On writing – What's Your Point of View? By Cynthia Vespia

When starting a new novel there are an infinite amount of questions to ask yourself. Other than plot, characters, world building and the like you have to find out what point-of-view you will be leading from. If you're not familiar with POV I suggest you do your homework. In a nutshell it means what voice are you writing in. Are you speaking from the lead characters POV by speaking in his/her voice as you tell their story? Or will it be a narration delivering the story in third-person as you build worlds? This last option gives you more flexibility and it is certainly the way to go if you want to develop several characters throughout the story. The POV you decide to choose will set the tone of the story and the pacing. What works for one novel may not feel appropriate in your next one.

For instance, when I started Demon Hunter: The Chosen One I had started it in third-person. It was a good story but slow. Something wasn't sitting right in the back of my mind. When I decided to change my perspective and speak in the lead character Costa Calabrese's voice the novel took off. This was a story of a man telling his tale of adventure and it just lent itself better to walk in this man's boots every step of the way.

I do have to say that delving into a character's mindset that way makes them that much more tangible to me. Most times my characters remain long after I've finished writing. When writing Demon Hunter and its subsequent sequels Seek & Destroy and Heroes Call (due this August) I felt Costa come alive as he went through growth and change via peril and dangerous challenges. I don't know if he would've felt that authentic to me if I had continued on in 3^rd person.

And even though I had to rewrite the first half of Demon Hunter to change the POV I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. It turned out to be some of my best work to date.

What's best for you? Only you know that. Your heart will tell you more than your head. But I'm curious to know what types of novels do you prefer reading?

Cynthia writes character driven suspense fiction and dark fantasy. Cynthia likes to refer to her novels as "Real life situations that you could find  yourself in but hope to God you never do. In her spare time she  enjoys reading, movies that involve a strong plot/characters, and keeping active through martial arts and fitness training. Demon Hunter 3: Heroes Call will be available on August 29^th!

Things have changed around here. I am now the published author by Trestle Press of “I Have Chrome Balls, Don’t You?” an “In Between The Collaborations”, “Down Low- Dead” with Vincent Zandri, “The Jersey Shore Has Eyes” with Big Daddy Abel”, “G.S.I Gelati’s Scoop Investigations Psychotic Detectives” with Thomas White, “Who Whacked The Blogger” with Benjamin Sobieck,“Thad and The G-Man’s Most Awesome Adventure” with Thad Brown , “Hotel Beaumont” with B.R. Stateham,  “Bring Us Your Living…Now!” with HR Toye, “The Edge of Cataclysmic” with Big Daddy Abel, “The Ultimate Six-Pack” ,”Fangs,Inc.” with Laurie Bowler and the soon to be released “A Prince in Trenton ,Seriously?” with Mark Miller . All the stories are available @ Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Smashwords. I am also the host of the wildly popular The G-ZONE blogtalk radio show. Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.   http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com