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[silburygirl]

In a sweeping move of stupidity, I became beyond engrossed in my book on the bus home today and didn't notice that my foot had fallen asleep until I was trying to climb down from the second level to get off at my stop. Which meant that I not only nearly died on the stairs (although that was partially the insane bus driver's fault for steering like

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[silburygirl]

However, I even did one story in it. One thing my Trek partner in crime once said stuck with me--that it's a very good POV to show "damage"--a distanced, split-off character. That certainly follows with the novel "Bright Lights, Big City" which is told from the POV of a cocaine abuser.

That's an interesting point. One of the books that I mentioned above, Written on the Body, is primarily written in a typical first-person style, but every so often it lapses into the second person, as though the intended audience is actually his/her lover, and I found those passages to be the most moving in the book-it was like finding love letters written for someone else. So I think that from that letter-writing perspective, there is both that feeling of intimacy and distance-the person obviously isn't there, if someone is writing to them.

What I do like about third, and yet paradoxically I've never used it, is the ability to go wherever you want. I've alternated between two POVs, but I've never used rotating where you could get several different perspectives.

I do this a lot, and it's one of the reasons that I prefer third person. I think that what catches me about it is how the viewpoints that you aren't telling suddenly become as significant as who is being given a voice. It does require a lot more work, because you need a clear voice for each character as well as the usual development, but I find that being able to shift POV is one of the main things that helps with writer's block. If something isn't working from one perspective, try another.

I know that some authors do rotating first person--rarely--but I don't think it works--or at least I've never seen one that does.

I can't either (and I'm trying!). Like I said before, I do enjoy works that shift between a first person and a third person narrative, because there is so much more to unpack. But, then, I do have a fondness for multiple threads in general.

[harmony_bites]

One of the books that I mentioned above, Written on the Body, is primarily written in a typical first-person style, but every so often it lapses into the second person, as though the intended audience is actually his/her lover, and I found those passages to be the most moving in the book-it was like finding love letters written for someone else.

Second person is always present tense I think. Like with first person, present tense, it tends to create a lyrical tone.

I think that what catches me about it is how the viewpoints that you aren't telling suddenly become as significant as who is being given a voice.

Which in a mystery can be particularly revealing--so tricky.

I find that being able to shift POV is one of the main things that helps with writer's block.

First person helps with me (Obviously, not something I can use for my WIP, Book of Shadows, where I'm locked into alternating Snape/Hermione) in the last Exchange, I tried 3rd person and my intentions were to be ambitious. As the deadline approached, I dumped those plans, simplified my story enormously, and turned to first person. I works for me almost every time.

It can be a tricky POV to bring off though, because if you don't get the voice just right...