Thread: Point of view?

Hi all,

Another question I'm afraid! I have found while redoing my novel that I struggle a bit with point of view. I think I do anyway lol.

For example, at the start of a chapter, I have a couple of paragraphs about the scene (its fantasy, so a decent sized description lol). Then I weave that into the character, who in this example is a ruler over a kingdom. I have been told this is the wrong thing to do. I shouldn't be setting the scene then introduce the character. Instead I should be setting the scene through the characters senses. So instead of a brief description of, for example, the city from a view then bringing up the character and her experience of it, I should dive right in as if looking through her eyes.

I have no idea if this is right. Does that not mean every descriptive paragraph in the novel will be through the eyes of someone in the book? What if I want to describe something too broad for a character to notice all in one go eg the details of a city.

I'm a bit stuck lol, and I am reluctant to write further until I learn the best way to describe lol.

I don't think there is a right way and a wrong way of doing these things, though you can do them well or do them badly. Whilst I would advocate using the form that feels most natural and seems right for you personally in your final draft I also think that it is a good idea to try different forms when you come across ideas like this, don't be a stick in the mud simply going with what you know. New forms don't always work first time, sometimes they don't work at all, but trying things is the way forward by which you develop your writing.
Remember the story about "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man". It is written so that when it starts out in early childhood the language is very simple and the language develops with the character as he matures through the book. One of the early reviewers, having read only the first few pages, rubbished the book. Innovation is not always obvious or appreciated, neither is it wrong. Indeed, if you want your writing to be original, some is essential, done because it is what you want and intend it can be great, done for its own sake, to be consciously different, It can be stilted and tedious. If you are honest with yourself you will know which is best for you, go with that and worry about what the world thinks after you have finished and shown it to them.

lol

Thanks very much I think I would be happy using both of the above techniques. I think its good to see the world through characters eyes, but I have enjoyed reading what sounds like a narrative description, something where the reader can picture the surroundings in their head then see the characters in that environment.

You don't have to describe through the eyes of a character. Your narrator can describe anything s/he wants.

I think you're worrying too much. In the words of a very wise writer: "Just write".

Originally Posted by Sam W

Your narrator can describe anything s/he wants.

Since when did a narrator have gender? Come on.

Call it the age of political correctness, OX.

Since when can't a narrator have a gender? A narrator could be a giraffe.

Giraffes do not narrate qwertyman, although they do have genders.

You surprise me Olly, did you restrict your remark to giraffes, or was it a more general comment.

In which case what about this lot? (The Ferret Chronicles, - I must put it on my list!)

(compiled by Helen J Beal)
Here is a list that I am compiling of other adult novels narrated by animals:
‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell
‘The Book of Chameleons’ by Jose Eduardo Agualusa
‘White Fang’ by Jack London
‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ by Garth Stein‘Firmin’ by Sam Savage
‘The Duncton Chronicles’ by William Horwood
‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams
‘Plague Dogs’ by Richard Adams
‘Felidae’ by Akif Pirincci
‘The Last Family in England’ by Matt Haig
‘The London Pigeon Wars’ by Patrick Neate
‘Sweet William’ by John Hawkes
‘The Ferret Chronicles’ by Richard Bach
‘I Am A Cat’ by Natsume Soseki
‘The Wolf’ by Joseph Smith
‘Tailchaser’s Song’ by Tad Williams
‘Darkest Desire: the Wolf’s Own Tale’ by Anthony Schmitz
‘Me Cheeta: The Autobiography’ by Cheeta

Originally Posted by Sam W

You don't have to describe through the eyes of a character. Your narrator can describe anything s/he wants.

I think you're worrying too much. In the words of a very wise writer: "Just write".

Yes, I remember saying that. Just last week. The wife asked how dinner tasted and I said, "Just right."

It's all going to depend on the kind of story you're trying to tell and the degree of "intimacy" the reader is going to have with the characters.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Since when did a narrator have gender? Come on.

Originally Posted by qwertyman

You surprise me Olly, did you restrict your remark to giraffes, or was it a more general comment.

In which case what about this lot? (The Ferret Chronicles, - I must put it on my list!)

(compiled by Helen J Beal)
Here is a list that I am compiling of other adult novels narrated by animals:
‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell
‘The Book of Chameleons’ by Jose Eduardo Agualusa
‘White Fang’ by Jack London
‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ by Garth Stein‘Firmin’ by Sam Savage
‘The Duncton Chronicles’ by William Horwood
‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams
‘Plague Dogs’ by Richard Adams
‘Felidae’ by Akif Pirincci
‘The Last Family in England’ by Matt Haig
‘The London Pigeon Wars’ by Patrick Neate
‘Sweet William’ by John Hawkes
‘The Ferret Chronicles’ by Richard Bach
‘I Am A Cat’ by Natsume Soseki
‘The Wolf’ by Joseph Smith
‘Tailchaser’s Song’ by Tad Williams
‘Darkest Desire: the Wolf’s Own Tale’ by Anthony Schmitz
‘Me Cheeta: The Autobiography’ by Cheeta

The type of narrator to which I referred is the one telling the story as a fictive faceless entity, narrating those parts of the story that go something like this: “The sun blazed down relentlessly. Rocks split open.” I was not referring to narrators like, for example, Napoleon in Animal Farm, who is a viewpoint character.

Originally Posted by qwertyman

You surprise me Olly, did you restrict your remark to giraffes, or was it a more general comment.

In which case what about this lot? (The Ferret Chronicles, - I must put it on my list!)

(compiled by Helen J Beal)
Here is a list that I am compiling of other adult novels narrated by animals:
‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell
‘The Book of Chameleons’ by Jose Eduardo Agualusa
‘White Fang’ by Jack London
‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ by Garth Stein‘Firmin’ by Sam Savage
‘The Duncton Chronicles’ by William Horwood
‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams
‘Plague Dogs’ by Richard Adams
‘Felidae’ by Akif Pirincci
‘The Last Family in England’ by Matt Haig
‘The London Pigeon Wars’ by Patrick Neate
‘Sweet William’ by John Hawkes
‘The Ferret Chronicles’ by Richard Bach
‘I Am A Cat’ by Natsume Soseki
‘The Wolf’ by Joseph Smith
‘Tailchaser’s Song’ by Tad Williams
‘Darkest Desire: the Wolf’s Own Tale’ by Anthony Schmitz
‘Me Cheeta: The Autobiography’ by Cheeta

I realise that I have made an error, however, thinking on my feet I also realise that my other error was to leave out the comma between qwerty man and narrate, perhaps I can pretend that it was only you I thought they did not narrate.
On the other hand possibly I should point out that all those books were narrated by humans, the ones whose names you quoted, they are merely pretending to be giraffes (Or some other animal). Except possibly the last one.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

I also realise that my other error was to leave out the comma between qwertyman and narrate

I understood it perfectly, even without the comma.