Babble on POVs

[donutsweeper]

Just a question, and I'm not sure of the correct terminology here, but when reading (or writing), do you prefer a tight 3rd person POV  (where all events are seen and interpreted through one character's eyes) or switching between people's 3rd person POV with obvious page breaks or markers to show the new POV?

For example- my entire Charming the Pants off the Pashahads SGA/Jack crossover is told from Sheppard's POV, there is no scene where we see what Jack thinks about falling into the Pegasus Galaxy.  At points there are Sheppard's interpretation of Jack's actions (he notices a hedged answer, an avoided question, but doesn't know why Jack  answered that way).  If it had been written with switching POV's there could be the scene from Shep's perspective, noticing what he notices and wondering about it, followed by the same scene retold from Jack's, where he explained the reasons for saying what he did.  There also could have been scenes left out from the story the way I told it- I never did explain how Jack managed to get his hands on the Pashahads (because Sheppard wasn't there and wouldn't know).

I've been noticing more and more of the latter showing up in stories lately.  Presuming this babble actually makes sense to anyone, do you notice the difference between those types of POV styles and do you like one more than the other?

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I think the person just didn't like the crossover. They said the plot was thin and lacking the correct tone. *shrug*

I don't let negative comments bother me. Or I try not to anyway

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Allow me to bothered in your stead, then. Grrrrr.

I think you just got one of those non-crossover purists who wanted to pick holes.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

for some people, crossovers just don't work. and that's fine. But, you know, if the story's labeled as a crossover then they should know not to click the link.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'm always careful to label them for that reason. Lord knows, I do write enough of them

[tejas.livejournal.com]

A good crossover is a thing of beauty. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I think they are just the best. very fun

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

You said it, tejas! Maybe that's why I don't get those sort of comments, I seem to have gained a rep for writing virtually nothing except crossovers - can't think why *g* - so it's rare that I'll get a non-crossover fan reading my stuff. I get the odd one who will tell me that they aren't usually a crossover person but for some reason I suckered them in... those comments always make me smile.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

a good story is a good story. Whether or not you're really familiar with the characters

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I know. Look who got me into the Dresden Files in the first place! Oh and NCIS - though I don't think I'm going to fall quite so in love with NCIS as I did with DF. I'll tell you when I've finished watching the DVDs!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*whistles innocently*

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Those are *nice* comments! I love the ones I get from people who read my mpreg and tell me, "I don't usually read mpreg, but I liked yours."

Makes me beam. :-)