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POV
May 21, 2009 13:09:21 GMT -5
Post by veryblessedmom on May 21, 2009 13:09:21 GMT -5
Getting conflicting info from my writing loop and other advisor's.
I'm writing in first person POV. I was told to vary my sentences, too many starting with I. Then was told to leave I because it is invisible.
Then someone brought up the subject on the acfw loop. Someone said the industry will accept first person, but watch the use of I. Find other ways to start sentences. Sentence variation is the sign of first person done well.
I feel like a dog chasing her tail. HELP!
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May 21, 2009 13:21:20 GMT -5
Post by JenLenaMom on May 21, 2009 13:21:20 GMT -5
I think that's what makes first person so hard to write. Personally I've never been able to pull it off. Maybe something instead of "I walked downstairs, feeling nervous." try "Feeling anixous I made my way down the stairs."
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POV
May 21, 2009 13:26:53 GMT -5
Post by Spokane Flyboy on May 21, 2009 13:26:53 GMT -5
I don't know that it's necessarily conflicting. One can start a first-person sentence with "I" at the beginning. For example, I could write it this way. There are also other first person pronouns. Think of the difference between "He drew his sword. I was frozen in terror as the man approached, but knew I should run" and "As he drew his sword, my inclination was to run, but my feet wouldn't move." or "Where to run? He had his sword drawn, and I couldn't force myself to flee". Those could probably be refined further, but they're quick and dirty examples.
I've seen writing though where you could read a whole page of sentences that all start with "I". It gets incredible repetitive and if it drags on longer than that, I start contemplating the infliction of harm on the writer.
If you do a lot of journaling, look at the different ways you've constructed sentences in it. Journals tend to be very first-person. Stories in first-person are in many ways a journal created by the character.
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May 22, 2009 7:15:12 GMT -5
Post by Jeff Gerke on May 22, 2009 7:15:12 GMT -5
As I have written to Missy directly, I think it is patently absurd for an editor to reject a manuscript because it's in first person. Might as well reject it because it mentions a dog named Butch. First person continues to be a valid POV choice for fiction. Someone who says "Editors aren't looking for first person" is...I don't know...either misinformed, trying to sound impressive, expressing her own disappointment--or has truly been told that by a silly person. Now, sometimes editors are put in the position of having to stand by ridiculous assertions like this, usually when the VP of marketing (or some other non-editorial position) has said in a publishing committee meeting that she'll always vote against any first person novel. If your story is coming to you in first person, write it in first person. If a key gatekeeper says he'd publish it in a second if it were only written in third person, then you have a decision to make (as I said in Tip #86). How badly do you want to get through this person's gate? You might go ahead and have the first three chapters converted to third person. That way, you can immediately send it to the gatekeeper to show that you're willing and able to do the conversion. You never know, the editor may not like the third person version as much. First person may be out of vogue at one CBA house for the moment, but that sort of thing changes instantly. All it takes is for an editor to see a great novel written in first person, and suddenly she loves first person. And the rumor goes out that CBA publishers are only after first person novels. And another round of angst begins. ;D Jeff
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Nova
New Member
Posts: 37
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POV
May 22, 2009 7:40:28 GMT -5
Post by Nova on May 22, 2009 7:40:28 GMT -5
You could always look at how another author does first person. Robin Hobb is very good author who a good 75 percent of her books are in first person. I couldn't stand first person until i started reading her books. She makes you forgot that your reading POV in first person. Although she focuses on a the POV of one character all the characters are bright and colorful, and some of my favorite in books. If you go this root go with her book Assassins Apprentice, she does fantasy which might not be your cup of tea but she is a Master of first person in my opinion.
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May 22, 2009 10:22:55 GMT -5
Post by morganlbusse on May 22, 2009 10:22:55 GMT -5
Like Nova said, a great way to see how first person POV is being done is to read a couple books by other authors. Currently I'm reading Jane Eyre (yeah, old school, I know, but was starving for something to read and picked it up, and what do you know, I really like it so far ;P).
Anyway, it is written in first person and ever since reading your post, I've been studying to see how Charlotte Bronte begins all her sentences. The word "I" actually doesn't show up that often. So see how other authors do their sentences in first person.
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