I finally grabbed my USB drive and finished a whole chapter of revisions yesterday. In the process I made an amazing, brain shattering, fantastic discovery. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this revelation, but I always have to have it again.
I found out why I didn’t love poor Ronnie anymore. And why she had stopped talking to me. And once I figured it out, I didn’t blame her. I’d stop talking to me too if I made me into a whiny, withdrawn, incapable brat.
So I’ve given her back her strength and personality, and she no longer finishes every single chapter curling up into a ball in the corner of her apartment and sobbing because the voices in her head just. won’t. shut. up.
I wish I was exaggerating, but no. Almost every single chapter read like that. And I have to wonder what kind of dark, whiny place my own brain was in that I thought that was compelling conflict. I mean, sure I can see how it would be to a certain audience. But that audience isn’t me.
I think part of this came from reading the very early versions of the same story. Like the original draft. The original draft has something in it none of the other versions have, and while I kind of miss it (it has some awesome lines in it, if I can toot my own horn about that ;-), I know why I had to cut it.
I called them intermissions. Ronnie talks to the reader. The Ronnie who already knows how the story ends, because she’s the one telling it.
The story was also entirely in first person. The intermissions first person present, the rest first person past. Something that didn’t survive the first draft. And I hesitate to bring that back because…well…because I think too many books are written in a first person POV and I get tired of it.
But I’ve always said that a story needs to be written from the perspective that benefits it the most, regardless of trends, so I’m probably going to switch it to first person as I make this final revision.
And maybe someday I’ll find a good excuse to post those snippets of intermission outside of the random quotes that have littered my tumblr for the last week.
Do you think POV be influenced more by the story or by author preference?
This is such an interesting post for me, because it’s what I struggle with too. My wip is in first person present POV and I had the same negative reaction to it. I tried writing it third person. I tried writing it first past. But ultimately I went back to first present because the story is about discovery – Fin is finding out secrets about his world and himself in real time. And he’s changing. That’s the best motivation that I can think of for keeping the POV I have. Though, I will say I do get sick of him sometimes, whining about this or that, because I’m stuck IN HIS HEAD WITH HIM! :0
I prefer first person when written well. If, however, the voice is boring or unoriginal, then it’s harder to stomach. Good luck with your MS.
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Hee hee, typos. =)
Here’s my take on it: it depends on what kind of story you’re telling.
First person is SO personal. It works well with a young adult audience, and I really enjoy it because you get to know the character so well. It does, however, present some plot difficulties–and a writer better not attempt it unless they are a character-driver writer.
On the other hand, third person is awesome for revealing the entirety of a stellar plot, but with taking the perspective of multiple characters or stepping back from the MC’s head, you lose some of that intimacy. It’s a balancing game I suppose. You really have to choose what you’re after in the story and which perspective fits best.
Oh, I’m awarding you the Liebster blog award. =) eat cheese eh? http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/2011/09/bizarre-news-you-never-wanted-to-know.html
I never have a choice. The characters insist, one way or the other. Pray I never have one who wants to talk to me in second person. THAT might put me over the edge.
I’m finding that I like first person much better. It’s easier to develop the character voice and it helps me narrow and define my focus. When I’m working as an omniscient narrator, I tend to fly all over the place.
I usually prefer 1st person, but usually the story and characters tell me what they need.