I Swear I Hear Voices!

I have been working on a novel which combines in a fun sort of way aspects inspired by Dr. Strange, Harry Dresden, The Ninth Gate (starring Johnny Depp), with just a bit of Hellraiser and Lovecraft thrown into the mix for laughs. So far, the concept has done well flowing onto the page, and I have completed the first ten chapters of the first draft.

Since beginning, I’ve had several of the characters complain to me that they were not getting enough face time, and rightfully so seeing as how this novel originally started in first person perspective from solely the protagonist’s point of view. Well, a few of them banded together and waylaid me over the weekend, pointing out that changing from the first person perspective to a more encompassing third person could allow each to get their own ample amount to screen time. Thus making everyone happy, including the protagonist, who already thinks I have it out for him.

There is another benefit to changing the perspective, as well. Once at a convention years ago, I heard an author on the panel mention a simple thing that helped her keep things in order. That technique was simply asking oneself the question, “What are the bad guys doing?” At the time, this brought a chuckle from the audience, but the words, of course rang true. Knowing what the bad guys are doing is integral to keeping the protagonists on their respective toes. One way I’ve found that can also work is give some of the bad guys a little screen time of their own allowing extra aspects of the plot to develop with the reader, and thus possibly adding a new dimension to the story and build a stronger sense of suspense.

It is because of these aspects that I decided to bite the proverbial bullet and transition the novel from first person perspective to third person perspective. We’ll see how it works out.

Oh, and to those pesky voices that pushed me so hard to make this change, maybe now you can get your happy butts onto the page and leave me the heck alone long enough to get some sleep for a change. Yesh!

Sincerely,

Joe :-)