Points of view

[SinderellaSin]

Lately, I've been spreading my wings with my writing. Taking a blackmail fantasy and turning it into the series Destination Hedonism. Rather than concentrating on Tales of Summer which has expanded to include others. Now I'm thinking of taking the mum from that series and writing stories from her point of view rather than an overview.

I'm just wondering how easy it will be to write from her point of view, rather than telling the whole story from an overview. Is it worth challenging myself with a new style?

I think it's mainly because I'd like to explain how she feels. What goes through her head? Why does she choose the things she does?

So should I set myself another challenge or just continue on the series I already have?

S Xx

 

[anthrodisiac]

This is a question much better suited to the Author's Hangout. You can ask to have your thread moved over there by reporting it, then asking to have it moved.

Also, yes, absolutely you should! I believe as writers we should always be challenging ourselves and trying new things. You don't need to abandon your series, you can do both. Maybe alternate between the two.

Tighter POVs (first-person or third-person limited, instead of omniscient narrator) usually result in more intimate stories, and are great for stories where the focus is on the person, rather than the events happening to the person, if that makes sense. First-person is especially good for introspection and really getting inside the character's head. Third-person limited does that, but with a bit more distance if you want to be able to take a bit more of a nuanced approach and not get TOO involved with the main character.

Really up to you which POV style you think is best. If you find one is easier to write than the other, go with that one. I'm a big believer in path-of-least-resistance writing. After all, you're already switching from that higher-level omniscient narrator to something more intimate, and if that's new for you, then you should make it easy on yourself by picking the POV that comes off more naturally. That helps get your bearings a bit as you do a bit more exploration of the internals of the main character.

 

[StillStunned]

I'm just wondering how easy it will be to write from her point of view, rather than telling the whole story from an overview. Is it worth challenging myself with a new style?

I think it's mainly because I'd like to explain how she feels. What goes through her head? Why does she choose the things she does?

So should I set myself another challenge or just continue on the series I already have?

Like Anthro already said: definitely challenge yourself! You might discover a whole new experience of writing.

And it's not really difficult. Remember that all of us are amateurs doodling around, and most of us manage. Give it a go and see how it turns out.

Check out this thread for the collective wisdom of the Author's Hangout: On writing: point of view. Don't be daunted by how long it is, or how many different points of view perspectives it offers. Mine it for ideas and approaches that match your style and what you want to achieve, and ignore anything that doesn't work for you.

 

[Statius]

Lately, I've been spreading my wings with my writing. Taking a blackmail fantasy and turning it into the series Destination Hedonism. Rather than concentrating on Tales of Summer which has expanded to include others. Now I'm thinking of taking the mum from that series and writing stories from her point of view rather than an overview.

I'm just wondering how easy it will be to write from her point of view, rather than telling the whole story from an overview. Is it worth challenging myself with a new style?

I think it's mainly because I'd like to explain how she feels. What goes through her head? Why does she choose the things she does?

So should I set myself another challenge or just continue on the series I already have?

S Xx

I prefer 1st POV. I understand the story better when I'm specifically in a characters head and, for me, it helps keep my character(s) from being cardboard. I will say it is a challenge as 1st is restricting, but that's the fun and challenge and I like that.

Note: that's not to say when I write 3rd my characters are cardboard but 1st does make me more aware of that pitfall when writing a porn story and yes, most, not all, of my stories are porn.

 

[Rob_Royale]

It's great that you started as a writer in 3rd person. Personally, I think that writers that use that POV more often become better writers. But there is something wonderfully freeing about occasionally using 1st person. I find that the story just flows from my mind better. It's a narrower focus. Just the shit the narrator can experience.

It is worth doing.

 

[SimonDoom]

Do it. Definitely. Try new things and take on new challenges.

You'll get people telling you "This is the POV I prefer," but that's no help to you. Opinions vary widely on how to handle POV. It's not a matter of right or wrong.

You learn by doing. I've tried many different POV techniques in my writing and I think my writing is better for it.

 

[SmilingLez]

Lately, I've been spreading my wings with my writing. Taking a blackmail fantasy and turning it into the series Destination Hedonism. Rather than concentrating on Tales of Summer which has expanded to include others. Now I'm thinking of taking the mum from that series and writing stories from her point of view rather than an overview.

I'm just wondering how easy it will be to write from her point of view, rather than telling the whole story from an overview. Is it worth challenging myself with a new style?

I think it's mainly because I'd like to explain how she feels. What goes through her head? Why does she choose the things she does?

So should I set myself another challenge or just continue on the series I already have?

S Xx

I agree about challenging yourself. I have written flash fiction from first person pov, third person pov, and I currently have a second person pov flash fiction sitting in pending purgatory. It probably screwed up literotica's automated tools. FWIW, I prefer first person pov (easier to get in my character's head). YMMV

 

[EmilyMiller]

It's great that you started as a writer in 3rd person. Personally, I think that writers that use that POV more often become better writers. But there is something wonderfully freeing about occasionally using 1st person. I find that the story just flows from my mind better. It's a narrower focus. Just the shit the narrator can experience.

It is worth doing.

A lot of what drives the choice for me is how much of the story is actually going on inside the protagonist’s head. As my subtexts are often psychological in nature, first person feels appropriate. My MCs often self-analyze and are frequently analytical, thinking about what they are doing, what it means to them, and why they are doing it. FP balances out what can otherwise feel a little clinical as a result.