Why do I keep doing this? Because I don't outline. My first draft is an exploration of both story and character. By the time I finish a draft, I have a solid grip on who the MC is and what the story is about. I start hearing the voice. And sometimes that voice is screaming to be written in first person.
And honestly, I love rewriting a story from third to first, getting deep inside the MC's head and discovering what she's really thinking and how she feels about everything that's happening. What fun! Anyone else ever do this?
Have you ever revised a story from a different POV? Have you ever rewritten the story from a different character's POV? Which do you prefer writing, first or third? Past tense or present?
Yes, yes and yes.
ReplyDeleteMy current WIP was originally written in third person present. I rewrote it later to first person past and now I'm rewriting it to first person present with alternating POVs. (And it's not the first time I've rewritten a WIP to change POV or tense).
So um...yes. I have. And I've found that I much prefer writing in first person present. The immediacy and occasional stream-of-consciousness narration is something I've found I really love. :)
Ava--Kindred writer spirit! First present is my POV of choice.
ReplyDeleteI shift between first/third person, past and present tense. My current novel is third person, past tense; the one before that was first person present tense. :P
ReplyDeleteI shift between pov's and tenses. I can usually tell within a few chapters if I'm using the wrong one.
ReplyDeleteMe too! It takes me a while to get a grip on my characters - usually I'm 3/4 thru the WiP's first draft. My initial revision is rewriting all those scenes so they fit the personality. POV change definitely falls in that category. Third is a great start to that omniscence we need as writers just beginning a new work.
ReplyDeleteI read an interview somewhere with Barbara Kingsolver that she wrote many of the chapters for "The Poisonwood Bible" from the POV of each daughter (there were four) and would then decide which she liked best to tell that section of the story. Shweew!! I definitely like first person present, but my WIP has four voices for different sections, so it's fun to switch in and out.
ReplyDeleteHee hee hee, yes!
ReplyDeleteRewriting is just too fun. You know what's awesome? Going from 1st to third person. Yay! The world opens up and it's like "Oh my gosh, I can tell so much more of this story!" --Of course at the cost of intimacy with the MC's perspective.
I'm a past tense girl. In fact, when a story is told in present tense I usually get agitated. There is such thing as a past-present tense, and really, why would you write in anything else? Biased, yes I know, but present tense feels like more "telling" as opposed to showing to me. *hides and waits for the hail storm of angry writers*
Thanks all of you for chiming in. It's so interesting to hear all the varying points of view. ^_^
ReplyDeleteThis is a dilemma I face often when starting a story. I write present and past tense, first person and third. I've written several chapters before realizing it needed to be changed from first to third. It's a challenge, but I believe it makes you a more versatile writer when you can change it up from time to time.
ReplyDeleteAs a literary cubist, many times I have multiple POVs in my work. I know - heresy. But, heh!
ReplyDeleteYes, I've switched from first to third (and third to first) on a couple projects. I prefer writing first person, but I'm split between present and past--I love both. I really enjoy the immediacy of present. I've never switched an entire novel to another character's POV, but I completely changed the main character in my very first novel. I'd initially had two female protagonists, but I switched it to one male. It made it much better!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Angelina!
Yup, I've re-written from third to first and vice-versa. I'm totally with you about sometimes needing that first draft to actually FIND the voice! And I don't really mind the huge job of re-writing for POV, because I like to start with a blank page for draft two anyway.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I've re-written from dual POV to a single POV (definitely the right choice for that particular novel). I think the thing is to never be afraid to play with it, to take the time and do the work, cuz it'll pay off and your story will be stronger for it in the end. :)
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