I’m just finishing up LUSH, my single author anthology for Aphrosia, and I’m having a bit of a dilemma.
The dilemma? To write in First person or Third person. It’s not normally a big deal because I do both, and I tend to go with whatever feels right when I write the story. But this is an anthology. I have three novellas, loosely connected by the fact that each story has characters connected to the erotic art gallery LUSH.
The first story The Principles of Lust is in third person POV (male and female points of view) The second story Passion Play stared in first person. The heroine was very very storng in my head. So I had the heroine first and the hero third. But my cp said it was a bit jarring, and a tesr reader confirmed that. So I switched it to double first person. The third story Sexual Healing is just like the first one. I don’t feel particualraly strong about it being in first or third.
Then people start commenting, and I agree, and it’s been playing on my mind… that all three stories should be the same…either first or third…but the same. It doesn’t matter that each story is a stand oalone story, but the fact that they are all in one book, by one author, and all connected loosely means it would be smoother reading if they were all the same.
Thank God my editor is relaxed about my deadline bcause I’m doing both up, sort of , and seeing what I think… and honestly, I’m leaning toward all stories being double first person. Might be different, but I think it’ll work. It’s hard to decide. Play it safe since it’s my first single book with Kensington, and I’m still baasically a new author so how daring should i be?
Or go for it because I Like It??
What would you do?
What do you think I’m gonna do? 😎
Post your answer in the comments and be entered to win a free eBook download. You’re choice of my backlist. I’ll do the draw on Wednesday.
:duell: I see your dilemma, but personally I say keep it like it is. I tend to avoid stuff in first person, but I have been reading more of them lately.
What did your editor say?
Barb
i do think they should be on in the same person and i know which ever way u choose it will be great. :great: but since u are asking us i’m going to say in the third person. 🙄
So Barb, you think having story one and three in third person, and story 2 in first won’t be a distraction or a negative?
My editor? Uhmm I Haven’t asked him. I was hoping to have an answer by the time I gave it to him. LOL
Thanks Karen!
Just my opinion but I’d like to see a trilogy with the same POV structure – because I think it gives the books a thread that runs through all three. As a reader, if I loved the first book, I’d want the second book to have the same ‘feel’ to it. 😀 Good luck with your decison!
:fight: that is quite a poker Sash lol. I say do whatever you feel comfortable doing. And you’re right all 3 should be the same. If a reader reads one, then reads it in a different person it may not have the same feel and be disappointing to them.
I haven’t read many 1st person, always do in 3rd. But you have to go with your gut here. You know the characters – so listen to them. I know they’re whispering in your ear.
Hugs & hope your decision is made easier by our replies.
Kara
I can’t remember ever reading a double first person narrative in a romance novel and since I generally prefer 3rd person to first, my suggestion is to play it safe and make it all 3rd person.
Gosh, I don’t know. How’s that for helpful? Before I read all these comments, I would have said keep each story as you want it and LUSH will be enough of a common thread. I haven’t read a book of three novellas before, but certainly when I read a collection of short stories, I don’t expect them all to be in the same pov. But maybe novellas are different.
I guess I’d worry that you’d lose something switching one pov to another, but I’m no expert. If you’re comfortable switching, maybe it’s best to keep them all the same, if not, don’t.
How’s that for sitting on the fence 🙂
I think I’d do them all third person for this kind of linked book.
Hey Sasha, you have a really hard decision but I think what ever you decide to do, do it the same all the way through 3 stories. Probably 3rd person unless your 1st person POV doesn’t have the tennis match effect. If I understand this right, if you have 3 stories with 2 people each, you are looking at 6 POV? I have read alot of 1st person and have no problem with the bulk of them. very interesting delimma and good luck!
Can authors play at this game too?:mrgreen:
I’d leave it as it is– if you’re comfortable with the POVs being the way they are. If your editor’s unhappy with it, he’ll let you know tout sweete!
:jump: I’m thinking keep them all the same. Doesn’t bother me if it’s first or third – but I think the same would be best for an antho.
keep with all 3, but cant you sort of combine both 1 and 3 person?
All three stories could be stand alone stories, right, even if they’re loosely connected? If so, I don’t think all three stories have to be written with the same POV. In fact it might be more interesting if they weren’t. Don’t worry about being too daring–we like daring! And we like originality and good writing. :great:
For me it really doesn’t matter. I write 3rd person, but read both 1st and 3rd. Because I’ve read several anthologies where there were 3 different writers, one would do 1st the other two 3rd. It didn’t bother me. I’m one who says go with your gut and what feels right to you.:great:
:confused: Wow, what a dilema. As a reader not a writer, I enjoy all the different POVs(1st, 2nd, and 3rd). If you are comfortable with the way the story flows now I would leave it. Keep the different POVs. The details in the stories will tie it all together not the POVs.
Don’t know what to tell you, Sasha, I know some people don’t seem to care for first-person and it might throw some off if you mix it up in a series. But then some are like me. who likes both and wouldn’t be bothered with a mix in a series – even if a series, who wants them all to be sort of similar. I’d say go the way your muse is telling you to go.
I can only speak for myself, but I avoid 1st person like the plague. Many other people don’t mind it at all, but I can’t recall a book in 1st person that I’ve truly enjoyed. Sorry 🙁
😈 Go with double first. I like reading stories written in this POV. Try something new. However what we would like you to do ultimately falls to what your muse is telling you!!
Youve got lots of different opinions here! 😯 If the novellas all work for you, now, I say don’t mess with them. There aren’t any rules about this (and even if there were.. :wink:) Like others have said, your editor may ask you to change one, but if you’re happy with them and feel they work, you have to trust in that. They came out that way for a reason! Don’t let last minute doubts stop you pressing on.
I’m leaing toward saying do them in whatever way appeals to you most.
If YOU like the stories, and they feel right to you, the reader will pick up on that.
And if they’re stand-alone stories anyway, I don’t think a common pov is terribly necessary.
Of course, that’s easy for me to say! 😛