mellojuice
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appropriate word count for chapters and tips on how to switch naturally between first person to third person. other then this any writing tips and tricks are welcome :)
Why can't this post exist sooner?1500-2200 words. Writing tips: write a lot. Also, don't overcomplicate things as simpler is often time better.
So the minor characters get written off as pointless expense?I don’t thinks there’s any set number of words, just the chapter needs to be long enough to get its point across while not being too long so it doesn’t break into a new situation.
for example... don’t write multiple chapters in a row where the story doesn’t progress at all and absolutely nothing substantial happens (this often happens when an author explains the motivations of minor characters), also, don’t write 1 chapter where 2-3 situations are made and then resolved at once.
So the minor characters get written off as pointless expense?
Fair enough. But doesn't this make the world a bit flat to only focus on the protags, antags and anyone that is important to them?
do not attempt this. It is a nightmareappropriate word count for chapters and tips on how to switch naturally between first person to third person. other then this any writing tips and tricks are welcome :)
That's up to you to figure out. If you want to switch naturally between first person and second person, I recommend reading Soramimi Hanarejima's work:how to switch naturally between first person to third person
ty for the reply everyone :)There's really no such thing as an appropriate word count. It's all dependent on the contents of the chapter itself. I can write 5000 words and have it all be useless frills and I can write 1000 words of important plot development and call that a chapter. Do what's right for your story. Don't write words for the sake of word count. This isn't a high school essay.
On the topic of POV switches between first and third: that's hard. Very hard. Not just from a story standpoint, but from a technical standpoint. How you write a third person POV and a first person POV is very different and do not lend themselves well in mixing the two. You can do it, but from stories that I've read that have done this, it's done in a more gimmicky way with either the third person POV or the first person POV being used sparingly.
For instance, if we switch from 3rd POV to 1st POV, we might do this like a person reading a journal. The journal is written in a 1st POV and after the entry is read for a chapter or part of a chapter, we go back to 3rd POV. 1st POV to 3rd POV might be just leaving the main narrator for a short time to look at something that they (the narrator) would not have anyway of knowing, however, this can be very jarring in a writing medium and can potentially kill suspense and tension. In a medium like, say, graphic novels like comics and manga, you can do this more seamlessly. That's because there's no true 1st person POV in these types of medium outside of narration blobs.
You can still do this, but do it sparingly. Maybe for like prologue or epilogue type chapters where you're setting up for the next major arc. For dramatic irony to create situations where the reader is cognizant of incoming danger but not the narrator. If you continually keep switching though from chapter to chapter, you run the risk of meeting a whole deluge of issues from pacing, tone, and continuity.
Anyway. As for tips: Write consistently. Not a lot, you see. Consistent. Even if it's just 50 words everyday. It'll add up in the long run.
Way too short.ty for the reply everyone :)
i wrote a prologue and in the second bit i changed to third person from dialogue and felt a bit awkward so thats why i had this question maybe its just because i havent gotten used to it XD
THE PROLOGUE :
It was a sunny day, light breeze and the background sound of the waves. Bahamas was as lively as usual full of energetic tourists on holidays , many of whom were at the beach soaking the sun.
"Man I really needed this vacation. Aah~~"
" I know right. After that shitstorm of work...*sigh* this really helps unwind "
" For real.... by the way Alard what's the next contract on. "
" I think it was some maxican drug lord or some shit."
"NOT AGAIN!! we just went through one can't they just make peace!! "
"..... if they did we would be unemployed ! "
"....true....anyways this great Ange Deniau is getting a drink as much as sunbathing on beach is fun it dehydrating ...want one ?"
"get me a...... wha- WHAT'S THAT"
"What ?"
Ange quickly turned away from the paralysed Alard and look behind him at the coast. A mile down the coast ball of lightning was forming on the surface of the ocean and growing in size.
" WHAT THE FUCK-"
With this ...the world froze.
any comments on this is welcome :)
i just added the part i was awkward about heres the full onWay too short.
I understand that this chapter was probably left unedited to show off the plot. Just remember to edit your chapters in the future. The first tip, use the free version of Grammarly and\or edit function in Google docs.i just added the part i was awkward about heres the full on
THE PROLOGUE :
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
We lost.
[SCANNING GUEST]
[&*%$#*(&*&#*&#*#@!!@* ]
[ERROR GUEST NOT RECOGNIZED ]
[ERROR PREMESSION NOT GRANTED]
[MANA EXPLOSION EMINENT]
[PLEASE LEAVE]
but we refuse to accept that..I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT!
[ERRO- UNIDENTIFIED MANA CORE DECTECTED]
[MANA CORE RESONANCE DECTECTED]
[INITIATE MANA CORE RESONANCE ]
[YES] [NO]
yes.
[WARNING: GUESTS MANA WAVELENGTH IS RESONATING WITH UNIDENTIFIED HOST ]
[PROCEED (YES) (NO)]
...yes.
[INITIATING ..]
syncronization with host (1.2%)
................................................................................................................................................
In the void, a portal of lighting appeared. 'They' entered earth.
................................................................................................................................................
The Bahamas,
27th March 2020.
It was a sunny day, light breeze and the background sound of the waves. Bahamas was as lively as usual full of energetic tourists on holidays , many of whom were at the beach soaking the sun.
"Man I really needed this vacation. Aah~~"
" I know right. After that shitstorm of work...*sigh* this really helps unwind "
" For real.... by the way Alard what's the next contract on. "
" I think it was some maxican drug lord or some shit."
"NOT AGAIN!! we just went through one can't they just make peace!! "
"..... if they did we would be unemployed ! "
"....true....anyways this great Ange Deniau is getting a drink as much as sunbathing on beach is fun it dehydrating ...want one ?"
"get me a...... wha- WHAT'S THAT"
"What ?"
Ange quickly turned away from the paralysed Alard and look behind him at the coast. A mile down the coast ball of lightning was forming on the surface of the ocean and growing in size.
" WHAT THE FUCK-"
With this ...the world froze.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
*sizzel*
the growing ball of lightning above the water finally dispersed. All that remained in its place was a tall distorted humanoid figure a bright crystal in its chest, floating above the surface of the water and hovering above it's shoulders was a glowing ball of light dancing around.
{A primitive world.....but full of life. A nice world isn't it 'Grey'} -eve
"..that it is"
{you sure about starting the resonace it will cause much damage ya'know}-eve
"...."
{ Nevermind, so whats the plan. Wanna check on this 'host' }-eve
" No need ."
{ Aara~ no fun. Whatever, where's the burmuda triangle you guys decide on? }-eve
" follow."
{KyKyy~~}
The distorted figure flew away from the bahamas coast in the opposite direction followed by the ball of light.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
i just wrote it to get the vibe going im still working on the first chapter :)
For a published example (although it's a one-shot novel, not a series), Once a Hero, by Michael A. Stackpole. Alternates between two timelines and two MC, one written in first person, one written in fairly tight third person.Think about how many professionally published novels switch between first and third person. In my entire life, I think I've only read one published novel that did that ... and it was a single chapter in the third person, by an author who's successful enough that he can get away with it.