Quick reply regarding the different POV: - Second person: I've never used it. I may appreciate it when it's well done but I'm not so sure about using it myself. I feel like the characters are watching themselves act - I don't know if I make any sense here ^_^ - First person: Not my favorite but every now and then, I can deal with it - reading as well as writing it. - Omniscient narrator: I used to write almost exclusively with it, but it was a different kind of stories. Not very funny for short stories, vignettes, drabbles and so on *g*
Ooops, sorry for trailing off into ramblings on different persons. lol, no, I appreciate the detailed answer :-)
As for WHO you should pick? Honestly? Probably the person who comes to you more naturally, the one in whose shoe you can step into more naturally. The question is really more about what the *reader* may expect or would like when they give a prompt. I've been writing stories based on prompts, and I have second thoughts regarding the POV I picked. I'm never sure the reader won't feel cheated if they asked a story about character A and end up with a story using character B's POV. I know it depends on a lot of things and I personally don't have a strong preference. I'm just being squeamish and I seek reassurance :-p Most of the time, I don't pick a character's POV, not consciously at least. It just comes along with the idea of the story and I would probably have a hard time switching if I tried to. But for longer stories, I like to rotate because I'm greedy and I like to have various in-takes on the situation - I used both Michael and Lincoln's POV in Twilight or Michael, Lincoln and Sara's in The Time They Need. Greedy *g*
But alternating/rotating/multiple POV usually also means longer story and you have to ask yourself whether you want to commit to that. I don't mind longer stories, but let's be practical: that thing is already getting out of hand and I only have a month to complete it ^_^
I think most people would mostly care about what the story says. If they want a certain character, they probably want insight on that character, regardless of who it comes from.
However, one thing you could do is maybe check that person's journals and look at what kind of stories they write. If they have a certain preference in their own stories (since I have the theory that people usually write the kind of stories they wish were written).
Other than, I'd say go with what feels natural. I think any person receiving a story is better served with a *good* story than with necessarily a story that fits their preferences exactly and isn't as good as it could be.
- Second person: I've never used it. I may appreciate it when it's well done but I'm not so sure about using it myself. I feel like the characters are watching themselves act - I don't know if I make any sense here ^_^
- First person: Not my favorite but every now and then, I can deal with it - reading as well as writing it.
- Omniscient narrator: I used to write almost exclusively with it, but it was a different kind of stories. Not very funny for short stories, vignettes, drabbles and so on *g*
Ooops, sorry for trailing off into ramblings on different persons.
lol, no, I appreciate the detailed answer :-)
As for WHO you should pick? Honestly? Probably the person who comes to you more naturally, the one in whose shoe you can step into more naturally.
The question is really more about what the *reader* may expect or would like when they give a prompt. I've been writing stories based on prompts, and I have second thoughts regarding the POV I picked. I'm never sure the reader won't feel cheated if they asked a story about character A and end up with a story using character B's POV. I know it depends on a lot of things and I personally don't have a strong preference. I'm just being squeamish and I seek reassurance :-p
Most of the time, I don't pick a character's POV, not consciously at least. It just comes along with the idea of the story and I would probably have a hard time switching if I tried to. But for longer stories, I like to rotate because I'm greedy and I like to have various in-takes on the situation - I used both Michael and Lincoln's POV in Twilight or Michael, Lincoln and Sara's in The Time They Need. Greedy *g*
But alternating/rotating/multiple POV usually also means longer story and you have to ask yourself whether you want to commit to that.
I don't mind longer stories, but let's be practical: that thing is already getting out of hand and I only have a month to complete it ^_^
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However, one thing you could do is maybe check that person's journals and look at what kind of stories they write. If they have a certain preference in their own stories (since I have the theory that people usually write the kind of stories they wish were written).
Other than, I'd say go with what feels natural. I think any person receiving a story is better served with a *good* story than with necessarily a story that fits their preferences exactly and isn't as good as it could be.
Reply
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