My current novel started out as a story told from a single point of view, that of a young woman named Iris Somerset, who’s a tarot reader. She gets caught up in a murder investigation, mainly because the police don’t believe she had a psychic vision of the murder. She doesn’t really blame them. She can hardly believe it herself.
The first draft seemed to go great, and I finished it quickly.
It felt a little flat to me. There was a lot more story seeping into my mind, as the original idea developed and morphed over time, than was apparent in that draft. The main problem was the limited viewpoint. After debating with myself for a while, I decided the story needed a second viewpoint character. Actually I have to admit the character himself told me this. Yeah, sounds a little crazy, huh. But this is fiction. He was coming to life, and he wanted a voice.
The character was already there. I just had to make him a viewpoint character, change some scenes that involved him so he could tell a portion of the story from his perspective, reveal some of what he knew.
At first I couldn’t get this guy to come completely to life in my head in quite the way I needed him to, in spite of his nagging desire to do so. I had the idea of him, but not him, if that makes any sense. I had to research the region and slightly different culture he comes from, as well as his profession. I had to understand his childhood and some of the things he went through that motivate him and cause him to keep the secrets he does.
When he finally began to show not just signs of life but a concrete personality, he developed in a hurry, and he started to take over the story. Then I had to work on Iris, because, damn it, this is her series, not his.
That’s where I am now, still adding the punch of this second character’s side of things. I’m almost done. Hopefully the rest of the edits will go much more quickly. Maybe someday I’ll learn to have the whole thing in my head before I start writing. Nah—that’s no fun, knowing where you’re going before you go there? I had enough of that as a technical writer. In the meantime, I’m a bad blogger. I’m in the story, and I want to stay there. Some days I regret that I have to sleep, that’s how caught up I’ve been in my own little world. It sounds pretty sick, if you don’t believe there’s actually going to be a published book that comes out of this.
1.
I’m a great believer in listening to what my characters tell me. Sometimes, especially if I’m having a problem with characterisation, I’ll take one of them oout to dinner. When we have an informal chat like that, it’s amazing what comes out in the conversation.
Are both your points of view going to be first person? Nothing wrong with that except that if the narrative voices aren’t well distinguished it can be confusing. On the other hand combining a first-person and a third-person POV worked a treat for Charles Dickens in Bleak House.
Rosie
Comment by Rosie — September 13, 2005 @ 1:22 pm
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Hi Rosie! They’re both now third person limited.
Comment by Barbara W. Klaser — September 13, 2005 @ 3:18 pm
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I like multiple viewpoints both as a reader and a writer. When Mary and I write, invariably some minor characters beg to become more prominent and other characters pop out of nowhere, just because their viewpoints seem to be needed. Often, these folks turn out to be more interesting than the major characters.I think more viewpoints add more depth and thus more interest.
More and more I tend to think that the only important thing is to tell the story. All the “rules” about viewpoints and such really are only of interest to critics. If I, as a reader who writes, doesn’t even care about them, what readers do? What I say is just do whatever it takes to tell the story.
Comment by Eric Mayer — September 13, 2005 @ 3:31 pm
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I’m just now reading a book in which I am reasonably sure one of the characters (and her viewpoint) did the same thing to that author: demanded to be included. And she really does add verve and spice to the whole story. You think to youself, “hmmm…if this were a tv series, we’d be talking spin-off.”
I know you’re an on again/off again blogger, but so what? Quality makes up for quantity any day! And I’m looking forward to reading the book when it’s published.
Comment by Sarah — September 14, 2005 @ 6:08 am
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I had no apparitions or pushy characters or social engagements with the secondary characters of my book. I’m not that evolved. But upon the sage advice of a good critique, I rewrote my manuscript from 1st to 3rd person POV. The only groan heard ‘round the world was mine – not a ghostly character about to pounce from the sidelines. I balked for 2 months – I’m a stubborn old fool. I had never done a total re-haul. It seemed daunting. One never hears writers speak of rewrites with enthusiasm. Well, I’m here today to tell ya I had a blast with my rewrite. My antagonist especially came to life – it was way too much fun – enormously changed the book for the better. Writing was far more exciting than the first draft – possibly because I already knew the characters so well and the 3rd person POV allowed pivotal involvement with my antagonist. I knew this guy cold – just hadn’t let him ‘speak.’ It was glorious to invite him more completely into the book. In that regard, the experience was otherworldly as he resurrected. Like Eric observed, my secondary character became far more interesting than my predictable protaganist.
I love Rosie’s idea of engaging in conversation with a character – so simple, so brilliant. What a great venue to give tangible life to a character. How much easier it may have been if I had invited my characters for coffee… or a martini! It’s never too late - I see more rewrites in my future, and I am halfway through a second book.
Barbara, I learn so much via your blogging and the participatory feedback. You make me think and grow, and often validate my place in our unique genre as writers. We are a delightfully different bunch!
Comment by Reenie — September 14, 2005 @ 7:50 am
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You were a technical writer too? You escaped!
Comment by blogdog — September 15, 2005 @ 6:47 am
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I only write technical stuff, and blogs. And an occasional email to catch up with old friends. It’s very interesting to hear this side of writing a novel.
Thanks
Comment by cassie-b — September 16, 2005 @ 6:20 am