: Re: 2 points of view at the same time I am writing a book about lions and other African predators. The main focus in the one I am working on is lions, but I do quite often refer to 2 big

@Reiling826

Vote Up Vote Down

You don't really have any clear points of view in that excerpt, probably because it's almost all dialogue. Point of view mostly comes out in narration.

But, in general, you can write in omniscient third, in which you can see everything and tell the reader anything you want, often with a clear external narrator telling the story, or you can chose to follow one of the characters, either in first or close third (or, rarely, second) person POV. But just because you're following one of the characters at one point of the story doesn't mean you can't follow a different character at different points.

So, for examples, I need to add some narration, which probably won't match the characterization you had in mind, but hopefully it will be enough for you to get the idea.

For omniscient third, I'd say you're more or less already there. For omniscient with a clear external narrator, try something like:

Duma, cowardly as always, said, "Look out! A leopard!"

But for every coward there must be a hero, and in this story, that
hero is Anapumua Moto. "Oh, it's Bella. One of my friends." Perhaps
you will think it is not brave to have a friend, but perhaps that is
because you have never faced a leopard yourself.

For first person, pick whichever of the characters is the biggest part of the story and tell the story as if you are that character:

I followed Duma toward a nomadic lioness. She was beautiful, tawny
warmth in the sunlight, and I was just about to roar a greeting to her
when Duma stopped walking so suddenly I almost ran into his furry
butt.

"Look out," Duma hissed. "A leopard!"

I took one look and then my back hair relaxed. "That's Bella. She's
one of my friends."

Close third person is really almost like first, but with different pronouns.

Anapumua Moto followed Duma toward a nomadic lioness. She was beautiful, tawny
warmth in the sunlight, and Anapumua Moto was just about to roar a greeting to her when Duma stopped walking so suddenly the young lion almost ran into his furry butt.

"Look out," Duma hissed. "A leopard!"

Anapumua Moto took one look and then his back hair relaxed. "That's Bella. She's one of my friends."

But then in a different scene you could write from Duma's POV, or anyone else's, as long as you make it clear you've switched.

Is this what you were asking about?

(0)

Login to post a comment!