March 6, 2023
Do you have advice for changing perspective? For example, switching from writing exclusively in third person and switching to first person? Or do you have a reason for staying with the perspective you do?
The first book I set out to write, (one that will never be published,) I rewrote four times before calling it quits. I changed perspective twice in that process. The first two versions were third person past tense, the third version was in first person, then I switched back to third person. It was a great learning process. Frustrating, perhaps, but publishing the story was never a consideration, so I could ‘play’ with how the characters interacted with no deadline to interfere.
What the experience taught me was that I can write in either perspective. Which one I choose is dictated by the story. For example, in its original form, what turned into The Marquesa’s Necklace started out in third person. I didn’t get very far into that version before realizing it was all wrong for the story that was taking shape, and switched to first person.
On the other hand, The Free Wolves’ books are all written in third person. They started that way and never changed.
What advice do I have for writers wanting to switch? If you want to, do it! Yes, I know you’ll find readers who don’t like to read first person. You’ll also find readers that prefer it.
Something to consider—In first person, you can only see characters and action through one set of eyes at a time. As the author, you have to use dialogue or show physical cues from other characters to allow your main character to know what everyone else is thinking. I think that restriction is useful in helping to prevent head-hopping. On the other side, it may be a good tool for diving deeply into the internal thoughts of the speaker.
One minor thing: I’ve seen it done way too often. If you are writing in first tense, please, oh please, don’t have your main character look into a mirror or a pool of water or whatever to describe themselves. Just don’t.
What to be aware of if you’re moving from first to third person? I have to pay close attention to be sure I don’t head-hop for a sentence or two. It can also be easy to slip into the voice of an omniscient narrator. You, as the author, may know something that your characters and readers don’t know and it can be hard to not include it.
I haven’t tried some of the lesser-used points of view, like second person and fourth person. (Yes, that exists, but it’s rare.) It’ll be interesting to find out if any one else in this hop has used them. To find out, follow the links below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
March 6, 2023
Do you have advice for changing perspective? For example, switching from writing exclusively in third person and switching to first person? Or do you have a reason for staying with the perspective you do?
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