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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Point of Views

I always write third person—usually with only two POV’s—the hero and the heroine (since I write romantic suspense). But every now and then I like to shake things up a bit so I’ll turn the killer loose. In Out of the Darkness and Silencing Evil the killer has his own POV. I think it’s more exciting this way—at least is for me. It’s like you’re watching a movie and you get to see what the killer is planning for his victim before the characters know it. And you’re on the edge of your seat thinking: Don’t go in there stupid, you’re fixing to get an axe to the back of your head or something along that line. The really fun part about writing a book like this (as a panster) you don’t know who the killer is until much later in the book. I’ve started a new project about a serial killer (which is why I thought of this post). Right now I’ve got three—maybe four possible’s, who could turn out to be the monster, and I don’t have a clue who it is. I know who I want it to be, but so far suspicions are leaning more toward the others. Someday I’d like to try writing one where all my characters have POV’s. But since most of my stories now are in the 65,000 to 80,000 word range, two or three max is all I can handle.

Believe it or not, this week I’ve seen my first sunrises in I don’t know how long. I’m a night owl, I go to bed anywhere between one and four am, so I’m usually not up before eight. This week though, I’ve been getting up at five-thirty every morning to go into the country and feed and water animals that belong to a friend who’s husband had heart surgery. It’s been a real treat. They have a huge brood—six dogs, seven cats and two horses—to care for. Since I love animals it’s been fun getting to know them all. And the sunrises have been spectacular. Especially this morning. As I was driving out there the pastures were covered with this mystic fog, just as the sun rose above the horizon. You can bet that’ll go in one of my stories. And yesterday, while I was out there, we had a light rain and on my way back to town I got to see a rainbow. It was almost a full rainbow, only the middle was missing. It was another one of those moments when I wished had brought the camera. I have a lot of those moments.

Hope all is well. Take care my friends!

3 comments:

Ban said...

I've always imagined I'd write solely in third person with some omniscient thrown in there but a few of my rougher WiPs are screaming for first person, which seems to be on the rise lately, esp. in YA. Promised a fellow writer I'd produce a first chapter for a swap. I've got 85% of the darn thing fully outlined but I didn't know 'till I started writing it was gonna be one of those screamers. Ah well.
I too am a night person - too bad I have kids that have to be up early to go to school - I'd sleep 'till noon if I didn't.

Al said...

My first novel (still trying to get it published) is alternates between the POV of most of the major characters.
It is sooo hard making each sound convincingly different.
It hasn't driven me entirely bonkers as I am continuing the same approach with my sequel.

Anne Patrick said...

Al, Randy Ingermanson (“the Snowflake guy”) has some wonderful tips on this subject. He uses the “Myers-Briggs” personality types as a convenient way to think about your characters. He has a free newsletter type email you can sign up for that has some great tips on all aspects of writing. Visit http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com to sign up and learn more.
Ban, I know what you mean about those screamers. I just started one, got four chapters into it and I’m stuck. I have it somewhat laid out in my head but my characters aren’t cooperating. It’s too early into the story to turn them completely loose, so I’m taking a breather from it for a few days. It’s either that or pull all my hair out and I’d look pretty ridiculous bald.

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