For those of you who have read my novels, it’s no secret that, obviously, I prefer to write in the first person, past tense point of view.
And, considering that all four of them are written in that style, it’s also safe to say that, obviously, I’m stalling when it comes to branching out.
Yes, it’s true, I’m a first person, past tense point of view junkie.
It’s not that I don’t not like third person. I mean, if the story is good and the writing is good, I’ll read it without any problems. I just prefer first person in both reading and writing.
Of course, with that said, there is also the pesky little problem that, while I don’t fear it, I’ve never actually written anything in third person. It’s uncharted territory for me, it’s new, and it’s a change. And we all know how much I don’t like change!!
Bottom line, when thought about, I’m not exactly looking forward to broaching the adventure.
Why?
Did I not say I didn’t like change?!?
Whether or not you’re a seasoned author or a newbie writer, you know that writing a novel is like being on an emotional rollercoaster.
The highs, the lows, the moments you want to jump for joy, screaming from the rooftop of your excitement, to banging your head into the wall or curling up in the corner, crying and sucking your thumb. With all that messy mind gunk, why would I want to add to the turmoil by writing in a point of view that I don’t really like to write in or want to?
I nearly cry just thinking about answering that question.
So why not just keep writing in first person?
Well, to be honest, I’m working on an outline for a story that part of me thinks should be in 3rd person. I’m already going out on a limb with this story as it’s actually two stories that are intertwined with each other (which I’ve read can be a big no-no).
It’s a mother/daughter story that takes place in two different time periods—the mother narrating her story from 1964 and the daughter narrating her story from 1996. Then, to go and add the writing them both in first person? I wonder exactly how many rules of writing I’m breaking.
Do I dare to break tradition and do it the way I want, risking bad reviews and angry readers?
Or do I dare to break tradition and do it the way I want, getting people’s attention and they absolutely love it?
I have to admit that it’s a very freeing though to do it how I want and say screw to the haters. So what if I’m not going about it the right way, if people love it, then what is the problem? Isn’t it always the ones who dare to be different and who dare to break the mold, often the ones that start new trends?
Angela Christina Archer, the trendsetter in multiple first person points of view and two stories in one book. Highly unlikely. Or, Angela Christina Archer, the trendsetter in pissing off readers. Yeah, that one sounds a little more reasonable.
And yet, at the same time, I can’t help but feel like it’s just something I have to do. Something I have to dream big on and just put all my faith in that I’ll make it work. That I’ll be allowed my freedom and won’t screw it up. Have faith in God as He wouldn’t put the burning desire inside of me to do the story how I want if it was going to be a huge, fat failure.
Oh the taste of freedom! Okay, that’s it. I’ve pretty much talked myself into what I’m going to do. Now to actually write the whole novel.
I had planned on this one being #6, but I also have to say, the excitement for it is exceeding the excitement for the one I’m working on now.
Now, which one should I open today…..
angelachristinaarcher.com 
Ah, the dilemmas! Eager to see which you choose… 😉
I have no clue at this point. LOL.
Oh boy, I’ve got lots to say on this one. I just sent you a message on fb from a woman who did exactly what you want to do. She wrote multiple first persons. If I’m being honest (you ready?), it threw me for a loop at first. I didn’t understand that I had changed characters, because I thought first person was only in one pov throughout a novel. I was very confused, and it took me a few chapters before I realized she had changed to a different character still using the first person. Again, if I’m being honest, I loved the plot and the characters, but I wasn’t crazy about it changing back and forth to different characters in the first person. The reason I could actually say I enjoyed her novel, is because the plot was strong and the characters were well-rounded. If someone doesn’t have those strengths to pull it off, I won’t finish reading it.
Having said that, you are a strong writer and I think you can pull it off. However, please, please, please stay in the past tense. I will not read books in the present tense. They drive me crazy.
I started out writing memoirs, which of course, they were in the first person. For my fiction I switched to third person, and I ended up loving it. I find it a challenge and a blessing all at once, because I can get into more heads than one. The two novels I’ve worked on thus far, only gets into two heads. I love giving two characters the same problem and showing how each one handles it differently. Subsequently showing the outcomes and consequences to each.
So, those are my thoughts. Hope you don’t mind my putting it out there.
I have the novel outlined to change between mother and daughter every three chapters. Neither of them will get more than three in a row. Also, I had planned on listing a date on the chapters that I change back to the other POV.
I still have yet to decide what I want to do, but I am determined that if they are both first to be very organized with it so it’s less confusing.
And I don’t mind at all. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today!
I think if you make it clear who’s POV you are in, you shouldn’t have any problem. Maybe even consider labelling chapters with their names. I just finished reading a YA that was in 3rd POV but had 5 different characters. Each chapter was from a different POV and having their names in the chapter title helped. Otherwise, just be certain that within the first paragraph the reader knows who’s head they are in.
I don’t think you are in uncharted territory. Everything has been done before. I am currently writing a novel that switches between 1st and 3rd POV for 2 different characters. I thought this was unheard of and would make the editors’ bells ring (in a bad way), then I find 2 very popular writers who do this: Jonathon Maberry and Patricia Briggs.
So buck up. Do what you think is right. Just do it really well. : )
Thank you for stopping by Kim! I was thinking about having their names in the chapter title and staying consistent with switching POV every three chapters. I’m just such a first person junkie. LOL. Good luck with your novel! 🙂 Again, thank you!