First vs. third

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Points: 89625
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Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:48 pm

Rosendorn says...

So, after looking at my opening with a fine-toothed comb, I'm wondering if I should do my novel in first person. The problem is I have one part where the viewpoint changes and I'm pretty sure I need it for some explanation/foreshadowing of the following events.

My main question: Would it be possible to switch viewpoints in first person?

Secondary question: If it is possible, would it be understandable?

A writer is a world trapped in a person— Victor Hugo

Ink is blood. Paper is bandages. The wounded press books to their heart to know they're not alone.

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Points: 1176
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Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:09 pm

thunder_dude7 says...

Ooh! I know!

Use 1st person when you can, and when the viewpoint changes, use 3rd.

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Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:27 pm

Sureal says...

It's possible to change the POV character when writing in first person. It's not too uncommon to change character like this every chapter.

It helps to make it nice and clear who's POV you're writing from though, like by giving the character's name in the chapter title.

I wrote the above just for you.

Gender:

Points: 89625
Reviews: 1272

Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:36 pm

Rosendorn says...

The thing is, said viewpoint shift is only for a handful of paragraphs, near the end of a chapter.

A writer is a world trapped in a person— Victor Hugo

Ink is blood. Paper is bandages. The wounded press books to their heart to know they're not alone.

Gender:

Points: 9907
Reviews: 506

Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:50 pm

Sureal says...

So make a new chapter that is only a handful of paragraphs long. ^_^ There's no rule on how long chapters have to be.

I wrote the above just for you.

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First vs. third

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