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

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

On the 'if it's done right' front, I meant to cite Terry Pratchett yesterday. He's the best exponent of omni-POV that I can think of. In Nightwatch in particular, there's a scene near the beginning where Nobby and Colon are talking, then when Vimes walks into the room, we immediately switch to his POV and stay there, but it's totally seamless. His habit of giving background on minor characters and small digressions also works. But he's the only person I can think of who can really get away with it, and that's mostly because he's just so damn good ;)

Interestingly, my two Big Bangs had POV issues as well. The TARDIS one was meant to be all-Jack, but just wouldn't work unless I shifted between the three main characters, at which point the structure, pacing and plot fell into place. My SGA one was supposed to switch between parts, but then I realised it was a story only John could tell, and I had to stick with him. I think it's definitely about putting the needs of the character first, then the story, and leaving your favourite stuff out if it doesn't serve either of those. Annoying, but necessary.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oh yes- I know what you mean about Terry Pratchett. It's weird though, because sometimes he uses one POV nearly exclusively (like Guards, Guards- nearly all of the scenes Carrot is in it is his POV in the beginning, yet other scenes are told by other people's pov as things progress)

I think it's definitely about putting the needs of the character first, then the story, and leaving your favourite stuff out if it doesn't serve either of those. Annoying, but necessary.

very, very true. It's so annoying to have to cut something that doesn't quite fit the POV you're going for!