Circled Back to Multiple Third Person POV

You might remember my raving about possibly changing POV for my NaNo novel, from multiple third person into first person. After my first read-through, I was almost convinced that the first person was the way to go. I thought it would make the reader connect more to the MC. I knew it wasn’t the only way, because after all, there are plenty of amazing third person books out there where I connect with the MC very strongly. Another reason was that the protagonist is strong enough to carry it off, and also – perhaps most importantly – I feel first person comes more easily to me than the third person. This is quite strange because I started writing in third-person, and a major part of what I have written is in third person. Yet, I am quite sure that my first person stories definitely are better written. So I did an experiment. I wrote the beginning of my NaNo novel into first person. And it worked. I knew the story could work in first person, and I was all geared up to re-write the whole thing. I started doing the new outline, as I would have to get rid of the scenes from other people’s POV and incorporate relevant information through the MC. However, as I was doing that new outline I began to have doubts about my choice, because some of the scenes I was looking at – the scenes from other characters’ POV where MC isn’t present, seemed to add richness to the story. Those scenes offer my story an alternative perspective. Now by this time, I was perfectly sure that this story – written by an accomplished author – could work in either first person or third person. But obviously, it was going to be harder for me not being very experienced at revisions and editing. I continued to work through the outline, and kept stressing over it. And then suddenly, it was clear. I came across a scene from non-MC POV; I realized his perspective makes the story that little bit deeper, and voila, problem solved. Multiple-third person was going to stay. As for my ability, well I was going to have to learn to do third-person well eventually, so might as well start now. It’s not that I can’t do third-person, but I was just going for an easier way which the first person offered me. Though I have come to a full circle, and spent a whole month doing it, I am glad I went through it. It’s been frustrating, and often I want to kick myself for wasting that time, but I know that it was worth it, because having tried both, I am more sure of my choice than I was before. I am happy now, instead of having to wonder two drafts later whether I made the right decision. Also, having gone through this next time I will be more careful making POV decision BEFORE I write, so lesson learned. Experience Gained. Now it’s just a little matter of turning the first draft into a pleasurable novel.

Changing POV?

You would think that with the first draft finished, all you have to worry about is editing and making the book as perfect as possible. Obviously, not if you are me. As I think about revisions and editing, I find myself seriously wondering whether this book should have a first person POV. Currently, it's multiple third person POV, with most of the scenes belonging to MC and others divided between one antagonist and one supportive character. So I have kept point-of-views to the kind of minimum. So why you may ask am I considering first person? Okay, even if you can't be bothered to ask, I will answer. This is supposed to be MCs journey. As there are plenty of strong characters in the book, in the third person it might seem like there are other characters better capable of doing the job MC is supposed to do. In the first person, it would become more personal. MC would relate his experiences - he finds himself in a situation and chooses to do something, and we get to feel his motivations and his feelings (of course technically, we should be able to feel that in a well-written third person too) But I think that perhaps because he is not the only person with strong magic, if written through first person, it would matter less that others have strong magic too. Because rather than being a story about a plot or a world or all those characters (because we go in their heads), it will be just a story about MC. His situation is the only one we have to worry about. Solution - not a solution, yet. But I have decided on a way forward. I will write few scenes from the beginning of the book in first person and see how that feels. I am aware that my doubts maybe because I am considering the first draft where the book is clearly not what it should be. However, before I spend a considerable amount of effort editing, it might be wise to be sure about what POV I want to use. Have you ever felt doubts about POV? Any suggestions, comments, tips?