Comments on: How to Do Multiple Narrators and POVs with Style http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/ How to write a superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: ShyViolets http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-165869 ShyViolets Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:57:56 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-165869 Well I've read several novels that switch off every chapter and it works pretty well. Alternately you could switch mid chapter as long as its obvious you are doing so. If each character had a very specific voice (and it seems like they do) then it shouldn't be a problem telling them apart. Male and female 1st person POVs tend to be easier to tell apart then POVs from characters of the same gender so just be careful with the two male POVs. Hope this helps :) PS: if you really want to you can switch to third person POV when the characters are all together to avoid confusion but that could disorient readers. Well I’ve read several novels that switch off every chapter and it works pretty well. Alternately you could switch mid chapter as long as its obvious you are doing so. If each character had a very specific voice (and it seems like they do) then it shouldn’t be a problem telling them apart. Male and female 1st person POVs tend to be easier to tell apart then POVs from characters of the same gender so just be careful with the two male POVs.

Hope this helps :)

PS: if you really want to you can switch to third person POV when the characters are all together to avoid confusion but that could disorient readers.

]]> By: Wings http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-165798 Wings Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:58:39 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-165798 As per usual, I've hit a bit of a snag. My flagship book, That One Superhero Novel That Is Still Untitled After 3+ Years (God I Suck At This) has three general narrators. Narrator One: Darken, mercenary and (mostly?) neutral party in the underground war between heroes and villains. He's not picky about his employers (though to his credit he generally avoids assassinations and other jobs involving killing), though he's not as stoic as he thinks himself to be. He's sarcastic, rebellious, and secretive even to himself - never know who might be listening in, after all. Narrator Two: Hikari, unofficial leader of B-list superhero team The Six, and a superheroine herself. Straightlaced, polite, and generally even tempered, though that's begun to erode under present tensions. Bent on avenging her murdered fiancee, to the point where she's almost obsessed. She lives by an extremely strict moral code: everything is black and white to her, and Darken is a flaw in the system. Narrator Three: Masochist, self-loathing hemokinetic and member of the Six. A pacifist who was originally placed on the team to keep him under surveillance - after a brutal attack by another blood manipulator a little over a decade ago, the government would rather keep all potential threats under watch. Concerned for others to the point where he's stopped caring about his own safety, and he's slowly starting to withdraw in upon himself completely. I usually write third person - I prefer it, and I'm generally better at it than first person. However, when I try to write in third for this story, I keep coming up bland. It's a similar problem to one of Twilight's; with gripping scenes turning plodding and too much telling as opposed to showing. However, first person might get confusing, especially as POVs start switching more frequently. What do you recommend? - Wings As per usual, I’ve hit a bit of a snag.

My flagship book, That One Superhero Novel That Is Still Untitled After 3+ Years (God I Suck At This) has three general narrators.

Narrator One: Darken, mercenary and (mostly?) neutral party in the underground war between heroes and villains. He’s not picky about his employers (though to his credit he generally avoids assassinations and other jobs involving killing), though he’s not as stoic as he thinks himself to be. He’s sarcastic, rebellious, and secretive even to himself – never know who might be listening in, after all.

Narrator Two: Hikari, unofficial leader of B-list superhero team The Six, and a superheroine herself. Straightlaced, polite, and generally even tempered, though that’s begun to erode under present tensions. Bent on avenging her murdered fiancee, to the point where she’s almost obsessed. She lives by an extremely strict moral code: everything is black and white to her, and Darken is a flaw in the system.

Narrator Three: Masochist, self-loathing hemokinetic and member of the Six. A pacifist who was originally placed on the team to keep him under surveillance – after a brutal attack by another blood manipulator a little over a decade ago, the government would rather keep all potential threats under watch. Concerned for others to the point where he’s stopped caring about his own safety, and he’s slowly starting to withdraw in upon himself completely.

I usually write third person – I prefer it, and I’m generally better at it than first person. However, when I try to write in third for this story, I keep coming up bland. It’s a similar problem to one of Twilight’s; with gripping scenes turning plodding and too much telling as opposed to showing. However, first person might get confusing, especially as POVs start switching more frequently.

What do you recommend?

- Wings

]]> By: Newt http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-123028 Newt Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:19:40 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-123028 Hello everyone :) If anyone is thinking of switching POVs or switching between third and first person narration, I would recommend taking a look at 'The Bartimaeus Trilogy' by Jonathan Stroud, which switches between the two main characters' POVs really effectively. When following Nathaniel, the narration is in third person and when following Bartimaeus, the narration is in first person. The first person works really well because the character has a very distinct voice and is very funny at times, and it allows the reader an insight into the world that the human character would not ever experience. Also, although there are some chapters where the two characters are separate, if my memory serves me correctly, during most of the book/trilogy they are together in the same scenes - so different POVs can work to enhance shared situations, not just as a way of conveying action that would otherwise be missed by single character narration. Newt :) Hello everyone :)

If anyone is thinking of switching POVs or switching between third and first person narration, I would recommend taking a look at ‘The Bartimaeus Trilogy’ by Jonathan Stroud, which switches between the two main characters’ POVs really effectively.

When following Nathaniel, the narration is in third person and when following Bartimaeus, the narration is in first person. The first person works really well because the character has a very distinct voice and is very funny at times, and it allows the reader an insight into the world that the human character would not ever experience.

Also, although there are some chapters where the two characters are separate, if my memory serves me correctly, during most of the book/trilogy they are together in the same scenes – so different POVs can work to enhance shared situations, not just as a way of conveying action that would otherwise be missed by single character narration.

Newt :)

]]> By: thablue http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-48462 thablue Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:19:49 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-48462 Thanks for writing this - I knew if I looked hard enough I'd find a thread on this topic somewhere on the site! :D Brilliant. I am having trouble with the 1st person present/3rd person present switch. Rue's voice comes to me in the very definite 1st person present. I tried switching everything to the 3rd person present (wouldn't it be so cool if there was a software program that could do the tense switch for you!) - but it just didn't work when I read it. So I'm leaving her chapters 1st person present. Which presents me with a problem. How to deal with the other major characters. I could keep everything from Rue's perspective of course. Then I have to deal with her finding out about the bad guys, etc all from what she learns as we go. Which is fine, but I am afraid it would get boring for the reader. Another isue with this is the possible lack of suspense - I am trying to write an action/thriller here. *sigh* On the other hand I could keep every major character's bits in the 1st person present. My hesitation here is that I have at least four major characters. I think that could get very confusing for the reader. The plus to doing this is it might be an easy way to have the readers sympathize a bit with each character - even the bad guys - which is something I want. The way I have it now is that everything that Rue "writes" is 1st person present, while anything about anyone else is 3rd person present (which presents the side issue of having a narrator - meh). I'm not entirely happy with this. Anyway - I'll keep on keepin' on - and any advise is very very appreciated! ~thablue Thanks for writing this – I knew if I looked hard enough I’d find a thread on this topic somewhere on the site! :D Brilliant.

I am having trouble with the 1st person present/3rd person present switch. Rue’s voice comes to me in the very definite 1st person present. I tried switching everything to the 3rd person present (wouldn’t it be so cool if there was a software program that could do the tense switch for you!) – but it just didn’t work when I read it. So I’m leaving her chapters 1st person present. Which presents me with a problem. How to deal with the other major characters.

I could keep everything from Rue’s perspective of course. Then I have to deal with her finding out about the bad guys, etc all from what she learns as we go. Which is fine, but I am afraid it would get boring for the reader. Another isue with this is the possible lack of suspense – I am trying to write an action/thriller here. *sigh*

On the other hand I could keep every major character’s bits in the 1st person present. My hesitation here is that I have at least four major characters. I think that could get very confusing for the reader. The plus to doing this is it might be an easy way to have the readers sympathize a bit with each character – even the bad guys – which is something I want.

The way I have it now is that everything that Rue “writes” is 1st person present, while anything about anyone else is 3rd person present (which presents the side issue of having a narrator – meh). I’m not entirely happy with this.

Anyway – I’ll keep on keepin’ on – and any advise is very very appreciated!

~thablue

]]> By: Tom http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36643 Tom Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:22:03 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-36643 Actually it got less annoying over time as I got used to it (or should I say YOU got used to it :P). I just glossed over any use of the word 'you' and substituted the word 'I' mentally. Actually it got less annoying over time as I got used to it (or should I say YOU got used to it :P ). I just glossed over any use of the word ‘you’ and substituted the word ‘I’ mentally.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36637 B. Mac Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:24:05 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-36637 If I were sympathetic, I'd probably say the reason was that they wanted it to feel punchy and immediate. Or maybe they wanted to try something new and fresh. <br /> If I were less sympathetic, I'd guess that it was because the writer lacked experience and/or empathy. It should have been obvious that it would grate on a reader's nerves over time. If I were sympathetic, I’d probably say the reason was that they wanted it to feel punchy and immediate. Or maybe they wanted to try something new and fresh.

If I were less sympathetic, I’d guess that it was because the writer lacked experience and/or empathy. It should have been obvious that it would grate on a reader’s nerves over time.

]]> By: Tom http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36629 Tom Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:49:36 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-36629 For a long time, the comic book series Spider-Girl spoke in SECOND person whenever the eponymous character was thinking. For example 'you wanted to be just like your dad, Spider-Man'. Needless to say, this got very annoying very quickly. The re-booted version uses first person, thankfully. I always wondered what the reason for this was... For a long time, the comic book series Spider-Girl spoke in SECOND person whenever the eponymous character was thinking. For example ‘you wanted to be just like your dad, Spider-Man’.

Needless to say, this got very annoying very quickly. The re-booted version uses first person, thankfully.

I always wondered what the reason for this was…

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36615 B. Mac Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:37:30 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-36615 The short answer is that switching between 1P narration and 3P narration is extremely disorienting. I suspect it would get a cold reception from publishers. <br /> In fact, the only time I think a third-person story could get away with a switch to first-person is if the story cuts to a diary entry or a letter or some other writing from the character. We're reading something from the character's perspective, so it's kind of first-person, but it's smoother than having a character start addressing the reader in a story that had been third-person. The short answer is that switching between 1P narration and 3P narration is extremely disorienting. I suspect it would get a cold reception from publishers.

In fact, the only time I think a third-person story could get away with a switch to first-person is if the story cuts to a diary entry or a letter or some other writing from the character. We’re reading something from the character’s perspective, so it’s kind of first-person, but it’s smoother than having a character start addressing the reader in a story that had been third-person.

]]> By: Marissa http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36611 Marissa Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:55:40 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-36611 I was giving a bit of advice, but I tripped over something I needed input on, so I told them I'd ask. Why is it wrong to switch from third person PoV to first person occasionally? I know to advise against it, but I can't put into words exactly why, besides that it jars the reader, so I said I'd ask B. Mac and the rest of you. I was giving a bit of advice, but I tripped over something I needed input on, so I told them I’d ask.

Why is it wrong to switch from third person PoV to first person occasionally?

I know to advise against it, but I can’t put into words exactly why, besides that it jars the reader, so I said I’d ask B. Mac and the rest of you.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-30748 B. Mac Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:58:54 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-30748 Hmm. If you are thinking about 2+ perspectives, I think it's particularly important to create characters that are so well-defined that they don't need to explain where they're coming from. I once saw a show about the Supreme Court where a justice started a sentence with "As a liberal, I believe..." Ick. That doesn't sound believable or smooth. If Agent Orange ever started a sentence with something like "As a highly eccentric and faintly jingoistic mutant alligator, I believe...", my editor would shoot me in the face. <br /> However, as the amount of characters rises, it gets exponentially harder to define each character so clearly that you don't need to resort to cheating. For example, I have a good idea what Batman or Superman would do in a given situation. Their personalities and morals are well-established. But I'm never sure about what Aquaman or Plastic-Man would do. At least as far as I can tell, they don't have very distinct personalities. Hmm. If you are thinking about 2+ perspectives, I think it’s particularly important to create characters that are so well-defined that they don’t need to explain where they’re coming from. I once saw a show about the Supreme Court where a justice started a sentence with “As a liberal, I believe…” Ick. That doesn’t sound believable or smooth. If Agent Orange ever started a sentence with something like “As a highly eccentric and faintly jingoistic mutant alligator, I believe…”, my editor would shoot me in the face.

However, as the amount of characters rises, it gets exponentially harder to define each character so clearly that you don’t need to resort to cheating. For example, I have a good idea what Batman or Superman would do in a given situation. Their personalities and morals are well-established. But I’m never sure about what Aquaman or Plastic-Man would do. At least as far as I can tell, they don’t have very distinct personalities.

]]> By: notsohottopic http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-30744 notsohottopic Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:36:17 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-30744 I've actually done a story based on multiple point of views. It wasn't particularly hard, but everyone's motives and train of thinking must differ. Their justification for their actions must differ, and their narration must drive the plot further, rather than act as a recap of what just happened. I’ve actually done a story based on multiple point of views. It wasn’t particularly hard, but everyone’s motives and train of thinking must differ. Their justification for their actions must differ, and their narration must drive the plot further, rather than act as a recap of what just happened.

]]> By: Ragged Boy http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-30732 Ragged Boy Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:55:27 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-30732 "Maybe his girlfriend complains a lot about how hard it is to wear heels, and he wants to show her how it’s done." Haha, crazy visual. “Maybe his girlfriend complains a lot about how hard it is to wear heels, and he wants to show her how it’s done.”

Haha, crazy visual.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-30728 B. Mac Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:16:37 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-30728 Maybe his girlfriend complains a lot about how hard it is to wear heels, and he wants to show her how it's done. Maybe his girlfriend complains a lot about how hard it is to wear heels, and he wants to show her how it’s done.

]]> By: Ragged Boy http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-30723 Ragged Boy Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:13:59 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-30723 Were you the one that posted the line where the guy had the ability to run in heels? That seems pretty funny to me. Were you the one that posted the line where the guy had the ability to run in heels? That seems pretty funny to me.

]]> By: Tom http://www.superheronation.com/2009/05/11/how-to-do-multiple-narrators-and-povs-with-style/comment-page-1/#comment-30714 Tom Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:50:03 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=3547#comment-30714 Lost a bet? Lost a bet?

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