POV- First Person x 4 - Am I crazy? http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432 xlsmith I have four MC's who's stories all intertwine. I have chosen to write in first person...for all four of them. Each chapter is a different character in her voice(ie 1-Noel, 2-Beth, 3-Lynn, 4-Rivers, and then continues in that order). I feel like this is a risk but for this story I can't imagine doing it differently. What do you all think? Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:26:46 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_662327 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_662327 KimGM I say go for it. As long as you can make each voice distinct it shouldn't be a problem. Take the risk! :) Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:06:57 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_663012 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_663012 StaceyDisterhof Look at Alisa Valdes-Rodgrigez's "Dirty Girls Social Club"—she had SIX different MC in first person. If you've never read it, XL, I HIGHLY encourage you to do so. Not just because it's a good way to see how someone does the multi-person first person POV, but also because it's a cute story. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:19:32 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_663247 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_663247 xlsmith Thanks for the support! Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:49:33 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_665775 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_665775 aaliona Jodi Picolti does it in My Sister's Keeper. She just labled each chapter with the character instead of a name. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:01:06 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_667972 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_667972 Kelly The Red I'm doing the same thing with three characters, three sisters. I find it helps make the point that all three have the same problem. I did it last year with three apprentices in my fantasy novel and my readers say it worked great and was not confusing at all once they realized one of the characters was a female disguised as a boy. And if you hate it, it's easy enough to change in the second draft. Go for it. Rather than go chapter by chapter, I am switching a lot more often. The trick is a strong and obvious transition. I suggest naming each chapter with the character's name. Noel at Work, Beth and the Cat, Lynn Runs... Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:37:21 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_669678 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_669678 xlsmith Each chapter is listed with the the character and title so there's a definitive break between voices. Noel- Life's a Ditch Beth- Hell's Kitchen with an Apron Lynn- Day Breaking News Rivers- Too Much Mail etc... Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:49:42 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_669916 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_669916 Bella Bonnie Barbary Kingsolver does it x 5 in the Poison Wood Bible and it works beautifully.Go for it! Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:00:45 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_677207 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_677207 StaceyM Jodi Picoult does it with virtually ever book I've read of hers. Sometimes it's three or four characters, sometimes it's just two. My first book (not published - nowhere near ready for submitting it anywhere) is written from many many different POV (Esme, Brian, Elizabeth, Julie, Dr Bailey, Alex, Peggy, Marge, Stewart, Lottie and another Brian). OK - Esme, Elizabeth, Peggy, Marge and Lottie are all the same person, just at different stages of her life, but even so....some are 3rd person but I'd say 3/4s is first person. Not easy! Just stay clear in your head about who is talking in the scene you're writing. Make a list of little phrases each of them might use, for instance, and do a search to make sure they appear ONLY in that particular character's chapters. I'd recommend never writing from more than one POV in any one day. You could even write all of one characters POV for the whole book, then go back to the start with your second character etc. If you're really good, you can do what Freya North did and split the same basic story over 4 books - one from each POV (Pip, Cat and "the other sister I can never remember the name of because I've not read her one") Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:29:43 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_692888 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_692888 xlsmith I can definitely see each character branching off into her own book for sequels. But for the first book I feel it needs to be all of them together. I'm not particularly worried about losing their voices because I know them. Not just as characters but as people. The four MCs are based on four real women who I have known for many years and that has definitely helped me to keep their personalities true and distinct. Thank you for support in the multiple first person POV. It's been something that has made me a bit nervous for the objections I may face come query and editing time. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:29:11 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_702028 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_702028 StaceyM I think multi-POV stories are becoming more accepted so just go for it! Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:22:20 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_709672 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_709672 Butterfly I'm glad this thread's getting such positive feedbacks as I'm doing the same accidentally. :) Only 3 characters though. But thoroughly enjoying it! Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:24:47 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_743292 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_743292 Red Mosquito I did it with my 2nd NaNo - 4 characters in first person. I found it worked great with NaNo cause if you got bored with one of them you could switch to another one. Three were guys, one was a girl. That worked great too. Not published yet, but it will be. I hope. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:44:32 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_745189 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_745189 jjsigford This is my first NaNo and I'm writing in 8 POVs so... yeah, don't worry you've got this ;) Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:41:39 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_752235 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_752235 Blakesley Jennifer Weiner does it in her chick lit novels and it works great.... Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:48:37 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_756497 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_756497 Kelly The Red 8!? Wow. how do you keep them all straight? Do they interact alot? if so, do you write the same scene from different POV or just one? I am having a hard time with that as the characters start out in different parts of the continent and all end up in the same hospital room. After that they interact so much, their distinctions blur. The one with kids gets a dog, the one with too many pets gets married and the one with too many ex husbands has a baby. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:39:06 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_758572 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_758572 jrebj00 Sarah Mlynowski does this with her characters a lot too and I think it keeps things fresh. She did it with Monkey Business and Fishbowl and I love both of those books. The fresh voices helps you flesh out the characters and to see the issues from the perspective of all of the characters. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:32:41 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_759115 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_759115 jjsigford Yes, 8 :) And my characters do all interact (they are from the same family) but when they are all together it is told from the POV of my, er, MAIN main character (Marla). When I switch POV though neither Marla or any of the other characters are present and it focuses on that one character. My novel has a series of short stories that happened in the past and they are all connected through Marla's experience in the present. It does get kind of confusing, but I did a lot of character development and so far their voices are strong enough that I'm not having a hard time keeping them distinct. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:48:06 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_759920 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/chick-lit/threads/34432?page=1#forum_thread_comment_759920