Exposition and POV

[Azura Skye]

Just a quick question: can you start out with an omniscient pov and then switch to the character's pov after giving some exposition?

[Stephenie Hovland]

I think you can do anything you want - providing you've done it well.

[Kallahan]

It's been done before. Though I personally would shy away from it.

[Kate Nepveu]

Any writing question of the form, "can I do X?", can be answered "yes, if you do it well."

That's not so helpful for anyone.

Do you want to know if people have done it before, just as a validation/sanity check, or do you want tips or examples or advice?

[maestrowork]

Your first chapter can be omniscient and exposition. Then fall into 3rd limited after the first chapter... make sure your narrative voice stays consistent. That would help you "make it work."

[mr mistook]

Just a quick question: can you start out with an omniscient pov and then switch to the character's pov after giving some exposition?

What do you mean by 'the charchter's pov'? Do you mean switching into first person? If so, going from Omnicient to first person is a very jarring shift - like cruising in 3rd gear and suddenly jamming it down into 1st. Don't grind the transmission unless it's REALLY important.

There's 3rd-limited Pov, which is still written in third person, but keeps the focus on one character - what that character can sense - and that character's thoughts.

A transition from omnicient to 3rd limited is more natural, but still potentiall confusing.


My rule of thumb is that the more fancy maneuvers you make, the more narratorial skill is required. In other words, a very strong, clear narrator - who gives the reader sense of "I know what I'm doing, trust me" will be able to navigate the reader through any and all changes in POV without throwing them out of the story.

And as they will wisely ask you time and again out here "is this necessary?" Are you just doing some fancy stunt driving for the sake of showing off? Are you competent to drive such a vehicle in such a way?

Think of the reader. Understand the reader's POV over everything else, and realize that your job is to engage them - not the other way around.

[anatole ghio]

I agree that any question that is "Can I do X in my story" will always be answered with, "yes, if the writing is good."

As far as a model for switching from omniscent third to limited first, the easiest example that comes to my mind is to begin with a broad account of the story written in a factual manner (as in a newspaper account), and then switch into the perspective of the main participant... another would be to jump from a bogus introduction into a main text, like when a fake journal is introduced by a fake editor at the start of a first person novel.

- Anatole

[katdad]

If you read the superb "LA Requiem" by Robert Crais, you see precisely that. In fact he switches back and forth between 3rd person omniscient and 1st person narrative to describe the two main characters.

It was very well done, and didn't seem abrupt. But Crais is a first rate writer, too. I myself would not try it.

[Azura Skye]

I was in a hurry yesterday, sorry.

It would be from omniscient to third limited. I was just wondering if it could be done. And no, I'm not trying to impress anyone or confuse anyone (least of all myself).:rollin

I'm not a fan of switching pov because it is confusing. I read a book where the writer kept switching between two first person povs with each chapter and I was confused throughout the book.

[mistri]

Interesting question.

In my current WIP, one of my concerns is that my POV changes might be confusing - not for the normal reasons though.

I have two MCs - but one is more centre stage than the other, if you see what I mean. The main main character ( :) ) is written in 1st (and is used more often), while the other character is written in 3rd. The changes are always clearly signposted, and it never happens more than once in a chapter.

I've tried changing the main MC to third, but felt her voice didn't come across as strongly as before, and neither did I want to have two characters written in 1st.

Would the way I've done it irritate you enough to make you put down a book?

[Maryn]

I have a completed work I've been sitting on for years, because it, too, has two central characters and is written something like yours. Although the chapters alternate and I believe it's absolutely clear who's POV we're in now, I'm just not sure it won't be too off-putting to the reader.

Maybe eventially, if I sit on it long enough, something will hatch--another approach, maybe?

Maryn