One Scene Twice with 2 Different Viewpoints
It’s not often an editor allows this to come out in a book. I can remember being a newbie (lo those many years ago) and one of my published friends got her copy edits back with a note to cut one of these – the heroine experienced it, then the hero. And usually that’s correct.
A few years ago, I listened to an audio book by a somewhat famous writer who once told the same scene from FOUR points of view – hero, heroine, witness and news broadcaster. This was not like the literary Japanese movie which explored a murder from 7 (?) points of view (I saw that movie, thought it was extraordinary and interesting, but can’t recall the name). Nothing new was learned from this rehash. The writer I listened to was egregiously padding the book for wordcount. That was the last time I ever read that person’s work.
Last night I was re-reading Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard, and she did this, AND IT WORKED. And it needed to be there. Probably. The hero and heroine were COMPLETELY misunderstanding what the other was feeling and neither was telegraphing their emotions to the other. Maybe she could have gotten by with only the hero’s POV and more reaction from the heroine, but one of the heroine’s character arcs is that she’d completely barricaded herself from showing emotion…
Anyway, unless you are a NYT Bestselling author, or exploring a theme like that Japanese movie, I doubt you’d get away with it.
And, if a scene isn’t working for you, you might consider writing it in more than one POV and finding which is the best for your story. Extra work, but worth it.
May all your POVs be solid today.
Robin
A few years ago, I listened to an audio book by a somewhat famous writer who once told the same scene from FOUR points of view – hero, heroine, witness and news broadcaster. This was not like the literary Japanese movie which explored a murder from 7 (?) points of view (I saw that movie, thought it was extraordinary and interesting, but can’t recall the name). Nothing new was learned from this rehash. The writer I listened to was egregiously padding the book for wordcount. That was the last time I ever read that person’s work.
Last night I was re-reading Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard, and she did this, AND IT WORKED. And it needed to be there. Probably. The hero and heroine were COMPLETELY misunderstanding what the other was feeling and neither was telegraphing their emotions to the other. Maybe she could have gotten by with only the hero’s POV and more reaction from the heroine, but one of the heroine’s character arcs is that she’d completely barricaded herself from showing emotion…
Anyway, unless you are a NYT Bestselling author, or exploring a theme like that Japanese movie, I doubt you’d get away with it.
And, if a scene isn’t working for you, you might consider writing it in more than one POV and finding which is the best for your story. Extra work, but worth it.
May all your POVs be solid today.
Robin
posted by FantasyAuthor RobinDOwens | 9:09 AM
5 Comments:
Didn't you do this in Heart Quest (I'm about 2/3's of the way through now). On the first scene where the Hero and Heroine finally get together? Or did I read it wrong (I was very tired at the time)
Just finished HeartQuest's first read to see what happens. Loved it. Starting the second reading now. Will check Deathshade's point just for the fun ot it!.
My only complain is that I always would like your books longer and the next ones already available!
Great fun "living" in the Celta world, easier to imagine it even more vividly on each fantastic and charming new installment.
The excerpt for HeartMatch great, only fault: will keep me impatiently waiting for it!.
Thanks
I definitely use mental dream love scenes. I'll have to check to see if I change POV...hmmm, thanks!
Robin
Did Winterberry "sleep walk" to Trif? It looked like a dream at the begining but it seemed to end in real time.
A double perspective is necessary at times; people can see things very differently.
The cover of Heart Quest is great more metalic than blue.
Anonymous -- yes the cover isn't as pastel as I feared.
Actually Winterberry teleported into her bed at some point...and I'll have to reread that particular scene, but I think I started in dream, it became reality and the scene was continuous...
Robin
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