Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

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charlotte49ers
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Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by charlotte49ers » January 14th, 2010, 9:32 pm

I have a new YA piece I'm wanting to start on, but I'm struggling with POV. I want to start it in third omniscient because I want it to read almost fairy taleish, but it needs to move to third limited for the rest of the story to work.

Is that acceptable or a big no-no?

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Dankrubis
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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by Dankrubis » January 14th, 2010, 9:50 pm

If it works, it works. I'd suggest switching to close 3rd after a chapter break, though.

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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by charlotte49ers » January 15th, 2010, 12:32 pm

Thanks...I don't know if I can make it all the way to a chapter with it in 3rd omniscient, but maybe I can do a scene break type thing? I'm trying to avoid the dreaded prologue, but I feel like I need it (not a prologue, but the different POV) to set the fairy tale feel.

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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by Shirls2010 » January 15th, 2010, 3:29 pm

Maybe use a different typeface/font for the omniscient portions?
The scariest moment is always just before you start."
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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by charlotte49ers » January 15th, 2010, 5:29 pm

That's not a bad idea and it would probably look similar to a scene break type deal. Thanks. :)

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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by Emily White » January 15th, 2010, 5:50 pm

I've read books that used first person past, first person present, third person limited, and omniscient. Sometimes, the different POV's were even used in the same chapter (through the use of scene breaks). Each character had his/her/its own different POV form. I think it works very well, as long as you make it work.
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charlotte49ers
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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by charlotte49ers » January 15th, 2010, 10:43 pm

Holy crap, there is no way I could keep up with that! Ha!

Thanks for the advice - I *think* it will work as a scene break the way I have it in my head. We shall see!

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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by Matera_the_Mad » January 16th, 2010, 9:37 pm

Whatever you do, don't fool around with different fonts. When you submit a manuscript, you will be expected to use one consistent font (which one depends on the agent's or publisher's criteria).

Of course you can change the font at any time; but while it might look great to you to use different fonts, the glamor of it could blind you to flaws in transition. Keep the words in plain vanilla and they will speak for themselves.
A drum is empty always, and when the skin is rightly taut it gives right noise, right sound. Attention is like that.
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charlotte49ers
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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by charlotte49ers » January 16th, 2010, 11:15 pm

Thanks, yeah, that's what I figured. Do you know what the best way is to show a scene break? I don't think just the space will be enough, so do you do #### or something?

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Re: Moving from third omniscent to third limited?

Post by a_r_williams » January 17th, 2010, 5:56 am

I think you pretty much have it right for the page break. But I think it's:

text
<space>
#
<space>
text

I'm not 100% certain though, so you still may want to check on it.

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