Chaos day...
Apr. 22nd, 2005 01:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fajrdrakoI can't believe all that has gone wrong today, utterly awry, and I was already over-busy. At least I had time for a quick walk with Lisa at lunchtime, and once again we got our lunches at A Culinary Conspiracy on Rideau Street. Their special today wasn't as great as the Lobster Bisque yesterday1, but it sure is good - Spring Vegetable Potage.
1I once wrote a Major Edrington story called Lobster Bisque. I smile to remember.
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Date: 2005-04-22 05:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-23 04:09 pm (UTC)I guess I really impressed her with my stress level!
Today is one of those pleasant, cool, rainy days where I can relax and regroup a little. I have a lot to do, yes, but I feel less worried about it. And things aren't going wrong and the little feathered guys are all singing happily. Except Pryde, who is asleep.
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Date: 2005-04-22 05:55 pm (UTC)I'm having a pretty good day. Just put up that fic!
Soon, now, soon...
Date: 2005-04-23 04:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-22 07:23 pm (UTC)Please, please, please - can I read it?
And I'm so sorry you've had a dreadful day. ::hugs::
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Date: 2005-04-23 04:11 pm (UTC)Thanks for the hugs - I'm happily feeling lessed stressed, though not much less busy. I hope to get some writing done today, though. Wish me luck! How are your stories progressing?
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Date: 2005-04-24 06:15 pm (UTC)Was the writing you were doing the Smallville fic that you posted? Because I keep hoping that you'll finish the Sparrington you were writing. ::pokes you and looks hopeful::
My writing? Well, this last week, I've been trying to do something with this idea I have for a couple of little scenes between Clayton and Archie, set just before the duel. But it's not co-operating - I like the idea but can't write it - and I've been tearing my hair out. Bah!
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Date: 2005-04-24 09:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-25 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-25 04:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-25 04:23 pm (UTC)(Breaks into song and dance from Oliver!)
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Date: 2005-04-25 02:21 am (UTC)Clayton and Archie - oh, yes! I'm sorry to hear it's frustrating you. Is there anything I can do to help?
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Date: 2005-04-25 05:05 pm (UTC)The problem is that I can't seem to get a handle on either Archie or Clayton. ::fumes:: And I need to get inside at least one of their heads. I suppose I do. Don't I?
I'm a bit at sea about pov's. You wouldn't be able to direct me to a helpful summary of the possible pov options that can be used? In particular, the different varieties of third person as opposed to the omniscient narrator? And is it dome to mix pov's in a piece of fiction? Dunnett does it, I'm almost sure. I find it very hard to be analytical when I'm reading rather than writing - can't distance myself enough - and therefore need it spelt out with examples. I'm sure someone has it all explained, with diagrams, somewhere...
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Date: 2005-04-28 02:47 am (UTC)Yeah, well, I just need to find time to work on it! Sometimes it just seems impossible.
As for having a 'handle' on Archie or Clayton: you must have some notion in your head of what you want to do in your story, and why. Something to say about them. It doesn't need to be inside one of their heads, though it's usually easier or more interesting to make it so. I don't offhand know a good source to help with viewpoint, but I can think about it. I know a lot of books on writing have sections on viewpoint. Third person viewpoint and omniscient narrator viewpoint can be the same - though 'third person' viewpoint can also be taken to just mean you're in one person's head (or two people, or whatever) rather than in the authorial voice.
Dorothy Dunnett doesn't mix viewpoints ever, but she uses different viewpoints in the same novel, or in the same chapters - though not usually in the same scenes. She usually has a half dozen or so viewpoints and uses them for effect - usually to present the viewpoint of the character who knows the least about what is going on. So her viewpoint characters are, say, in The Game of Kings, Will Scott, Christian Stewart, Richard Crawford, Mariotta Crawford, Agnes Herries - viewpoint characters don't have to be important characters - even, if I recall correctly, Dandy Hunter for a bit of enigmatic sleight of authorial hand.
Really, the important thing is just to keep it all coherent. I think you can manage to do that without worrying too much.
My own tendency is to pick a point of view and keep it throughout any given story. I find it easier that way.
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Date: 2005-05-03 08:21 pm (UTC)'third person' viewpoint can also be taken to just mean you're in one person's head (or two people, or whatever) rather than in the authorial voice.
But not in two persons' heads at the same time or alternating pov within the same scene, right? That seems to be the general consensus. And the general aim of keeping it coherent is a good one too. *g*
Dorothy Dunnett doesn't mix viewpoints ever, but she uses different viewpoints in the same novel, or in the same chapters - though not usually in the same scenes
That's what I meant by saying that she does "mix pov's" - I certainly didn't mean that she switches randomly and carelessly between viewpoints. And yes, especially in GoK, where we as readers know so little about Lymond, using "the viewpoint of the character who knows the least about what is going on" is a very crafty move. I can remember being completely and utterly lost on my first read...
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Date: 2005-05-03 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-03 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-03 09:23 pm (UTC)