How Fiction Works Writing Meme - Day One
Aug. 15th, 2011 08:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseThanks so much to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pristineungift for this meme :D
If you want to join in, you can find the full set of questions atpristineungift's entry:here
I'll make an index post when I've completed the meme with links to all my answers; they will all be tagged #how fiction works meme.
1 - What style of narration do you usually write in? Which do you prefer to read? First person singular, first person plural, second person singular (rarely well executed) , third person limited, third person omniscient? Are certain styles superior to others? Why or why not?
I write third person omniscient, and third person limited generally speaking. It depends on what I'm writing and whose POV is the most pressing – if it's a character piece, for example, I'll try and limit myself to that character's POV and they will interpret their surroundings; 'John appeared angry' or 'Jane actually seemed to be considering his throwaway suggestion ' rather than 'John was seriously annoyed' or 'Jane paused and gave this serious consideration for a moment; it wasn't a sensible option, but it was rather tempting to just board the first bus out of here'.
I will sometimes write first person, but rarely – short character introspection/missing scene fics where we're talking about fanfic, and personal backstory in original fic.
I would say I prefer to read third person narratives but that doesn't mean I don't read first person narratives. However, it depends on the character who is narrating. For instance, I like the Vampire Chronicles, which uses first person singular POV by a different character in each book.
However, I enjoy watching 'True Blood' but find the novels – and Sookie, the omniscient narrator – less enjoyable. I want to know what the other characters are up to, and the obsession with everything Sookie does and thinks irritates me in the books. Amongst other things I think she's a prude and a hypocrite, but that's another rant.
I wrote just one short piece in second person singular, and that was for a landcomm challenge. I struggled through Iain Bank's A Song of Stone which was written wholly or partly in this style. I think it can be useful; hypertext fiction, like the Choose Your Own Adventure YA books, for example, where you take on the part of the protagonist and make choices affecting the story's outcome. Also I'm thinking erotica fulfilling a particular kink could be enjoyable to read as a participant rather than a voyeur.
I don't think I've ever read or written anything using first person plural – 'we' rather than 'I'.
pristineungift for this meme :DIf you want to join in, you can find the full set of questions at
pristineungift's entry:hereI'll make an index post when I've completed the meme with links to all my answers; they will all be tagged #how fiction works meme.
1 - What style of narration do you usually write in? Which do you prefer to read? First person singular, first person plural, second person singular (rarely well executed) , third person limited, third person omniscient? Are certain styles superior to others? Why or why not?
I write third person omniscient, and third person limited generally speaking. It depends on what I'm writing and whose POV is the most pressing – if it's a character piece, for example, I'll try and limit myself to that character's POV and they will interpret their surroundings; 'John appeared angry' or 'Jane actually seemed to be considering his throwaway suggestion ' rather than 'John was seriously annoyed' or 'Jane paused and gave this serious consideration for a moment; it wasn't a sensible option, but it was rather tempting to just board the first bus out of here'.
I will sometimes write first person, but rarely – short character introspection/missing scene fics where we're talking about fanfic, and personal backstory in original fic.
I would say I prefer to read third person narratives but that doesn't mean I don't read first person narratives. However, it depends on the character who is narrating. For instance, I like the Vampire Chronicles, which uses first person singular POV by a different character in each book.
However, I enjoy watching 'True Blood' but find the novels – and Sookie, the omniscient narrator – less enjoyable. I want to know what the other characters are up to, and the obsession with everything Sookie does and thinks irritates me in the books. Amongst other things I think she's a prude and a hypocrite, but that's another rant.
I wrote just one short piece in second person singular, and that was for a landcomm challenge. I struggled through Iain Bank's A Song of Stone which was written wholly or partly in this style. I think it can be useful; hypertext fiction, like the Choose Your Own Adventure YA books, for example, where you take on the part of the protagonist and make choices affecting the story's outcome. Also I'm thinking erotica fulfilling a particular kink could be enjoyable to read as a participant rather than a voyeur.
I don't think I've ever read or written anything using first person plural – 'we' rather than 'I'.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 04:35 pm (UTC)Oh, I believe I do! I have a feeling that I share your opinions. ;D
Anna Paquin does a great job imho!
Those are my favorite characters too! :D And I like Sam and Tara a lot as well.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 04:48 pm (UTC)And Tara; I like Tara when she's not arguing with Sookie. She was really brave when she helped them escape from that compound, and I felt for her, having to pretend to love Franklin. [Though I thought Franklin was an interesting character and I'm seeing the actor around, and he's really good at playing somewhat psychotic villains :D]
I think in the books Tara is dating a vampire named Franklin - he's physically older looking in the books - and very happy with him.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 04:57 pm (UTC)Tara is very brave and intelligent. It takes real guts to do what she did. But I fear what she's getting herself into lately. All this craziness with witches and fanatics... Scary.
I would love to see Tara being happy with an old wise vampire. I wonder why the show writers changed that part and where will it lead Tara now.