I am curious--in your own writing process do you become aware of POV etc after the first draft is done as you continue along drafts or do you begin by experimenting to get to the heart of voice?
Thanks for the question. It's hard to generalise. Very rarely do I change the POV of something I've written. I usually start with a narrator, either first or third person, who I can hear fairly clearly. Because I teach this a lot, I am thinking it about it all the time. It's less likely that I'll start something omniscient and realise it needs to be limited. But that does happen, and it's no less painful for feeling I could have anticipated it. What about you?
This is a relief to hear. I often read with POV in mind—I consider it a lucky break when I forget it entirely because I am so immersed in the story and only go back to revisit—but, when writing it’s that “hearing clearly” bit you mentioned and it’s really hard for me to revise for POV alone.
Thank you for your answer and these master classes (and the previous essays in your diary). 🙏
I am curious--in your own writing process do you become aware of POV etc after the first draft is done as you continue along drafts or do you begin by experimenting to get to the heart of voice?
Thanks for the question. It's hard to generalise. Very rarely do I change the POV of something I've written. I usually start with a narrator, either first or third person, who I can hear fairly clearly. Because I teach this a lot, I am thinking it about it all the time. It's less likely that I'll start something omniscient and realise it needs to be limited. But that does happen, and it's no less painful for feeling I could have anticipated it. What about you?
This is a relief to hear. I often read with POV in mind—I consider it a lucky break when I forget it entirely because I am so immersed in the story and only go back to revisit—but, when writing it’s that “hearing clearly” bit you mentioned and it’s really hard for me to revise for POV alone.
Thank you for your answer and these master classes (and the previous essays in your diary). 🙏
Thank you!