17.11.08
A Writing Post
Because we haven't had one for a long time, lol. This blog has really mutated from a writing blog with some history and photos to an illustrated history blog with the occasional writing post. I considered separating the two, but since one can't simply transfer posts and comments to another blog but has to copy/paste the code, losing the comments in the process, I decided to keep the mix.
After all, some of my writing is Historical Fiction, and that fits with the overall orientation of the blog. Though this time it's about my Alternate Historical Fantasy or Whatever You'd Call That Plotbunny going by the title Kings and Rebels, and the fact that sometimes the first idea is the best one. Those of you who've read the snippets may remember that I started with a scene where Berenger confronts Roderic about attacking the Nordmen. But upon rereading it thought it's a rather boring start; I mean, who wants to read about two men disagreeing about tactics and then riding along a path in a bad mood? As beginning of a novel, no less - and we know how important beginnings are.
So I went back to the previous first scene where Roderic is engaged in single combat with Kjartan. The problem with that one was that the reader doesn't know the characters and thus won't care about the fight. I've therefore rewritten the first part of the scene in Roderic's POV alone so readers will get grounded in one character before they meet others - Kjartan gets the POV only after he surrenders. I have also expanded the surrender scene by having Roderic make a formal declaration that he will treat Kjartan honourably in front of witnesses, since this oath is such an important point for the plot. Third, I have given Berenger the POV in a dialogue with Roderic (part of the deleted scene) so we'll get a glimpse of the problems between the two men. Overall, I'd say the scene is still in omniscient, but there are subtle shifts. Well, I hope they're subtle and not confusing.
The rewritten version can be found here.
No, I'm not neglecting my Roman novels. Not much at least. ;) With the 2000 years anniversary of the Varus Battle due next year, a number of new books about the battle, the Romans, the Germans and other related subjects have begun to appear on the shelves. Mostly non-fiction, but there's a novel as well already. Fortunately, the author's approach is quite different from mine in A Land Unconquered. So there's a good chance the Roman bug will replace the Fantasy soon. ¶ 12:06 AM
Because we haven't had one for a long time, lol. This blog has really mutated from a writing blog with some history and photos to an illustrated history blog with the occasional writing post. I considered separating the two, but since one can't simply transfer posts and comments to another blog but has to copy/paste the code, losing the comments in the process, I decided to keep the mix.
After all, some of my writing is Historical Fiction, and that fits with the overall orientation of the blog. Though this time it's about my Alternate Historical Fantasy or Whatever You'd Call That Plotbunny going by the title Kings and Rebels, and the fact that sometimes the first idea is the best one. Those of you who've read the snippets may remember that I started with a scene where Berenger confronts Roderic about attacking the Nordmen. But upon rereading it thought it's a rather boring start; I mean, who wants to read about two men disagreeing about tactics and then riding along a path in a bad mood? As beginning of a novel, no less - and we know how important beginnings are.
So I went back to the previous first scene where Roderic is engaged in single combat with Kjartan. The problem with that one was that the reader doesn't know the characters and thus won't care about the fight. I've therefore rewritten the first part of the scene in Roderic's POV alone so readers will get grounded in one character before they meet others - Kjartan gets the POV only after he surrenders. I have also expanded the surrender scene by having Roderic make a formal declaration that he will treat Kjartan honourably in front of witnesses, since this oath is such an important point for the plot. Third, I have given Berenger the POV in a dialogue with Roderic (part of the deleted scene) so we'll get a glimpse of the problems between the two men. Overall, I'd say the scene is still in omniscient, but there are subtle shifts. Well, I hope they're subtle and not confusing.
The rewritten version can be found here.
No, I'm not neglecting my Roman novels. Not much at least. ;) With the 2000 years anniversary of the Varus Battle due next year, a number of new books about the battle, the Romans, the Germans and other related subjects have begun to appear on the shelves. Mostly non-fiction, but there's a novel as well already. Fortunately, the author's approach is quite different from mine in A Land Unconquered. So there's a good chance the Roman bug will replace the Fantasy soon. ¶ 12:06 AM
Comments:
<< Home
Actually posting on the topics fits well with each of them. With respect to POVs do you write separate chapters for each POV or do you change them within a chapter from one POV to another. If you do change POVs within a chapter how do you make the transition?
Barbara, I shift POV within a chapter, that's what omniscient is about. You can also imagine it as a camera view that zooms in and out from action to thoughts.
I have written about it here and here.
Post a Comment
I have written about it here and here.
<< Home
