Perspective - Writers Forum

Poison Donuts · 11-13-2005, 03:20 AM

I've got a major problem with perspective...

If I write it in 3rd person, the characters end up sounding too flat and uninteresting... but if I do it in 1st person, it overemphasizes the protagonist and makes the other characters seem like extras. And really, there's no point in creating a cool villain if he or she is only going to appear when it's convenient for the hero.

I thought about maybe switching the perspective from the protagonist to the antagonist, but that'd get really confusing when they clash.

This is really bugging me, so any help would be great.

mammamaia · 11-13-2005, 10:31 AM

sorry, but it sounds like the problem is with the quality of your writing, not the pov you choose... the only way you can solve that, is to learn how to write well, no matter what you're writing... you can take a creative writing course, if there's a local community college handy... or, some of the ones online are quite good, but you have to check them out carefully...

if you can't do that, or don't want to, do what all good writers do... READ... read lots of the best writing by the best writers of the past, as well as today's... study how they do what you're having trouble with... if you do enough of this, you'll soon find yourself writing with more ease and with fewer problems...

Poison Donuts · 11-13-2005, 02:28 PM

While I appreciate the input, simply telling me that I'm a shitty writer isn't really helpful.

mammamaia · 11-13-2005, 02:45 PM

i never said that... but you can't be a very good reader, if that's what you think i did...

nobody can be 'helpful' if you don't show an example of what your problem is... since you didn't, i simply offered some helpful, generic advice... if the shoe doesn't fit, you don't have to wear it, y'know...

Poison Donuts · 11-13-2005, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

i never said that... but you can't be a very good reader, if that's what you think i did...

nobody can be 'helpful' if you don't show an example of what your problem is... since you didn't, i simply offered some helpful, generic advice... if the shoe doesn't fit, you don't have to wear it, y'know...

Well, to me, it sounded like "You suck. Now go away and come back when you have a real problem."

mammamaia · 11-13-2005, 03:13 PM

try just reading what people write, not what you think they mean...

if you want help with your problem, i'll be glad to give you some, if i can... but you'll have to show me a sample, before i can tell you what's wrong with it or how to fix it, 'cause i don't read minds that well, on the internet...

suzakugaiden · 11-13-2005, 09:14 PM

maia, people misinterpret you. A lot. Maybe you ARE doing something wrong. And also, to put it bluntly, a lot of your advice seems incredibly tangential. Your responses to pretty much everything are some variant of "read more books." Sure, that's valid advice, but that's not really a valid ANSWER.

Hodge · 11-13-2005, 09:32 PM

I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that there isn't just "an ANSWER" for everything? I mean, if all questions could be given an ANSWER, no one would do janitorial work and such because they could just ask how to be a CEO of a multimillion dollar corporation and get an ANSWER.

mammamaia · 11-14-2005, 08:59 AM

thanks, hodge!... you're right, of course... many of the questions asked here don't have a simple cure or answer...

and suza, i post a lot of replies to questions and pleas for help daily, so it's not surprising that sometimes what i post may be misinterpreted... especially since no one can see faces or hear voice inflections in just words on a screen... and, since some asking for help/advice/answers are predisposed to expecting criticism and read that into what isn't meant that way at all... that happens with many of our members, not just me...

as for the 'responses to pretty much everything' comment, i doubt you read most of what i post, if you really think that, since the vast majority of advice i offer does NOT include the exhortation to 'read more books'...

you also seem to be ignoring the fact that in this poster's plea for help, no sample was included, so how can a 'valid answer' be given to his question?... you also ignore the fact that i mentioned that and offered to do my best to provide an answer if and when a sample was posted...

did you have some good 'valid' reason for not dealing with the person's question yourself?... and for just turning the thread into a personal gripe about me instead?

BookLover · 11-14-2005, 09:06 AM

Maia knows what she is talking about. She has the kind of experience that none of us can even imagine. Poison Donuts, I am sorry if it looks like I am taking sides, but you completely misinterpreted what maia said. Look at the first word of her post, 'sorry.' Read her post again with a calm state of mind and you will know what she meant.

I am sorry if I sound rude.

JustJim · 11-14-2005, 03:04 PM

The problem new writers seem to have with first person is that they turn their story into what I call a 'navel gazer' where the narrator talks mainly of their own problems and feelings. Now, if you've ever been cornered by someone who wants to tell you all their problems, then you'll know what a bore this can be. While the first person narrator must mention some of their own problem, the best first person tells what they see others doing, and reports what they say.

This brings up the problem with third. There is much emphasis on showing, not telling and this also causes problems for the new writer. As the writer, you'll need to somehow insert yourself as an observer (much in the same way as the first person narrator) and watch what your characters are doing and report this behaviour. The big difference between this and first person is that as narraator you don't make a personal appearance. (This used to be done in older novels but went out of style. It's not wrong, just not done today, at least not much, although I have read stories where author intrusion has been used slightly.)

To sum up, storytelling is nothing more than reporting fictional events.

Graff · 11-14-2005, 06:26 PM

I think maia's first answer sums it up about right. The problem is not which perspective you pick, it's the quality and skill in your writing. And no, I'm not saying your a bad writer, I'm saying that the answer to your question will be answered in time. The more you write, the easier it will get to handle both perspectives in creative ways. Both perspectives are tools, and you just have to learn how to use them properly.

Hope that helped