Writing question: Being in more than one head

[TheEarl]

I'm currently (still) rewriting my novel and wanted to know what people thought on moving from head to head, mid-section in a 3rd person.

I'm writing in a third person form and when each of my major characters are alone in a scene, we're seeing the scene from their head, and can see their thoughts and opinions. In the scene when two or more of my major characters are together, the one scene can feature thoughts from several different characters' heads (in different paragraphs and in the flow of the story)

Do you think that the latter is a bad thing? Should I stick to one set ofthoughts at a time? Am I making any kind of sense?

The Earl

 

[impressive]

If I'm gonna do the mind dance, I prefer to do it in delineated sections or chapters. It's easier to follow and easier to maintain the "voice" of the character.

 

[TheEarl]

If I'm gonna do the mind dance, I prefer to do it in delineated sections or chapters. It's easier to follow and easier to maintain the "voice" of the character.

So you think it's unacceptable to have see more than one character's thoughts in each section?

The Earl

 

[impressive]

So you think it's unacceptable to have see more than one character's thoughts in each section?

The Earl

Not "unacceptable" (any more than writing in 2nd person is "unacceptable" -- HINT!), just more difficult to do well.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

I'm currently (still) rewriting my novel and wanted to know what people thought on moving from head to head, mid-section in a 3rd person.

I'm writing in a third person form and when each of my major characters are alone in a scene, we're seeing the scene from their head, and can see their thoughts and opinions. In the scene when two or more of my major characters are together, the one scene can feature thoughts from several different characters' heads (in different paragraphs and in the flow of the story)

Do you think that the latter is a bad thing? Should I stick to one set ofthoughts at a time? Am I making any kind of sense?

The Earl

My story Visiting Big Sis (shamless plug) (actually China-doll's story) swiches viewpoints constantly. I think it can be confusing if not carefully done but it seemed to work well because it's one of my highest rated storys at 4.82.

I didn't use anything to breakup the diferent points of view except for paragraphs obviously. Just make sure it's obvious who's head you're in at the time. Start off each shift with a definite teltale of who's thinking now.

 

[TheEarl]

My story Visiting Big Sis (shamless plug) (actually China-doll's story) swiches viewpoints constantly. I think it can be confusing if not carefully done but it seemed to work well because it's one of my highest rated storys at 4.82.

I didn't use anything to breakup the diferent points of view except for paragraphs obviously. Just make sure it's obvious who's head you're in at the time. Start off each shift with a definite teltale of who's thinking now.

Ah, I switch viewpoints incessently anyway, but I delineate the different sections. I'm just wondering if it's possible to have a section that's shared between two characters, allowing the thoughts of both to be told.

The Earl

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Ah, I switch viewpoints incessently anyway, but I delineate the different sections. I'm just wondering if it's possible to have a section that's shared between two characters, allowing the thoughts of both to be told.

The Earl

Anything is possible. The question is how well will it work.

I'd say as long as you're careful with it you can make it work. But definitly have someone else look it over afterward to make sure it really reads right. Just because you know how it works doesn't mean a casual reader can get it.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Anything is possible. The question is how well will it work.

I'd say as long as you're careful with it you can make it work. But definitly have someone else look it over afterward to make sure it really reads right. Just because you know how it works doesn't mean a casual reader can get it.

He puts it so much better!!

Imp and Belegon have done a great contest piece jumping POVs - but sectionized.

If you're writing in the omniscient third-party, there's no reason why you can't be in both 'heads' at the same time. The only genre I know where it can't work is Thriller/Mystery. Many writers use it successfully in the same section but they usually have a point to make - the characters' shyness, misunderstandings or taking the mickey a bit.

CD is right that a third-party should review 'cold'. You know what's in their minds - us poor simple readers only have your words, great though they always are.

 

[impressive]

Imp and Belegon have done a great contest piece jumping POVs - but sectionized.

Why, thank you!

 

[TheEarl]

Thanks all.

The Earl

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Why, thank you!

You's welcome! I really enjoyed it.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Yeah, jumping viewpoints is nothing at all to be worried about as long as the reader knows at all times who's mind they're in. The best way to do this is have different personalities for each character, have different thought styles, have the descriptive center focus around the point of view of whoever's mind you're in so the story seems to center around that person for that brief section. Maintain flow above all else.

Also, never swap minds mid-paragraph. Never, ever, do that. Ideally, the best is to swap minds in distinct sections (no need to separate out these sections visually into chapters or whatnot), but you can do it mid-section if you follow a paranoid over-exaggeration of dialogue rules.

Am I making any sense?

Oh, another big point. If you have a transcendent narrator (keeps flitting between minds), keep him transcendent. As long as narrative style and everything flows when you reread it without confusion, it'll be fine. I've done what you talk about plenty of times and haven't yet been called to the carpet for it.

 

[Guest]

I have to agree with Imp. My first attempt at a novel using my dragon character was done from the viewpoints of two different main characters, in alternate chapters. Through the first six chapters it was fairly easy to do. At the end of the sixth chapter, however, they meet face to face. It was difficult for the next few chapters to keep things straight as they interacted, even seperating the views by chapter. It still came off fairly well, but I cringe at the thought of adding even one more viewpoint to it. And I was tempted to briefly.

 

[Weird Harold]

I'm writing in a third person form and when each of my major characters are alone in a scene, we're seeing the scene from their head, and can see their thoughts and opinions. In the scene when two or more of my major characters are together, the one scene can feature thoughts from several different characters' heads (in different paragraphs and in the flow of the story)

It depends on what style you've established for reporting thoughts.

It sounds like you might have established a "third person limited omniscient" style where you are reporting from inside each POV character rather than a "third person omniscient" style where you're just looking over each POV character's shoulder and reporting "everything in range" of the viewpoint.

If you consistently report only what the POV character is thinking and then suddenly shift to reporting what every character is thinking, it can be a bit confusing to the readers.

As long as you keep the style consistent and don't make the readers dizzy by shifting viewpoints too often you should be OK.

 

[fifty5]

I'm currently (still) rewriting my novel and wanted to know what people thought on moving from head to head, mid-section in a 3rd person.

I'm writing in a third person form and when each of my major characters are alone in a scene, we're seeing the scene from their head, and can see their thoughts and opinions. In the scene when two or more of my major characters are together, the one scene can feature thoughts from several different characters' heads (in different paragraphs and in the flow of the story)

Do you think that the latter is a bad thing? Should I stick to one set ofthoughts at a time? Am I making any kind of sense?

The Earl

The little I know is that readers have to know where (or who) they're at. As long as that's clear, then I think it is simply down to how well the story is written.

Go for it Earl. "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men."

 

[SeaCat]

Earl,

It isn't easy to do without confusing yourself as well as the readers but it can be done. I did a story with three viewpoints all interacting but I seperated them by sections. I didn't do it with a narator who was looking in from the outside so I'm interested in seeing how yours works out.

Cat

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I've had editors complain about my switching POV's in third-person omni, and I think that's crap. I've never had a reader complain, and if I'm omniscient, why shouldn't I be able to say what everyone's thinking, including the family dog and goldfish if I want?

If it seems right to you, do it. Don't let them flog you with their little rules.

Know what you're doing, be in control, and then go ahead. It's the only way we make any progrress.

 

[cantdog]

I'm currently (still) rewriting my novel and wanted to know what people thought on moving from head to head, mid-section in a 3rd person.

I'm writing in a third person form and when each of my major characters are alone in a scene, we're seeing the scene from their head, and can see their thoughts and opinions. In the scene when two or more of my major characters are together, the one scene can feature thoughts from several different characters' heads (in different paragraphs and in the flow of the story)

Do you think that the latter is a bad thing? Should I stick to one set ofthoughts at a time? Am I making any kind of sense?

The Earl

I never sweat this stuff. i swap in and out as necessity dictates.

What is the most mportant thing to say next? That's what I ask myself, and I have access to all the minds in the story, and use it.

Fuck the rules. As long as the reader can follow me, what's the difference? Alternate chapters, my ass. Maybe for an epistolary thing. But Omnicient is omnicient. New paragraph is all it takes. The reader will follow .