I'm enjoying this series and the way you each weigh in with candor and encouragement. I finally thought of a question! Eleanor, your novel has me thinking about multiple POV. I'm currently working on short stories, which may not have the space for it, but in general, one thing I always appreciate about multiple POV is to note the clashes and contrasts between different views of the same event or place or character. And to note alignments when they do occur. Single POV feels constrained, almost narcissistic—to insist on the one perspective. Is multiple POV a more "feminine" way of storytelling, that innate understanding that everyone has a piece of the truth, just not the whole truth? Perhaps a more complete picture emerges from looking at something from multiple angles, or even simply the insight that there *are* many different ways of seeing the world. I suppose that may not be the intention of a particular story, but in these fraught times it feels more of an imperative to consider different perspectives. Would love your thoughts on this. Thanks for considering, TL;DR!
Great question! We've been thinking about POV from other questions that have come in, it's such a crucial aspect of storytelling and one that took me a while to understand. We'll add yours to the mix and address the multiple aspects in one post. *rolls up sleeves....
Haha! Good luck! Writing teachers love to deliver directives about this but it seems far more fluid than that. Streaming TV has shown us the appeal of many POVs (hello, Downton Abbey).
So many to cite, and lately various books of literary fiction have broken "The Rules" with varying degrees of success. This is going to take all my powers to keep it to reasonable length. Maybe I'll invite the multiple parts of me to each have their say 😂
I’m awe of pitching a poetry collection! Fascinating discussion and advice. The two responses are so different this time but still complementary. Really enjoy this series!
Aren’t they! We never know what the other isgoing to say or write, so always fascinating for me on post day to read Mary’s take. And when we record, it’s the same, we go into it without off camera discussion….
The wisdom you offer in this post, Eleanor, about discovering the nature of your creativity and then knowing yourself as an artist is immeasurable. That's the ground you have to stand on. You can refine the statements about yourself and your art, but until you find that ground you have nothing to work with. And this about poetry, from someone not (yet) a poet -- just superb:
"That is the mystery, the wonder of the form, it’s what makes it the hardest discipline of the literary mediums. It is words and meaning stripped bare, there’s nowhere to hide, it is the description of itself, it cannot be stripped further."
I cannot tell you how exercised I got about this question, how it fired me such a wrath, such a defence of poetry against the selling world. My first draft was about 500 words shorter and ten degrees stricter 😬 😂
"Your answer is the answer to the greater question. Unless your aim is to be a talent in a specific creative medium, why do it? Why not release the entirety of your creative life from the obligation of needing to be defined? Let it breathe. You are what you produce. No wonder limiting that to one identity feels stifling." - THIS THIS - love this advice.
Also, Persephone sounds like a forest in author ecosystems. No need to niche there...
I'm enjoying this series and the way you each weigh in with candor and encouragement. I finally thought of a question! Eleanor, your novel has me thinking about multiple POV. I'm currently working on short stories, which may not have the space for it, but in general, one thing I always appreciate about multiple POV is to note the clashes and contrasts between different views of the same event or place or character. And to note alignments when they do occur. Single POV feels constrained, almost narcissistic—to insist on the one perspective. Is multiple POV a more "feminine" way of storytelling, that innate understanding that everyone has a piece of the truth, just not the whole truth? Perhaps a more complete picture emerges from looking at something from multiple angles, or even simply the insight that there *are* many different ways of seeing the world. I suppose that may not be the intention of a particular story, but in these fraught times it feels more of an imperative to consider different perspectives. Would love your thoughts on this. Thanks for considering, TL;DR!
Dear Julie,
Great question! We've been thinking about POV from other questions that have come in, it's such a crucial aspect of storytelling and one that took me a while to understand. We'll add yours to the mix and address the multiple aspects in one post. *rolls up sleeves....
Haha! Good luck! Writing teachers love to deliver directives about this but it seems far more fluid than that. Streaming TV has shown us the appeal of many POVs (hello, Downton Abbey).
So many to cite, and lately various books of literary fiction have broken "The Rules" with varying degrees of success. This is going to take all my powers to keep it to reasonable length. Maybe I'll invite the multiple parts of me to each have their say 😂
Oh please do!
I’m awe of pitching a poetry collection! Fascinating discussion and advice. The two responses are so different this time but still complementary. Really enjoy this series!
Aren’t they! We never know what the other isgoing to say or write, so always fascinating for me on post day to read Mary’s take. And when we record, it’s the same, we go into it without off camera discussion….
The wisdom you offer in this post, Eleanor, about discovering the nature of your creativity and then knowing yourself as an artist is immeasurable. That's the ground you have to stand on. You can refine the statements about yourself and your art, but until you find that ground you have nothing to work with. And this about poetry, from someone not (yet) a poet -- just superb:
"That is the mystery, the wonder of the form, it’s what makes it the hardest discipline of the literary mediums. It is words and meaning stripped bare, there’s nowhere to hide, it is the description of itself, it cannot be stripped further."
"It is the description of itself." Yeah.
I cannot tell you how exercised I got about this question, how it fired me such a wrath, such a defence of poetry against the selling world. My first draft was about 500 words shorter and ten degrees stricter 😬 😂
⚡
"Your answer is the answer to the greater question. Unless your aim is to be a talent in a specific creative medium, why do it? Why not release the entirety of your creative life from the obligation of needing to be defined? Let it breathe. You are what you produce. No wonder limiting that to one identity feels stifling." - THIS THIS - love this advice.
Also, Persephone sounds like a forest in author ecosystems. No need to niche there...
🙌