push me off the fence

[electricalgwen]

My bigbang posting day is under two weeks away! I still have some expansion stuff to write and yet more editing, but I'm not too panicked yet. It's been really exciting seeing the artwork apieceofcake is creating!

Like many stories, mine shifts between different character POVs in different sections. There will be dividers between the sections (not just the usual 4 line blank spacing, thanks to my lovely artist!) I am undecided as to whether it is a good idea or not to identify the person in whose POV the section is written. Sometimes I like that, the cute little nametag dividers. Other times I think, meh, it's not like I couldn't figure it out, at least if the writing's any good.

So I was waffling on that and suddenly realized I haven't posted a poll in ages.

[Poll #1586222]

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

Depends on the fic and the divider style. I usually like an extra line space. More than that I don't need. One's that say who the PoV is -- totally irritating.

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the input. I usually use a couple of extra line spaces. I don't do art and have never worked with an artist before.

The artist has made a generic divider so I will probably use that for this story. I'm not sure if the only reason I've run into POV-name dividers in SPN is that it's the only place I've read a number of bigbang-type writer/artist collaborations, or if it's something that is more common in that fandom. Come to think of it, I've mostly seen it in the RPF. I can live with it, doesn't irritate me, but I do feel it's unnecessary.

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm on the fence when it comes to POV dividers. Most of the time, it works just fine but sometimes, it just doesn't. I'm not sure if I could define why; maybe it boils down to the strength of the story itself.

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

I don't know that I've ever felt they really didn't work. I do think they should be unnecessary (i.e., if you have to tell me which character's POV this is, then you probably haven't done a good job of characterization). But I keep seeing them, and wondered if maybe people expect them.

There's one story in particular, I think maybe by mournthewicked? that had lovely and memorable name dividers, hand-writing-style on lined paper. I liked them; it added to the feel of the high-school AU.

[laisserais]

hi! glad to see you! i don't think you need them. your writing will totally tell the point of view. just so long as there's space (and art, yay!) between, the shifts will be obvious i think. some kind of doodle is, i think, traditional with pov shifts, yeah? like *** or ~~~~ or mel's fave: *~*~*~ :)

yay, i'm super excited to read your fic!

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Hi hi! Thanks!

I'm not actually worried about people being able to identify the POV. It's more that I kept seeing them in this fandom and wondering if it's, idk, an expected standard.

I AM EXCITED TOO, lol. :D (though I need to, you know, FINISH it, haha.)

[dancetomato.livejournal.com]

I don't think you need to identify whose POV it is. I had no problems with POV in your fic.

SQUEEEE! Let me know if you need anything. &hearts

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Yay, thanks! I actually wasn't so much worried about people being able to figure out whose POV it is, more just wondering if it was an expected thing.

I have written a short prologue. I didn't intend for it to be a prologue really, but I felt the scene was a good idea, and then realized it couldn't go anywhere other than before what I already had. Although I liked my original opening sentence. So I will probably send you that for your opinion. I have made a few logic fixes and stuff in the rest, but only in the first half and the second half is what really needs work. It has just been really intense around here and I have hardly had any time to myself, let alone writing time. *makes excuses*

I'm off for a few days now though. Need to spend time reconnecting with family, but I will definitely find some "me" time to write in as well. If I get you a revised draft by next Tuesday (the ONE WEEK deadline!) is that enough time?

Your ICON. GAH.

[dancetomato.livejournal.com]

Absolutely next week is fine. Just let me know.

xoxoxoxo

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

I think random *~* dividers to indicate different sections or scenes are great, but I really don't think there should be named divisions/tags/headers announcing whose POV it is. I've never seen that issue in your writing -- your descriptions and dialogue and other in-story markers are plenty to identify the POV.

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

I wasn't overly worried that people wouldn't be able to identify POV - I do try to make it obvious through the writing. It's more that it seems to be a fairly common practice in the CW RPF bigbang stories. It doesn't bother me when people do it, but I do feel it ought to be unnecessary.

In fact, I have a couple of sections where the POV is deliberately obscured (rather, it's clear it's from this one person's POV, but the person's identity is still a secret). So probably best to leave it alone. :)