I have planned my novel in detail and am just about to start writing, but I think I may have a problem with viewpoint. I'd be very grateful if anybody could offer advice on the matter.

Most of the book will be in multi viewpoint limited third with a very clear MC. However, I wanted to thread several very short first person chapters throughout the book told from the viewpoint of a menacing character (ID kept secret until the end).

I have seen this done in various crime books where the serial killer has the opportunity to show us just how sick he is. The chapters are always one or two pages and often italicised. Do you think this could work in my black comedy, or is it too far out?

Tilly

Don't see why not. Go for it and see what happens. Just make sure we know who 'I' is very clearly, and that it's the same 'I' - is it? - throughout. You could consider putting the 'I' bits in italics, if you really want to separate them off.

Emma

Thanks, Emma.

I think once it's written it would be very clear. But us beginners do fret!

Tilly

You're welcome.

Fretting comes with the territory for all writers. But I more and more think that the best way to train your instincts for what works and what doesn't is to follow them. You'll know if it turns out not to work after all.

Emma

I agree - do it the way you think it ought to be done. You can always re-edit if you find it hasn't worked. But I think Emma's point about clarity is crucial - it's no good if the reader is confused as to who is 'talking'.

In To Have and Have Not, Hemingway mixed 3rd person and 1st person narrative which I thought was fine. What I didn't like so much was when he used 1st person for different characters at different points, but without making it clear at the beginning of each section who the first person now was. I found I'd read two or three paragraphs of a chapter before realising that I had been mistaken as to whose voice was being used. This can be really quite annoying, especially if you feel compelled to go back over the paragraphs to get things straight.

As long as you're consistent about who the 1st person is (even if it's a secret) I don't think you've got a problem and I would favour the use of italics to distinguish the sections from the more straightforward narrative.

Chris

It's your toolbox - you get to do whatever you want and see if you like it!

It seemed to work very well for Lian Hearn in her Tales of the Otori trilogy; Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow and The Brilliance of the Moon. I remember it was pretty effective in the life of Pi too.

Geoff

Fretting comes with the territory for all writers.

PHAW! It's not worth fretting over. Nobody should expect to get it right first time.

Right it how you'd want to write it. If it doesn't work, write it some other way. Certainly don't lose sleep over it.

<Added>

Also always check your spelling...