tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post7172291484876236791..comments2023-10-30T05:46:59.343-04:00Comments on The Doubting Writer: Monday Musing: Troublesome OmniJeffOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-41436111814328899162013-08-06T22:55:42.344-04:002013-08-06T22:55:42.344-04:00I agree with you, Caryn. Omni just seems to be tou...I agree with you, Caryn. Omni just seems to be tougher for me to really 'nail' for some reason. I'll just have to keep working on it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-36847292573097484542013-08-06T19:58:12.336-04:002013-08-06T19:58:12.336-04:00I prefer first person, because I like to walk arou...I prefer first person, because I like to walk around in my characters' shoes. It helps me nail motivations and dialogue. :)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-32106471944663119212013-08-06T14:44:27.282-04:002013-08-06T14:44:27.282-04:00I think every story and every person has a most ef...I think every story and every person has a most effective point of view, and trying to write outside that POV is when things get especially hard. For me, if a story calls for third person, then first is a struggle. But when a story calls for first, then third feels impossible. It's so nice that publishing is more open now and we can have a choice to write in whichever POV works best for our stories.Caryn Caldwellhttp://www.caryncaldwell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-19732773544009913612013-08-06T10:48:56.292-04:002013-08-06T10:48:56.292-04:00Sounds like an intriguing story! I've only tri...Sounds like an intriguing story! I've only tried writing in 1st a few times and it always comes out cheesy - sounding like that voice over guy on TV. Maybe one day it'll be easier. I prefer close 3rd person -feels most natural to me :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-14400458819416349112013-08-05T20:07:10.500-04:002013-08-05T20:07:10.500-04:00I like close, too, Stacy. I think what I find hard...I like close, too, Stacy. I think what I find hard about omni is striking the right 'narratorial voice', which seems much easier to find in a different POV.<br /><br />And King does have some good examples of omni. Haven't read any Koontz in quite some time; I may have to do that for some variety!JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-9868472344312902362013-08-05T20:04:34.366-04:002013-08-05T20:04:34.366-04:00Snicket's great fun, isn't he? I heard him...Snicket's great fun, isn't he? I heard him doing an interview on the radio recently and he was quite entertaining. And I agree, practice, practice, practice, and try new things!JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-89012405331289113332013-08-05T20:02:47.083-04:002013-08-05T20:02:47.083-04:00Thanks for the examples, Patrick. It's been qu...Thanks for the examples, Patrick. It's been quite a while since I read Dune, I wonder if we still have a copy around here...<br /><br />I do tend to stay tight in my characters' heads, so I prefer first or close 3d. I do have a tendency to slip into omni in 3rd, but I find intending to write in omni tougher for some reason. I'll have to work on it.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-63945650158372998572013-08-05T20:00:13.473-04:002013-08-05T20:00:13.473-04:00That's part of the fun of it, though, figuring...That's part of the fun of it, though, figuring out what you can and can't reveal. At least that's part of what I like about it. I'm going to have to work on my omni a bit.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-22245810056148381032013-08-05T19:59:04.545-04:002013-08-05T19:59:04.545-04:00Yeah, the 'I' think is a problem. I should...Yeah, the 'I' think is a problem. I should do a word count on Parallel Lives and see how many times I use it....<br /><br />I do believe stories tend to come out of us the way they're supposed to be told, for the most part. I put a lot of faith in that, anyway.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-70697906198044502472013-08-05T19:58:18.928-04:002013-08-05T19:58:18.928-04:00I prefer writing and reading third person. And I l...I prefer writing and reading third person. And I like it close. I'm not a fan of first because I like to know what other characters are thinking/doing, especially in a romance (my fav). <br /><br />Dean Koontz and Stephen King are good at the omniscient (in some of their books), so much so I don't realize it! Stacy McKitrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-7562101405656265642013-08-05T17:41:30.156-04:002013-08-05T17:41:30.156-04:00Patrick's response has me tripping on the diff...Patrick's response has me tripping on the different third person perspectives. Right now I'm torn between first and third person. I know I do first better but I like the options that third person gives me as well. And I love Lemony Snicket! Just keep writing and you'll improve Jeff and I'm glad that even if others didn't notice something was off you did. That's the mark of a true writer.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-33376364048129885312013-08-05T11:20:53.732-04:002013-08-05T11:20:53.732-04:00My preference is 3rd-limited. Have you looked int...My preference is 3rd-limited. Have you looked into 3rd-narrative? It's probably my second favorite, if done right. I've never read 3rd-head-hopping omniscient. Orson Scott Card writes the tightest 3rd-omniscient I've ever encountered. I'm not sure what direction you want to go in. If you want to go 3rd-narrative read The Hobbit, for 3rd-omniscient read Ender's Game, and for 3rd-head-hopping-omniscient Dune is supposedly a great example.Patrick Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690555802232025818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-81633277229821991632013-08-05T08:45:02.539-04:002013-08-05T08:45:02.539-04:00My current WIPs are in first person, and I have to...My current WIPs are in first person, and I have to say it's a difficult POV to maneuver in when you have a lot of moving parts to the plot. You have to get a little creative about how information gets to your MC, since she can't witness everything. In that respect it is difficult for me. Takes a little more thought to plan things. <br /><br />I think I like writing a focused third person the best, at least it's the easiest for me. And I know what you mean about omniscient feeling like "head hopping." Not sure how to avoid that. Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281000668036619727.post-15690294195311329642013-08-05T07:25:18.274-04:002013-08-05T07:25:18.274-04:00I definitely find third person omni the easiest P....I definitely find third person omni the easiest P.O.V to write from. I didn't even make a conscious decision when I first started writing; I just started telling the story and it came out in omni. Having said that, I've definitely been experimenting and practicing with other P.O.Vs recently, especially this year. I used to find that I start too many sentences with 'I' when using first person, but practice is slowly making me more comfortable using it. Bonnee Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513268628209169538noreply@blogger.com