I recently started writing a new book in the ‘Soul Ties’ series and I’ve given myself a challenge. I’ve decided to write in first person. And dual POV. And present tense.
All my recent books have been 3rd person, because I’ve never felt comfortable writing 1st person. I’m not sure why, I think I got into the habit and preferred it.
I’ve been reading a lot of new adult genre books written with dual POV. At first, I wasn’t too sure, I thought I’d find it too confusing. But I enjoyed them – being able to see directly into the minds of both the hero and the heroine added something new. Maybe it’s because I like delving into more than one character’s head and here is a different way of doing it.
I’m having a lot of fun writing my hero. Jack’s a completely different age (and sex!) to me, and getting the voice right is a real challenge as a writer. Dahlia is easier, but swapping from head to head means ensuring their voices are different.
I’m not head-hopping every page, they have their own chapters that blend and that is also a challenge – not making it too jarring for the reader. Occasionally, I come across a book using dual POV in a confusing way and I hope to avoid that!
Do you prefer 1st or 3rd person?
Have you read any books in dual POV you’ve enjoyed? Or have you written in that style? I’d love to hear your experiences!
