excellently written.

The Earl

 

[Solaris the Elf]

deliciously_naughty,

I love that story! I have read it over and over again. It is really good.