|
Post by Monday Morning on Jan 28, 2010 22:10:26 GMT -5
I thought I'd tap your creative minds for my next story. It's going to be another horror piece (go fig! ), but I'm torn between writing from the Victim's POV, or from the Hero's POV. It would be written in first person, past tense. The benefit I can see from the Vic's POV is that the readers (you) would get to experience what he/she is going through his/her eyes, from death to (spoiler) rebirth. But, then there's the Hero's POV. Not only could he/she witness the crimes against the Victim, but then he/she could do something about it. So this where I need your help! What would VSS do?
|
|
|
Post by thelunarfox on Jan 28, 2010 23:59:09 GMT -5
If it were me, I'd try writing from both POVs. To see which worked out the best.
I'd also ask what effect I wanted the reader to get from reading the story. Would I like them to feel the fear of the victim and see the possible hope of a rescue? Or would I want them to feel the anger of the hero and the righteous joy that comes from the possible rescue?
Maybe you can even play with POV in the story? Think of both POV as different stories, and twine them around each other.
|
|
|
Post by mdpthatsme on Jan 29, 2010 1:11:25 GMT -5
Hmmm, I would try switching of narration if you're having that much trouble deciding from whose view you would prefer to write in. I do it through The Shadow...some times confusing, but let's readers on different point-of-views in one storyline. For example a mystery/detective genre, chapter 1 part 1: a detective walks upon the scene, the victim sits in the corner with police and medical examiners checking her/him out, you get a few insights from the detective as he evaluates the room and situation. Part 2...could be next chapter, that's up to the writer and framework...detective interviews victim, the view could be switched to the victim with a series of flashbacks pertaining to the attack/crime. Or, a combination flashback with him/her at the hospital/apartment/home retracing the interview with the detective and the attack/crime. Am I helping or making matters worse? chili, cheese, and crackers
|
|
|
Post by girlyesterday on Jan 29, 2010 5:39:39 GMT -5
I read a book once. It was called "The Last Days" by Scott Westerfeld. In the story he uses the first person point of view for all his characters. Each chapter was split into the name of the person speaking.
If you can't decide, why not do both. Write the first part from the victim's POV and then the second part from the Hero's POV to continue the story. Make it clear by stating:
Part 1 - VICTIM (name) Part 2 - HERO (name)
Who says you have to choose one or the other.
|
|
|
Post by laura on Jan 29, 2010 8:16:19 GMT -5
Carnaxa, I think that's a good idea. Especially for a story where you're so compelled by both points of view from the start. I'm using alternating POVs in my novel too! It's especially fun to play with when each character sees something about the story differently, or when one character knows something that the other doesn't. The trickiest thing about alternating POV (which is also used and wonderfully done in the book I'm reading now, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz), is that you have to make each new POV character equally as compelling (or more even) as the last. Because each time you switch, your reader will inevitably be a little disappointed that they're leaving the first character's head, so you have to make them love the new character a lot, and fast!
|
|
|
Post by raquelaroden on Jan 29, 2010 19:14:56 GMT -5
Laura made an excellent point--I often feel a little sad when I realize the author has changed points of view at some point in the story (and it's usually when things were really starting to heat up or something), but if it is done well then after a while I'm not missing the other person's point of view at all. One thing to consider is what kinds of things you may want to hide from the reader, or what you want to remain mysterious for a while--that might help you decide which approach to take, or how to divvy up the time between the two.
|
|
|
Post by dbloveshermac on Jan 31, 2010 18:51:25 GMT -5
If you tell it from the victim's point of view, then you might be spoiling the surprise of the rebirth. You'll have to balance that against the impact of the victim's firsthand emotions.
What about having the hero reading a letter written to him or her by the victim years later? So the bulk of the story is in the victim's voice, but if you need to/want to, you can have a pause now and then where the hero gets a drink of whatever and remembers how he or she felt at that point in the story.
|
|
|
Post by mdpthatsme on Feb 1, 2010 17:33:44 GMT -5
Ooh, I like that db ;D
|
|