On use of first person in a novel is it ever ok to deviate from this format?

NOEL66 · May 5, 2012

I know that traditionally when a novel is written in first person it stays in that manner, however, is there ever a rule, etc., in which it can change back and forth between two characters? I am working on a novel which is written in two parts. The first part is entirely in the first person. The second half of the novel is written with the chapter narration being shared by the two main characters in the story. This is a bit unusual, at least I think it is. Does anyone have any ideas if this is deeply frowned upon. I'm trying to figure out a way to share the "voice" between these two characters, as they both figure largely in the story, i.e. they are as two sides to the same coin, so to speak.

Any suggestions, ideas, would be most welcome.
Thank you.

Noel66

dawinsor · May 5, 2012

Sure, you can do that. Have fun playing around and seeing what you get.

Buffysquirrel · May 5, 2012

It's not frowned upon. Go ahead.

Icedevimon · May 5, 2012

It's definitely not what you'll normally see, but I wouldn't say it can't be done.

It's hard though... I'm doing something pretty similar, except on a larger scale. Part I is from my main character's point of view. Part II switches to a lot of different characters on and off, and how the main character's actions affected their lives. Part III goes back to the main character.

The hardest part for me is keeping the voices distinct, since I'm juggling a lot of characters. For you this should be much less of a problem since you'll only be alternating between two.

I've seen it done for the duration of novels and it works out just find for the most part as long as the speaker is make evidently clear.

Susan Coffin · May 5, 2012

Absolutely. There are many novels that switch character's POV's.

thothguard51 · May 5, 2012

So long as the switches are clear and they do not jump back and forth every other paragraph, I see no problem.

theengel · May 5, 2012

So is it all in 1st person, except from different characters?

TomLysander · May 5, 2012

Plenty of books do plenty of experiments with this.

Dickens' Bleak House has a 1st-p POV for one half and a 3rd-p POV for the the other (I forget which is first and which is second...)
Faulkner loves to switch POVs all the time; George R. R. Martin is a more recent example.
Wilkie Collins' Woman in White, which switches 1st-p POVs occasionally, but mostly centers on one main character.

If what you're describing, however, is 1st-p POV moving to 1st-p PLURAL POV (from "I" to "we"), then that's unusual in its bifurcation. But Faulkner and Eugenides' Virgin Suicides play with 1st-p plural rather effectively.

The most important things to consider with multiple/unusual POVs are: a) is it confusing? b) are these characters made interesting/distinct by holding the POV? and c) do I miss out on story by using this POV? if so, some flexibility or some careful plotting may be required.

Kerosene · May 5, 2012

It's the same idea behind character's thought. From his actions and felling to, What I (as in he) thought and his inner thoughts.

You can switch however you wish. There is no define "rules" of writing.

My rule is, not to use a 3rd person omni, then switch to 1st person. It's like God watching everything then man looking at the world
But that's me.

theengel · May 6, 2012

WillSauger said:
My rule is, not to use a 3rd person omni, then switch to 1st person. It's like God watching everything then man looking at the world
But that's me.

On this, I would completely agree. The reverse also--going from 1st to 3rd. I think this is cheating. A cheap way to push information. Totally lame.

But that's just me... and whoever agrees.

Once! · May 6, 2012

I've seen it done successfully, although can't remember where. I've got a vague recollection of Iain M Banks using this technique in one of his Culture novels.

As long as it is clearly signposted, I can't see a problem.

wishingonasupernova · May 7, 2012

Yeah, lots of books have used devices like this successfully I think, tho I'm embarrassed to admit I can't readily think of one offhand other than a book I used as an example in a thread a couple minutes ago, Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo.

James D. Macdonald · May 7, 2012

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, is three nested first-person narratives. Christine, by Stephen King, is first person, then third person, then back to first person.

Lycoplax · May 8, 2012

James D. Macdonald said:
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, is three nested first-person narratives. Christine, by Stephen King, is first person, then third person, then back to first person.

This. Oh my god, Frankenstein. Loved reading the book for fun, didn't love taking it apart for a college course. So complex...

My husband and I... Our favorite style is to each create a narrative character, often in 3rd or 1st-p, and ping-pong their perspectives, more or less chapter by chapter. There's one story of ours where our POV shifts are very rapid, (Maybe a page's worth at a time) and we think it works, but that one's far from the public eye still. If we ever even dream of publishing that one, it'll be after a lot of fixing up. The core story is alright, but the pacing and setup need quite a bit of work.

Silver-Midnight · May 8, 2012

Yeah. You can do that.

On use of first person in a novel is it ever ok to deviate from this format?

NOEL66

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

Buffysquirrel

Icedevimon

Queen of Darkness

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

theengel

Complete Joke

TomLysander

Writer, Scholar, King

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

theengel

Complete Joke

Once!

Still confused by shoelaces

wishingonasupernova

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Lycoplax

Silver-Midnight