donutsweeper | Babble on POVs

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?

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

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

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

the internet is a terrible lure...

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

... Before I get distracted again.

*shoos you off*

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

I was just reading that fandom grammar thing again and I agree with their ending- that epithets can work when used by an outsider POV. Only in certain cases of course, but especially in crossovers I think it might work

I absolutely agree that epithets are better than names if it's from the POV of a person who doesn't know the name. But if the person does know the name or it's not from anyone's POV....

because then there is a reason for it. You can't call someone by their name when you don't *know* it.

Exactly!

very occassionally (not often, but I have seen it) those stories come out great- us seeing our favorite guys by an outsider's perspective.

(no subject)

chatona.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 18:18 (UTC) - Expand

donutsweeper.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 18:19 (UTC) - Expand

chatona.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 18:22 (UTC) - Expand

tejas.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 18:26 (UTC) - Expand

donutsweeper.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 18:27 (UTC) - Expand

tejas.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 18:31 (UTC) - Expand

donutsweeper.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 18:33 (UTC) - Expand

OH! That just reminded me of how I used them in my unfinished crossover. It's first person (because one of the canons is) and the POV character uses them, sometimes even when he *knows* the other's name (it could be said that Cal has an attitude problem).

But yeah, mostly, don't. :-)

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. :-)

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

that needs to be iconed

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

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

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

ROTFLMAO!!! I love it!

I kept trying to think of a fandom connection, but couldn't come up with one. :-)

Snagging. :-)

Enjoy. It's fandom related in that people are always saying "I shouldn't write X, should I?" and someone else always says "OF COURSE YOU SHOULD"

LOL!!! True! True!

a.k.a. the evil club. Either that or "don't you think Y would be a great idea for a story?"

Lord knows that's how 90% of my plot bunnies got started

tejas.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 21:36 (UTC) - Expand

donutsweeper.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 21:37 (UTC) - Expand

tejas.livejournal.com - 2009-01-10 21:44 (UTC) - Expand

... 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.)

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

No no. Just stuff from shopping.