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

[chatona.livejournal.com]

In those cases, I would probably find it easier to accept the descriptive term, but honestly? I still wouldn't like it. It's probably a personal preference?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I think it can be used- Tony jokingly saying 'out of breath, old man?" or something like that.

Overall though, best avoided, especially when not in dialogue

[chatona.livejournal.com]

I have nothing at all against using it in ic-dialogue. I have a problem with seeing it used in the actual descriptive 3rd person text, I guess ^^;

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I understand completely. It's hard to do *right*

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Yup. Oh, well. If it's not used too much I can deal with it, anyhow :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

tejas reminded me of this post (http://community.livejournal.com/fandom_grammar/1062.html) on epithets which really gives some good examples of when NOT to use them and when they can work, but you still shouldn't and when they are good

[chatona.livejournal.com]

That is a really interesting post! ... I should have unpacked my stuff before starting to read stuff, now it'll never get unpacked *facepalms*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

the internet is a terrible lure...

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. Evil, evil. I shall now go unpack and make myself some dinner >>

... Before I get distracted again.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*shoos you off*

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Aaaand I'm back! :D *munches on food*

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Unpacking is overrated. Much better to just grab the stuff as you need it.

Signed... Enablers R'Us - we enable, so you have someone to blame. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Enablers R'Us - we enable, so you have someone to blame.

that needs to be iconed

[tejas.livejournal.com]

LOL! I have no icon-fu. Free to a good home.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I have only limited skills myself, but I'll see what I can do

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

What do you think?
(http://www.glowfoto.com/viewimage.php?img=10-120152L&y=2009&m=01&t=jpg&rand=6543&srv=img5)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

... But I just know I'd stumble over the huge shoe box getting up from the computer. Or over the shopping bag. So. Unpacking = good for my health. Besides, it only took two minutes :D

(It's different when I have actual bags to unpack, then I take ages.)

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, that's different. I thought you might have been talking about a suitcase or moving boxes. :-)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

No no. Just stuff from shopping.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Yep. Used sparingly for specific, pertinent emphasis works fine.

That generally comes down to about once every 20k words. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

as often as that? :)

[tejas.livejournal.com]

LOL!

"Tony watched Archer trip again. At least he wasn't bagging evidence this time. There was a pool on how much longer it would be before his team leader just shot the bumbling idiot and put him out of all their miseries."

*That's* when it works. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

now there's an example of it working

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Emphasizing a particular trait when that trait is the point of the passage works.

But that's the only time.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

I read the article you linked to. I guess that summarises it all pretty well :D