The hardest decision an author must make is to decide on the Point of View character or characters for their story. After days of reviewing my notes and the few chapters I'd written, I determined I'd made a bad start. This story would never work as written. I had to make a selection and do it before I'd gone any further or it would be too late. I'd already made up a cast of characters, written down their backgrounds and personal stories, and felt I knew each of them well enough to decide which could best reveal the novel I had in mind. The only thing left to do was to have a meeting of minds with all my characters. Yes, writers do that. We must if our stories are to be credible with the characters taking on a life of their own. The process could go something like the following exercise.
I faced my group of characters. Some of them were about to be disappointed. They all wanted to play the lead in my story. None of them realized that a story about everybody is a story about nobody.
"Listen up, people. Please, may I have your attention?" Before continuing, I waited until my players settled themselves. "Thank you. That's better. Now, on the advice of our good friend, Sol, I've narrowed the list of our POV contenders. So, please, don't be offended if I do not call your name."
From the back of the room, I saw Francois' hand go up. Wouldn't you just know? He's trying to impose his point of view before I've had a chance to announce the list.
"A sil vous plait, Madame," Francois began. "I know you could not have eliminated me for such an important role, but . . ."
"Francois, wait until I've read the list," I said with more courage and authority than I felt. I've had nothing but trouble with the Frenchman. He is a pivotal character, but every time he enters a scene, he steals it. He must be held at bay or he'll ruin the story before it begins.
Taking full command, I gripped the paper in my hand and began. "Dhan Prasad, James and Court McLeod, and Caroline Oberon, you may stay. The rest of you are excused until we meet to discuss the scenes for Chapter One." There, I'd done it. I held my breath as Francois glared at me. His black eyes glistened with disbelief. Before he could utter a word, Doctor Turner and James' father Feighn McLeod, ushered the frenzied Frenchman toward the door. I
exhaled.
"Now," I said, "back to the business at hand. I thank each of you for the strength and interest you've added to my work. Any one of you, is fully capable of being my Point of View character. You have the ability to affect the emotions of the reader. You enliven my tale with your personalities and mysterious backgrounds. Without you, I would have no story. The problem remains, which of you should I choose to carry my Point of View?"
"Please, Missy, I am needing to understand. This POV personage, is this the one whose eyes are observing what is happening? I am meaning, is this the one from whose perspective a scene or story is written?" Dhan said.
"Why yes, Dhan, that is exactly right. Anyone else with a question?"
"Madam," Court McLeod said, "I feel I am the central character therefore, I am the logical choice. After all, you must select one of us, and who better than I is in a position to relate this tale?"
"Your argument has merit, Court, but like you, it contains flaws," I answered.
"She's right, cousin," James said. "You are only one of the four, and if I say so myself, the least likely candidate for the leader."
"James, your jealousy is showing. Isn't it? Why can't Court be the one to reveal the family skeletons?" Caroline said, as she fluffed her taffeta skirts.
"You know why, Caroline. I refuse to say another word. If he leads, I refuse to be a party to this charade," James said.
I sat in my desk chair as James and Court squared off. Oh dear, I thought, may the best man win. I've created two equally strong characters who are destined to fight their way to the bitter climax . . . No, not the denouement, but the climax in the middle of the book. I've got to have them both, dare not offend either. What to do, what to do .
"Sahib, James," Dhan began in his lilting voice, "I am not wishing to promote myself, nor will I. It does seem to me that I've heard an experienced author might select a story that includes a shifting viewpoint." He turned to me. "Is this not so, Missy?"
Court turned so quickly, his chair skittered upside down across the tiled floor. "What does a Hindu know of such things? Forget it, Dhan, she's not going to choose any of you. This is my story, and I'll damn well tell it."
I had to intervene. "Please, no one is going to 'tell' this story, and Courtney McLeod, you are dead wrong. This is not your tale it is mine. Now, pick up your chair. Sit. And, for once in your life, behave."
"It is proper," Dhan said. "We, for now, must abide by our author's decision."
Dhan's smile gave me the courage of my convictions. As I'd listened to these exchanges, I discovered my best course of action. I knew I could handle the discipline required for multiple viewpoints, and by golly, I would do it.
"Okay, I've made my decision," I announced. "This novel will be written using third person with a shifting or rotating viewpoint. None of you will sneak up on my blind side and interfere. Third person works best when the story is seen consistently from the point of view of one character at a time. Do you understand?" I watched as in turn, their heads nodded.
In my mind I could hear my friend Sol saying, "It can be said that one slip of point of view by a writer can hurt a story badly, and several slips can be fatal." I won't let you down, Sol, and I won't let my readers down either. I CAN DO THIS AND I WILL.
You may not use a device such that described above, but believe me, it helps. The reason this method works is because I had written complete life stories for each character. Unless you do this, you will have even more trouble than I did in choosing how best to relate your story to your readers. Third person is perfect when you are using multiple viewpoints. Even then, you, the author must be in control so that one character does not step in and take over. Try it, I think you'll enjoy the experience.
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(Jones is a book critic for The Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK, and The Camden Times, Camden, New York.)
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