Vylar Kaftan

Q:  How do you decide when to write a story in first-person versus third? Are there aspects you consciously look for, or do you just think “that’d sound better in first person”?

A: I have a Magic 8-ball here…

Good question. You’re asking about point of view (POV).

First of all, it’s not so simple. There’s more than two choices for POV. I’ve heard as many as fourteen–but for this question, let’s stick to the four most common ones. Those are:

• First-person: “I” is the narrator. We only hear what the narrator wants to tell us about.
• Third-person (aligned): One person is the central subject. We hear his/her thoughts and opinions.
• Third-person (panoramic): Think movie camera. You see what the characters are doing, but you don’t hear any of their thoughts.
• Third-person (omniscient) You see what the characters do, and also hear different thoughts from all of them.

So, to choose what POV to use for my story, the first question I ask is, “How much information do I want to give the reader? If I want to give everyone’s thoughts, I choose third-person (omniscient). If I don’t want to give anyone’s thoughts, I choose third-person (panoramic). Easy enough.

The difference between first-person and third-person (aligned) is more subtle. I consider several different things when deciding between those two. Honestly, I think they’re more interchangeable than most people would. So you can write in whichever feels right. Indicators that first-person might work well:

• the character has an unusual voice or speech pattern that would give the story color
• the narrator is unreliable (telling the story from a skewed perspective) and you want the reader to notice the difference between events and his description
• the character’s gender or name needs to be masked for some reason

Indicators that third-person aligned might work well:

• the character is hard to identify with in some way, such as a very strange alien
• you need to offer slight perspective on the character that he would never notice himself
• the character dies at the end of the story

Those are just a few things to consider.Final words: I think most beginning writers should stick with first-person and third-person aligned. 80% of stories are perfectly fine from one of these two perspectives. If you learn to write them well, you’ll do better when you start exploring other POVs.

In particular, consider the importance of filtering the narrative through the character you’re aligned with. Make sure that you only describe things he sees and experiences. A common mistake is to have the protagonist see someone else “smile at the memory.” Nope. He can’t see that (unless maybe she’s his wife of fifty years). What he sees is her smiling–not her thoughts. It’s the job of the writer to show her in a way that the reader infers her thoughts–and then show the reader what the protagonist thinks in response.

Also, consider how your character’s experience will influence what s/he notices in the world. Consider a hotel ballroom. What’s the first thing a CIA agent would notice when he walked in? Exits and hiding places, maybe, and where he should stand to watch everyone. How about a teenage girl, at her first ball? Maybe the grand staircase, and the glittering chandelier. What about a waiter serving punch? He’d notice the layout of the buffet table, and where the clearest paths are for walking through the room. If you’re really into your character’s head, you’ll notice the same things they would. And you’ll avoid mentioning things they wouldn’t notice–the waiter, for example, wouldn’t notice the familiar chandelier unless there’s something unusual about it. The closer you can match the character’s POV, the more real that character will feel–and the better your story will be as a result.

So in conclusion: Choose the best POV to tell the story you want to tell. Regardless of which you choose, be consistent, and you’ll be fine.

The Glorifying Terrorism anthology will be printed in February. All the stories are politically-themed and “glorify terrorism” in some way.

My story, “Civilization,” is a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style of story. Relax. Make your choices. Try not to kill everyone.

As a mentor for Absynthe Muse, sometimes my mentees ask me the same questions frequently.  With their permission, I’ll start posting some of my answers here.

Q:  With your settings, do you simply visualise them, or do you draw them down? Or maybe just write it as it comes to you? I read that J.K Rowling spent fifteen years planning out every little detail of the Harry Potter books. I tend to just start with writing anything and everything, and then going back and finding something tangible in the middle of the mess and working from there. What’s the best way?

A:  The best way is whatever works for you.  Really.

The two basic styles are sometimes called “planned” and “organic.”  Planned writing means outlining everything, developing your plot, and checking for loopholes–before you write a draft.  Organic writing means just writing with no idea where you’re going, but figuring it out as you go along–usually going back to find the best parts, then develop those further.

Some writers swear by one method or the other.  Truth is, both ways are fine.  The biggest difference is when you put the time in.  Planned writers put in time before the draft–by figuring things out and organizing their thoughts.  Organic writers put in time after the draft–by finding the story’s heart and cutting mercilessly.  Both kinds need to revise, although organic writers often need to do more.  But planned writers have to work harder before they can even start writing.

And it’s even more complex than that.  Few writers are 100% planned, or 100% organic. They’re a weird mix.  Some writers plan novels and write short stories organically.  Some writers mostly plan, but leave a few details to be figured out later (and vice versa).  I myself often have planned beginnings but organic endings–in the same piece.  Many writers who strongly prefer one style discover that writing in the opposite style teaches them a lot.  And for that matter, planned and organic aren’t truly opposites–they’re more like yin and yang.  In even the most planned work, there’s a bit of chaos–and there’s order somewhere in the organic mess.

So write however works for you, but be open to trying something new.  And remember that the secret ingredient is time.  Whether you put it in before or after the story’s drafted, your time is what gives your writing flavor and texture.