Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Q:Creating a perspective change, official method?

This is topic Q:Creating a perspective change, official method? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by marcus_utilis_amicus on :

hello,

I was wondering if there is a classic official method for creating a perspective change.

I have this intro I want in present tense then it switches to past tense as this one scene transforms.

I'd like to see examples of this especially in the category of "official" or "classical" method on such.

Thanks,
Marcus

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I can't offer you an official answer... I only know that as far as my tastes are concerned, if you are writing in first person, stay in first person throughout the story. If you are writing in third person, ditto. I don't think switching from past to present tense and back again (or verse visa) is a good idea. Pick a tone, a voice, and stay with it.

You can get some ideas on this topic by using the "search" feature and plugging in the keywords POV, Point Of View, future tense, and/or past tense. There have been numerous discussions on these topics.

Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :

You can drastically alter your persepective in a chapter break.

You can also make changes in perspective in a section break. (seperated by a blank line denoted by a # in a manuscript)

Depending on what you mean by a "scene" and switching to past tense.

Introductions such a prologues are frequently told in a completely different voice/perspective/tense than the rest of a story. This would be a small chapter preceeding the first chapter.

Frequently the first section of a chapter will be an expository narrative, sometimes italicized, told in present tense. This would be like a blurb from an encyclopedia (or journal or diary). Then the regular story follows after a section break.

As to "official" or "classical", these terms mean nothing. In fiction, the rules are incredibly fluid. Just because someone has done it before doesn't make it "right" and just because they haven't doesn't make it "wrong".

[This message has been edited by pantros (edited December 28, 2005).]

Posted by marcus_utilis_amicus on :

I like the prologue idea.

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

All I wil say is make sure you understand exactly what you are doing when you go against conventional methods. How you do it is up to you. Whether is works is up to the reader.