Writing technique question
I'm writing a story. That in itself is kind of amazing, and I'm really hoping the muse doesn't run off again before it's finished.
I found myself wondering about narration and perspective and point of view.
I mostly write in third person. I've a got a few first person fics, but very few. I think that I tend to write in third person limited, when what I'm striving for is third person omniscient.
Third person limited is great, because I think it lets me get closer to the focal character's thoughts and motivations. But it is, well... limited. If I'm writing a scene from Angel's POV, for example, and the next scene is Buffy without Angel around... I can't do that. At least, not without a jarring POV change. And, believe me, I've noticed those jarring changes in some of my fic I've been re-reading lately, and they make me cringe.
It's what I'm used to (third person limited), and I naturally fall into it. But I'd like to get out of it. I'd like to get more into the omniscient mode, where you (as the reader) can see what everyone is thinking.
I think this can get confusing, though. You end up with a scene that looks like the episode Earshot. When everyone is thinking at you, it's hard to separate who's saying what, and what the important bits are. How do you keep it from getting cluttered? Is it possible to center on two focal characters, and not include what the rest of the characters are thinking, or is that cheating the reader?
I'd like my story to be balanced, but I also want it to flow properly.
So... anyone have thoughts on the matter? From the writer's or the reader's perspective? What do you like to write or read? Any advice or suggestions or resources to help me work on this aspect of my writing?
I found myself wondering about narration and perspective and point of view.
I mostly write in third person. I've a got a few first person fics, but very few. I think that I tend to write in third person limited, when what I'm striving for is third person omniscient.
Third person limited is great, because I think it lets me get closer to the focal character's thoughts and motivations. But it is, well... limited. If I'm writing a scene from Angel's POV, for example, and the next scene is Buffy without Angel around... I can't do that. At least, not without a jarring POV change. And, believe me, I've noticed those jarring changes in some of my fic I've been re-reading lately, and they make me cringe.
It's what I'm used to (third person limited), and I naturally fall into it. But I'd like to get out of it. I'd like to get more into the omniscient mode, where you (as the reader) can see what everyone is thinking.
I think this can get confusing, though. You end up with a scene that looks like the episode Earshot. When everyone is thinking at you, it's hard to separate who's saying what, and what the important bits are. How do you keep it from getting cluttered? Is it possible to center on two focal characters, and not include what the rest of the characters are thinking, or is that cheating the reader?
I'd like my story to be balanced, but I also want it to flow properly.
So... anyone have thoughts on the matter? From the writer's or the reader's perspective? What do you like to write or read? Any advice or suggestions or resources to help me work on this aspect of my writing?