Hi - I am not sure how to organise my novel. I will try to explain my problem briefly: Man and woman meet, both have left behind traumatic experiences. Originally I was going to base the story on the Woman mainly. After further research the man's background story is more explosive than the female.

I am thinking of starting a different chapter for each character to tell their story from the beginning until they meet that way the reader will know exactly what has happened. My male character is unable to reveal much of his past to the female until near to the end of the book.

Also is writing a novel in the third person easier - I don't think I would be able to write it in the first person if I am telling both stories would I?

Hope you can help me clarify.

Giving each character alternate chapters would work - that's the method Mark Haddon (amongst others) use. Eg, About A Boy tells the story from both Will's and Marcus's point of views (POVs), both in 3rd person, and a chapter long each time.

Alternatively, you could split your chapters up into scenes, with a double space between each one, and alternate the povs that way.


- NaomiM

I don't see why you can't write both the stories in first person, provided you make sure the reader is absolutely clear from the beginning of each section who's talking. The simplest way to do this is to head the chapter with the name of the narrator. Readers get used to this kind of device very quickly, and you may be able to get away with just having very different styles of voice for the two narrators (I did in The Mathematics of Love, but perhaps it was easier since they were 150 years apart), and a chapter break or even just an asterisk or other squiggle when you change to the other voice.

If you're not particularly interested in the contrast between your two MC's narrative voices, then you might find it was easier to keep the reader on track by sticking to third person - an external narrator telling both stories, albeit from well inside different heads at different times. Third person also gives you scope and flexibility for moving more fluently between the two at different times, and therefore structuring your story more subtly, and making sure you've taken the reader with you.

Emma

I'd say just start and play around with a couple of chapters, writing in 3rd, then again the same but in 1st. See which works best. Just experiment for now and don't worry about having it planned too tightly before you start.

Be prepared to change the timeline later as well. I really struggled with the begining to my 1st ms, only to realise eventually that I'd opened it in the wrong place.

Depending on which market you may be aiming at, take care about dumping too much back story on the reader before the real action starts. Are you sure that the reader needs to know all of this up front, or even at all? You as the writer need to know it, in order to know what drives your characters, but it's surprising what you don't need to tell the reader, some of it can become apparent through the characters actions and words. Put it all in now in 1st draft then be prepared to move or cut when editing or re-writing. I had three chapters of introduction to the two main charcters, but it was boring to write and boring to read. I wanted to get in there at the point of their 1st meeting, then one day it hit me, if I feel like that, so will the reader. So I opened with the meeting and brought out the backstory little by little.

Having said all of this, I'm not published and only have one completed, but not fully polished ms, so I'm sure there are others with more authoritive advice. I doubt I'll ever send away that 1st attempt, as it's probably best regarded as my learning curve ms; I made all the mistakes in the book and it was learning to recognise and correct them that has been the best tutorial of all.

The best advice I can give though is to read, read and read. Read to enjoy, but mostly read to analyse the structure of the book you're reading. You'll be surprised at what you can learn about writing (especially structure) once you learn to read with a critical and analytical eye.

Just seen Naomi and Emma's replies (I was writing when they posted). They know much more than me, so listen and bow down at their feet. Emma's blog is well worth reading.

Hi - thanks Noami, Emma and Kim. Invaluable advice from everyone honestly.

I have got two styles that I want to explore - could you advise which you think will work:

Background - alternate chapters for male and female in write in 1st
Meet - write in 3rd
3/4 way through the novel they part and the female's story is continued so could I revert back to 1st and when they meet again revert to 3rd?

Kim

"take care about dumping too much back story on the reader before the real action starts".

Yes I agree the back story may be too much information. I think it will be a nice way for me to start writing the story though and it may give me more writing power and add more to the characters when I get to the meeting point.

Thanks again.

If you're not particularly interested in the contrast between your two MC's narrative voices, then you might find it was easier to keep the reader on track by sticking to third person

Although, this can be the case, I'd just like to make he point that in About A Boy both voices are very distinctive even though it is in 3rd person, so you do have that option if you want.

Background - alternate chapters for male and female in write in 1st Meet - write in 3rd 3/4 way through the novel they part and the female's story is continued so could I revert back to 1st and when they meet again revert to 3rd?

Suck it and see for the first draft, but if you feel it's not working then be prepared to change it.
I think you might (just might, there is also a good chance you might not) lose the reader's interest in the switch from 1st to 3rd when they meet, if it means you also lose their inner povs.
You could just write it all in 3rd, with pov switching between scenes.
But don't worry about it now, get writing and see how it pans out.


- NaomiM

<Added>

apologies for typos, that should be Although this can be the case, I'd just like to make the...

I agree with Naomi, try it and see. Keep an open mind with the 1st draft. Experiment, it's the only way you'll find out what feels right.

I think you might (just might, there is also a good chance you might not) lose the reader's interest in the switch from 1st to 3rd when they meet, if it means you also lose their inner povs.

Yes, there's a slight risk that the reader, being used to permanently right inside each character's head, finds the third-person set-up slightly alienating, even though you can be just as much inside a character's head and voice - as Naomi also says - in third as in first.

Totally agree that it sounds like a suck-it-and-see thing.

Kim - glad you approve of the blog.

Emma