The more I read submissions to WRP the more I want to teach a class at conferences on Point of View! I've had several really good partials sent to the Cactus Rose line, but they can't seem to stay in one character's POV for any length of time! It is so frustrating! I haven't contracted a book yet for the line and that's because every submission I've received has had lots of basic element problems. Except the one I'm reading now, which technically is wonderful, but the story isn't exciting.
Anyway, I think I'm going to start gathering POV info and set myself up to try it at a chapter meeting, then work my way up to a conference with it. And as I said, that is totally out of character for me who hates to get talk in front of groups, but I'm seeing a need. And most likely from what I've seen, I won't have a great number of people attend anyway, because they think they have it down!
4 comments:
I think a lot of new authors struggle with POV (I know I did) because BIG authors they're used to reading do it so well and so often. The point with POV is knowing when to switch, how to do it, and why you're doing it. Every time I think of switching POV in a scene, I ask myself, "What is the reader going to get out of this if the POV shifts here?"
I'm tired of two sentence jumps into a character's head to get what they are thinking. If you can't show it through dialogue or what the character whose POV your in - then switch, but then stay in that POV. If you only need that two sentences, maybe it isn't the place for that thought.
I know everyone worships the goddess Nora, but I hate how she does pov changes. I don't know why she gets away with it. (In fact, I just plain ol' don't get why she's so beloved an author. I'm struggling to get through one of her books right now that Eli loaned me. Hmm... I guess I'm weird, but honestly, I don't care for Nora's writing.)
But let me tell you...Eloisa James is a master at frequent POV changing. She makes it flow so nicely you don't really realize what she's done. It's magic.
Teaching a class would be such a blast! I love teaching. I have to do it all the time in my "normal" life. I'd teach a class at National in a heartbeat! Like I said, "I'm weird". LOL
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