Hatrack River Writers Workshop: POV Help...

This is topic POV Help... in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Palaytiasdreams (Member # 8154) on :

Howdy again,

I'm new at this and I need help. I wrote a scene a few weeks back that I absolutely love and after reading all the discussion on point of view and switching from one to another I rewrote it to suit another character, but now I'm missing everything I loved about the first scene I wrote.

Does this make sense?

How tacky would it be to later write the scene from the other character's perspective OR do I just relay the feelings in a dialogue or thought?

Ya know this used to be so easy...until I realised that there are...dare I say...rules to follow.

However, nothing worth doing is ever easy and I know that everything I learn here will serve either to confuse me more or make me better.

pal...purchasing a ticket on the train of thought and hoping she doesn't lose it...

[This message has been edited by Palaytiasdreams (edited August 27, 2008).]

Posted by kings_falcon (Member # 3261) on :

Another question that's hard to answer in the abstract.

What made you think you had a POV issue in the first place? Did you post part of it here and have people ask or just think that it might be an issue after reading?

Try writing the scene from the possible POVs and see which one works best. Also, while not currently the most favored POV, full omniscient is still a valid choice. If you want another character to "relive" the scene later, that might be the better POV in the first place.

For the most part, you relay a character's feelings through action, which includes dialog. If you are into "thought" you are into that POV.

Figure out who was the POV for the parts you like and try using that POV.

Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :

I had a problem with this in my WIP. I have a couple crucial scenes which made more sense to write in one character's POV rather than another's (though my book has multiple POVs).

I would be cautious about having the same scene in another's POV. It would seem indulgent, unless there really is a reason to have it in (remember the adage "Murder your darlings"). I think conveying the information through internal thoughts or dialogue the character has later could work better.

The way I solved it was to really work at characterizing the non POV character to the point I felt satisfied his reactions and his emotions were coming through for the reader through his actions and words, even though the scene was written in another's POV. I wanted readers to be so familiar with my character they could read him, well, like a book.

Posted by Palaytiasdreams (Member # 8154) on :

I've not posted anything other than my first thirteen lines.

If anyone is interested in taking a look I'll be more than happy to share. It's under 3000 words right now, well the parts that are in succession anyway, and already broken into chapters.

I think my problem stems from the fact I like to "withhold" information until I think it's necessary and ...dare I say...I'm moving the scene I liked from the middle to closer to the beginning of the book, where I never intended it to be.

I have as many POV as I do characters (five so far) to make sure it all stays straight, I have a chapter each time the POV changes. The scenes follow the same time line so there will be no going forward or backward, save for the occassional flashback.

Trying to write from an omnipresent POV sounds like where I may end up.

Pal...pondering how many versions of this story she'll write until it get it just where it needs to be.

Posted by kings_falcon (Member # 3261) on :

42

Posted by Palaytiasdreams (Member # 8154) on :

Thanks for all the fish, king.

Pal...