Point of view seems like it should be one of the easiest things to decide. After all, there are only so many choices: first person, third person limited, and third person omniscient are the major ones that come to mind. Compared with the limitless number of character names, settings, plots, and various other elements of fiction, point of view is the multiple choice quiz and the rest are essays or fill-in the blanks.
But easy as it should be to decide, in my own writing, I have found that I frequently want to switch the view. When writing about my grandmother for my creative nonfiction class, I started out in first person, telling the story from her eyes, but I quickly realized I had to pull back. I tried first person from my eyes, but at times that was still to close and I would slip into third person. When something hurts, I pull away, step out of first person and into the third.
In my current novel, I started out writing from the third person, but I found that this did not allow me into the thoughts of my main character, something I needed for the story to survive. The reader has to be able to understand what is going on in Jessie's head to understand why she takes some of actions she does. Chick lit is often written in first person; as I write my own story, I can see how a genre so related to personal relationships often needs the writing to be inside the character's heads to make sense.
But easy as it should be to decide, in my own writing, I have found that I frequently want to switch the view. When writing about my grandmother for my creative nonfiction class, I started out in first person, telling the story from her eyes, but I quickly realized I had to pull back. I tried first person from my eyes, but at times that was still to close and I would slip into third person. When something hurts, I pull away, step out of first person and into the third.
In my current novel, I started out writing from the third person, but I found that this did not allow me into the thoughts of my main character, something I needed for the story to survive. The reader has to be able to understand what is going on in Jessie's head to understand why she takes some of actions she does. Chick lit is often written in first person; as I write my own story, I can see how a genre so related to personal relationships often needs the writing to be inside the character's heads to make sense.
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ReplyDeleteAlthough in my own post I said that I didn't care for first person, I neglected to remember that one of my favorite books of all time (which also happens to be a Chick Lit book) is Nicholas Sparks' Dear John, which IS IN FIRST PERSON! I loved knowing what John was thinking, and it is because of the close connection I felt with John that the book made me bawl! I know that if this book had been in third person, I would not have been so emotionally invested in the characters, especially John.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I agree with your opinion that it is very easy to get too personal, too quickly when writing in the first person. There is a fine line between our character's persona and our own when writing in that voice, and it is not always clearly marked. My congratulations to you for being able to work in the first person. Not everyone can.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Danielle - Chick Lit does seem to be most often written from the first person. I hadn't thought about that before.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly the problem I have with first person Ray, the line between my character's persona and my own.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting thread from your blog, Danielle. I appreciated your comments on the multiple choice comparison. That feels so true. And I do love first person. Hearing you make the connection about the need to get inside the character's mind makes so much sense. Thank you for sharing that. I'm anxious to put all of this good information to actual use. I wish I could suspend time and write for a week and see the words wash over the page. Until I can figure that one out, I'll look forward to a fiction class and the chance to use all of the great writing advice on our blogs and discussions. Keep writing through the pain. As evidenced in Olive, it is how we connect.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, sometimes when I'm tempted to change point of view, it's because I've run into a technical difficulty, or perhaps an emotional brick wall. Shifting P.O.V. is always a good exercise, and eventually I find a way around, or through, the block.
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