Point of View

     When I was going through the editing process with my first published novel, The Goblet, my editors told me to stick to one point of view. I admit, I did switch back and forth between the main character and the other characters in the novel within scenes. I did what the editors asked and stuck to one point of view per scene. I had several characters in this novel that I wanted to develop. I wanted readers to develop a relationship with my characters.
     I attended a one day workshop in North Carolina and the seminar was about point of view. This speaker was strongly advising to only develop one character. One point of view. I left that workshop not impressed.
     Then when I attended the BRMCWC in May, again there were differing opinions on point of view. Several speakers said only one point of view per novel or do one point of view per chapter. Other speakers said they develop several points of views for several characters BUT they do it per scene. In fact, Steven James switches from 1st person in one chapter to third in the next chapter. Then switches point of view per scene.
     The whole idea of point of view is to develop your character. Let the reader know what the character is thinking. Let the reader develop a relationship with the character so the reader will care about the character.
     The stories I am writing have more than one main character. I have a number of characters that I am introducing to readers and I would like for readers to develop a relationship with them. I have not read any of the Harry Potter books, but J.K. Rowling had three main characters. I am sure she wrote three different points of views.
     So here we are with different opinions on point of view. Again, it all boils down to writing a good story and developing characters that readers want to get to know. I am still learning my craft and it has changed from when I was in high school. Good stories, good characters will stand the test of time but writing styles have changed. I am willing to learn and try to improve my writing. It is very definitely a learning process.

Outliner or Organic?

     One of the things I have heard over and over again from many writers is about the outline. Many writers have gone to great lengths to talk about their outline for their story.  Many writers have boasted about how long it took them to come up with their outline for their story. I have always sat and listened to these comments and wondered, "What?"
     I think by that single word, one can tell that I have never done an outline for any of my stories.  I do not write nonfiction and I could very well see the use of having an outline for a nonfiction book.  But for fiction?  I always have an idea for a story but there is no way I know how the story is going to progress and/or how it will end.  I write from my character's perspective and try to write with the question, "Okay, now what? What feels believable for this character and this situation?" But I have always felt like I was doing something wrong.
     Until BRMCWC and meeting Steven James. In one of his workshops and in his book "Story Trumps Structure - How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules", he talks about being an outliner or writing organic. For me, doing an outline makes sense for a nonfiction book. But doing an outline for a work of fiction, just does not make sense. When I begin a story, I have no idea how the story will end. Well, maybe just a little. But it is the characters who decide how the story will develop. It is what believably happens to the characters that determine the direction of the story. Not some predetermined outline.
     There will be supporters for outlining and there will be supporters for organic writing. As long as writers try their best to write unforgettable fiction, does it matter? For me, it does matter a little. For now, I will listen to what both sides have to offer and go with what feels best for my writing.