Is it okay to change narrative style in book 2 of a trilogy?

2114 Views 26 Replies 16 Participants Last post by C.A. Deyton, Jul 14, 2011

lacycamey

Discussion Starter · Jul 13, 2011

Hi everyone. I have a question. I'm currently working on my second book of a romantic comedy trilogy. First book narrative style was 1st person.

I'm writing the 2nd one and currently the style is told 3rd person. (1/2 the book is told 3rd person about the male protag. Other 1/2 is told in 3rd person about the female protag).

I was telling my husband about it just now and he was wondering if I should keep the narrative style the same throughout the trilogy. His question now has sparked my own curiosity on the matter. Looking forward to your thoughts!

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

Erica Sloane

· #2 · Jul 13, 2011

My $.02:

I think it depends on whether you can pull off the third person narrative without losing the voice of the main character you established in the first book. Of course, you will literally lose that voice going from first to third, but you probably know what I mean. For instance, will readers who get attached to your MC's narration feel detached from the story if she's no longer speaking to them? For me, that's the main question to answer.

Think of a series as one long book. Would you go from first to third during that long book? If your immediate answer is no, then stick with first. If you're on the fence about it, think long and hard about how you might do it in a single book and go from there.

I'm not sure if that helps. It's really a matter of preference, no right or wrong. Just my view. Best of luck!

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Sarah Woodbury

· #3 · Jul 13, 2011

I vote to do whatever you like in the Wild West of indie publishing. As long as it's coherent and the reader doesn't have a problem distinguishing between the protagonists, you're good. I've done it with my series and nobody has so far complained.

daringnovelist

· #4 · Jul 13, 2011

I won't say "do what you want" because something like this can be disruptive to the reader. However, it doesn't sound like it would be a problem to me.

But you should think ahead too. What are you doing with the third book? Forget first and third and think about which characters you're following. Are you progressing from one point of view, to two to more? Or just exploring those two points of view in different ways?

This may be more thoughtful than you need, but any question is an opportunity, so give it some thought, and take what's useful -- but in the end, write for the story. What's the best experience you can give the reader?

Camille

Sarah Woodbury

· #5 · Jul 13, 2011

I second Camille's motionn

lacycamey

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 13, 2011

Sorry everyone! I meant to say something that may clear something up! Opps

Okay book 1 - 1st narrative from Norah.
Book 2- narrative about Chloe. (different character)

The trilogy features each different character in each book, but all three characters are still featured.

Okay, thoughts?

Thanks so much for your feedback, thus far!

lacycamey

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 13, 2011

Book 3 is Mayee's story.

The story is linear however.

Book 1 - summer
Book 2 - fall
Book 3 - winter

@Camille, I like that! - "write an enjoyable read for a reader". Like that a lot!

Thanks Erica and Sarah! Those are good thoughts and questions for me to consider. Sarah, good to hear that you've done that, too! From what narrative style did you switch?

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daringnovelist

· #8 · Jul 13, 2011

lacycameywrites.com said:
Sorry everyone! I meant to say something that may clear something up! Opps

Okay book 1 - 1st narrative from Norah.
Book 2- narrative about Chloe. (different character)

The trilogy features each different character in each book, but all three characters are still featured.

Okay, thoughts? Thanks so much for your feedback, thus far!

Then absolutely, each book can have its own voice. Don't sweat it.

Camille

G

· #9 · Jul 13, 2011

Robert Charles Wilson did this in Axis, and I absolutely loved it. He was also doing what you're doing here, switching up the characters from book to book.

JamieDeBree

· #10 · Jul 13, 2011

Personally, I'd keep the POV style the same if it's a series, even just loosely tied together. I'd hate to have a reader who likes first person pick up the second and be disappointed because they liked the style of the first book, or vice versa.

Conversely, readers who pick up the second book and like that style might be disappointed if they go back for the first book, and find it in first person.

Obviously there is no right or wrong decision, but for me, if it's a series, I'd want the style to stay consistent throughout (as a reader and a writer). You can always change styles for unrelated books...

Just my .02 cents worth.

lacycamey

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 13, 2011

That's cool! Good to know, Joe! Thanks for posting!

@smreine, yes it makes sense. The theme/ brand of the series is "living again, loving again, laughing again". So if those elements are still there, and it's still funny, would the change of narrative be okay? I just want to tell the absolute best story! And well, writing the 2nd book took on an interesting surprise and twist for me. (with the male protag having a backstory) I could rewrite it as first person narrative, but then I'd lose the weaving story of the males protagonist's point of view/story. You know? What do you think?

I really appreciate the feedback! Thanks everyone!

lacycamey

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 13, 2011

@Jamie, you make a great point! Thanks for sharing and taking the time to post.

Sarah Woodbury

· #13 · Jul 13, 2011

The first book was in third person because I'd been told that first person wouldn't sell to editors (bear with me, here, just what I was told, 4 years ago as a newbie). I couldn't sell it anyway, so I have the next two in first person because I liked it and that's how I heard them. The characters telling the story, however, are different in each book.

lacycamey

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 13, 2011

Very interesting, Sarah! Well, it looks like you are selling them now! I checked your books out and looks like you are on quite a few top 100 lists! That's awesome! How long have you been an indie?

KealanPatrick

· #15 · Jul 13, 2011

Write the story the way it needs to be written. If it's good, few will care about the change in perspective.

Colin Taber

· #16 · Jul 13, 2011

I've managed something similar, but I write fantasy and so had a device, ie. magic, at hand to facilitate.

You just need to handle it carefully.

Rachel Schurig

· #17 · Jul 13, 2011

KealanPatrick said:
Write the story the way it needs to be written. If it's good, few will care about the change in perspective.

This!

I was going to comment that it might help consistency to keep it the same throughout, but now that you mention that your muse

has presented you with this back story for the male character--I think if that's what the story is, that's what you need to tell! Go for it!

CraigInOregon

· #18 · Jul 14, 2011

lacycameywrites.com said:
Hi everyone. I have a question. I'm currently working on my second book of a romantic comedy trilogy. First book narrative style was 1st person.

I'm writing the 2nd one and currently the style is told 3rd person. (1/2 the book is told 3rd person about the male protag. Other 1/2 is told in 3rd person about the female protag).

I was telling my husband about it just now and he was wondering if I should keep the narrative style the same throughout the trilogy. His question now has sparked my own curiosity on the matter. Looking forward to your thoughts!

Hmmm. Interesting.

I'm doing a series, not a trilogy, but...

SHADA (Ember, Book 0) is told in first-person, from the perspective of Shada Emery.

EMBER (Ember, Book 1) is told in close third-person, primarily focusing on Ember Cole, but also switching to a small core of other cast members.

Kosher or treyfe? Who knows?

But I believe in adopting the narrative approach that works best for each installment. Shada is a short novel that required a close-perspective narrator. Ember's plot is more wide-open, so a single narrator wouldn't have been the best approach.

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Sarah Woodbury

· #19 · Jul 14, 2011

Thanks, Lacy! Since January.

telracs

· #20 · Jul 14, 2011

weird question, but what's the plan for book 3?

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