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

NOEL66 · 05-06-2012, 02:50 AM

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 · 05-06-2012, 02:55 AM

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

Buffysquirrel · 05-06-2012, 03:00 AM

It's not frowned upon. Go ahead.

Icedevimon · 05-06-2012, 03:03 AM

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 Littlefield · 05-06-2012, 05:21 AM

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

thothguard51 · 05-06-2012, 05:59 AM

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

theengel · 05-06-2012, 08:28 AM

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

TomLysander · 05-06-2012, 09:03 AM

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.

WillSauger · 05-06-2012, 10:06 AM

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 · 05-06-2012, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillSauger

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! · 05-06-2012, 05:37 PM

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 · 05-08-2012, 04:29 AM

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 · 05-08-2012, 06:37 AM

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 · 05-08-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James D. Macdonald

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 · 05-08-2012, 11:00 PM

Yeah. You can do that.

05-06-2012, 02:50 AM	#1
NOEL66 New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Usually lost in another century... Posts: 24	On use of first person in a novel is it ever ok to deviate from this format? 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

05-06-2012, 02:55 AM	#2
dawinsor Dorothy A. Winsor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Amid the alien corn Posts: 1,865	Sure, you can do that. Have fun playing around and seeing what you get. __________________ http://dawtheminstrel.livejournal.com/ "Kid, have you rehabilitated yourself?" Bobak is my co-pilot.

05-06-2012, 03:00 AM	#3
Buffysquirrel Possibly not a real squirrel Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Coldest corner of the living room, United Kingdom Posts: 4,703	It's not frowned upon. Go ahead. __________________ Writing from a female point of view seems to be generally regarded as something more like writing from the perspective of a deer: you might get points for novelty, but it'd be impossible to get right, and who really wants to hear a deer narrate a story, anyway? Jennifer duBois Damn the prologue, full speed ahead! Laurie McLean, Foreword Literary

05-06-2012, 03:03 AM	#4
Icedevimon Queen of Darkness Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 165	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. __________________ Morning Star - Edward struggles with depression and self identity within a small community that seems vested in old fashioned beliefs. Weak willed and desperate, he attempts to give himself up to eternal sleep, forcing his friends, family, and fellow students to cope with the choice he's made.

05-06-2012, 05:21 AM	#5
Susan Littlefield Tell it like it Is Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: With my cats Posts: 7,567	Absolutely. There are many novels that switch character's POV's. __________________ Susan Please visit my website: http://www.susanlittlefield.blogspot.com/

05-06-2012, 05:59 AM	#6
thothguard51 A Gentleman of a refined age... Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Out side the beltway... Posts: 8,123	So long as the switches are clear and they do not jump back and forth every other paragraph, I see no problem. __________________ Knowledge is learned while wisdom is earned. Currently working on... From, The Tales of Netherron, Book 1, A Game of Pawns Book 2, Pawn takes Queen, Book 3, Pawn's Gambit, In the pipeline, Children of Netherron, follow up trilogy Guardians of Netherron, prequel trilogy http://nickanthony51.wordpress.com (on hiatus) Nick Anthony

05-06-2012, 08:28 AM	#7
theengel Complete Joke Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In front of my PC Posts: 350	So is it all in 1st person, except from different characters? __________________ http://SerialEbooks.com - For a Quick Read

05-06-2012, 09:03 AM	#8
TomLysander Writer, Scholar, King Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 77	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.

05-06-2012, 10:06 AM	#9
WillSauger (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 3,889	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. __________________ Don't Fear Failure. "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn" -- Alvin Toffler.

05-06-2012, 05:37 PM	#11
Once! practical experience, FTW Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Godalming Posts: 550	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.

05-08-2012, 04:29 AM	#12
wishingonasupernova figuring it all out Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 75	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.

05-08-2012, 06:37 AM	#13
James D. Macdonald Your Genial Uncle Absolute Sage Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 21,874	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. __________________ Ghosts and Legends A collection of fantasy stories by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald Multiple electronic formats

05-08-2012, 11:00 PM	#15
Silver-Midnight "We're all mad here" - Cheshire Cat Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Falling into her own Wonderland Posts: 4,461	Yeah. You can do that. __________________ Review Twitter Review Blog GoodReads Author Twitter

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