On the Corner of First and Third

[xakara]

Initially, it appeared that my urban fantasy novels would be first person, and my paranormal romance novellas would be in third person, and all was right with the world. Well now I have two UF's that want to be third and two PR's that want to be first and it's messing up my gameplan. 

There's an intimacy to first person that better feels suited to the long haul of a novel. (For Me anyway). Whereas novellas are something I can carry in the ominiscent third without feeling removed from the characters and the situation. I don't know that I can stay connected for 90k in third. That's an awful long time to juggle everyone without the filter of a dominant mind. 

Just as odd to me is the idea of letting a character take over my head for a mere 30k. I want some long term commitment outta someone who is going to be that up close and personal in my grey matter. I'm not the one night stand type and expect a first person character to put out on a regular bases. It doesn't have to be a series, but 90k is a minimum and I expect cameos somewhere down the line. 

Am I being too rigid? I don't tend to limit myself until I try something, yet in this I don't know how far to experiment. With so many projects on the table I don't have time to backtrack and change perspective because something isn't working. 

Of course the issue might be in predicting the length of the projects at this point. Perhaps they are going to be just what they always are and I've misjudged. Or mayhaps I just have too many personalities on these next projects for povs to be rigid. 

Don't know. That's why I'm rambling here. 

So when you find yourself on the corner of First and Third, do you take the route you always take or close your eyes and let the car do the steering? 

POV Ramble Done

~X

Comments

[sanguinepen.livejournal.com]

LMAO

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

I close my eyes and let the car do the steering. I think one needs to trust oneself as a writer.

good luck to you!

[xakara.livejournal.com]

Close my eyes and hope for the best.....

Sounds like a plan! (http://photobucket.com)

~X

[xakara.livejournal.com]

Happy to bring amusement to your day. (http://photobucket.com)

~X

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

I have a version of Morgen's Wand, about the first 200 pages, that is written in 3rd person.

It happened when I realized I needed to tell the story with Jason, Mal, and Rose in addition to Morgen, and wasn't sure it could be pulled off in first. So I started rewriting, trying to figure it out. But I ended back up with first, because that's just the way that FELT right, despite the wisdom against multiple-person first POV.

But I had to rewrite 200 pages or so in figure it out. :/

[sroit.livejournal.com]

We sort of talked about this before, well, perspectives anyway.

Me, I go with what feels right. It's most often first person. If the character speaks to me in first person, he's written in first person...

I'm not so good at third, as you said, for the 'long haul.' Narrative can be useful, but I feel a little too removed from things to remain in third as an entire story. I also love reading first person novels, so I'm sure that's part of its appeal in writing. I want to be inside someone's head and have the reader inside that person's head with me. I need a different view? Well, that's what head hopping is for. ;)

[moondancerdrake.livejournal.com]

To be honest I have never had any luck writing in first person. That said, you just have to go with the flow of the story. Who knows what challages your muse has in store for you, and how happy you may end up being with what he has in mind. Ride the wave, darlin'

[xakara.livejournal.com]

I understand why multi-person POV in the first is frowned on, but I think it's workable. I have to admit I was thrown off the first time Rose entered, but that is so easily addressed with a large chapter heading (as would be in the actual book) that it in no way impacts the overall flow.

But back to the topic, I really don't want to rewrite 200 pages, especially in more than one story. But I don't have a choice in going forward right now because there isn't enough time to relax and take each individually. They came to me the way they did and I've got to get enough down that I don't lose the worlds and the stories.

Massive perspective rewrites might be unavoidable. Or it might all work out just like it needs to. No way to know yet.

But that's what makes writing an adventure, right? (grumble, griflesnort, discontented murmur)

~X

[xakara.livejournal.com]

Yes, but head hopping only works when expertly crafted and done with the proper scene or chapter breaks.

In the paranormals I tend to know too much of everything going on in a scene, so 1st person feels limited.

In the longer UF's, I grow attached to someone and they tend to dominate which can change the story when done in 3rd as opposed to first. Single character dominated third person is just first person unwilling to commit. LOL

Writing would be so much more enjoyable if you could just force it into the shape you wanted it to hold at a given moment. :)

~X

[xakara.livejournal.com]

Some folks aren't built for 1st person without a great deal of practice at it. I, on the other hand, came into the world with just the right psychosis for it.

Sebastian (the current name of my muse and he won't share why), is really starting to piss me off. But he always has a plan. Or at least he fakes it really well when I come up with a solution that he meant that all along.

Just like a male.

~X

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

and adventure, right!

I agree with the other comments, in the case that experimental rewriting is impossible: go with your gut and listen to the characters.

[xakara.livejournal.com]

...listen to the characters

Sure, take their side!

I mean, um, of course, that's the only thing you can ever do. :)

(Which is probably why writers used to drink so much (http://photobucket.com) )

~X