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9 votes
5 answers
1k views

What to avoid when writing distant and inconsequential POVs?

I'm currently writing a sci-fi novel, where we've got some huge, solar system-spanning stuff going on, with huge stakes. I've got four POVs that are directly involved with this, whose decisions matter ...
2 votes
2 answers
439 views

Can my prologue be written in omniscient third person if the rest of my novel is written in third person limited POV?

I'm writing a novel in third person limited point of view. I want my prologue to feature an event that is referenced later in the novel, but my protagonist is not involved in the event. (e.x the ...
4 votes
5 answers
27k views

When writing a novel, is it wise to switch from first-person to third-person? What is the most effective way to do this?

In a novel I've been writing, I begin by introducing a character and describing her history and personality from a third-person perspective. Now, I want to start talking about a different character, ...
1 vote
3 answers
160 views

Is it poor technique to use a different characters POV for only a short scene in a novel length piece of work?

Basically what I'm wondering here is if it's distracting or poor technique to switch the view point character to one of the bad guys just for a few pages or a very short scene in a novel. I'm working ...
8 votes
4 answers
919 views

What are the points to remember when the pet is the narrator and is narrating the story of its owner?

I'm working on a novel which is based on a true story. I first thought of writing from the heroine's POV, but later changed my mind and introduced a pet in the plot as the narrator of the story. Which ...
2 votes
2 answers
220 views

How to write the same event with a different POV?

I am aiming to change POV in the middle of my book, based on my previous question and I have yet to decide where to start the second POV. The first POV and the second meet during one event - a ...
3 votes
2 answers
199 views

How to build up towards a "Moment of Reckoning" when my story is told in the first person?

I had started writing my novel in the first person. Later on, I planned some plot twists along the way. For these plot twists to happen, the protagonist shouldn't be aware of the consequences/...
4 votes
2 answers
193 views

If the narrator of the story is a pet, can I still add some philosophical stuff into its narration?

So, the story is about the heroine of the book, but the whole thing is narrated by her pet. Initially the plot is light and easy, but later into the story, it gets a little serious. There's stuff ...
4 votes
4 answers
200 views

Characterizing a sentient robot: sensory data

I have a sentient robot in my novel. Truth to be told, I have many. Sentience is somewhat cheap to achieve, meaning that there are multiple artificial beings that can be considered sentient by our ...
13 votes
7 answers
2k views

Does the reader need to like the PoV character?

I have the feeling this is already been asked, but I can't seem to find it. Close the question if it comes out as duplicate. There's an issue with novels with a first-person narrator, or a third ...
1 vote
1 answer
635 views

Changing 3rd person limited to 3rd person omniscient POV for a few scenes

Is it considered bad form to have a novel where the majority of it is 3rd person limited, then change to omniscient for a few scenes? I think I can build up more tension if the protagonist is not in ...
2 votes
4 answers
779 views

Should I write my book in first person's POV or third person's POV?

I'm an author, but recently I started this book, but I had to put it on hold it's a Nigerian/American book and mostly I write in 1st person's pov but I'm thinking if I should write the book in the 3rd ...
0 votes
4 answers
237 views

If a main character is writing the story, can I change who writes the story in the next chapter?

I’m trying to write my first novel and I have come across an issue which I feel like it could change the whole story/flow. Originally it wouldn’t have mattered if I wrote in the third person but I ...
4 votes
3 answers
6k views

How to execute a change of the POV in a first person novel POV?

I am writing a novel and I am about 1/3 into it. It is in first person, past-tense. I am at a scene where the main character (the narrator) goes unconscious. The second main character has only ever ...
8 votes
1 answer
365 views

How to write a discussion amongst 5 people while narrating a novel as first person singular?

I am writing an autobiographical novel and there is a scene where 5 people will be discussing a subject matter. Now, how can I write the discussion without making it sound like a newbie like I want to ...
3 votes
3 answers
305 views

Is it acceptable to break the story up into POVs to show how the characters' stories all tie together?

I'm writing a novel. At 56k words, I've become a little nervous about how I've been building the story. BACKGROUND: I started this book with the introduction of the main character, Jules and a brief ...
4 votes
7 answers
2k views

What happens with changing POV Irregularly?

I have a story that is primarily told from one POV character (third-person limited). However, plotted within this story are a few chapters from other characters. Most of my multiple-POV research ...