Changing Point of Views

[Aozora210]

Well, someone from the previous page has made a thread about this, but his/her problem are just different from me so I think I have to make a new thread. If someone else has far far ahead made topics like this, please tell me.

Currently I am having some kind of trouble in writing regarding to PoVs.

Earlier, I want to make a 1st person view for my entire story, but I'm just isn't very good writing in 1st person PoV, and well, I'm learning though.

So incidentally, I made the starter of the story using a 3rd person PoV. I've got some prologues and little narration while explaining a little about the world and events far before the current story of the VN. Then, the main character appears. Starting from the main protagonist onward, I am planning to use the 1st person view, but it becomes very awkward somehow. Also, once around in the middle of the story, I would like to use some 3rd person PoV to tell a certain flashbacks (since we can't change past, right?)

Nah, my question is, how do we make a certain shifting doesn't become very awkward? Also, do you think changing PoVs distract you in anyway while reading the story?

Thanks in advance! m(_ _)m

[Snowflower]

Personally, I think writing 1st person throughout the entire story would be the easiest since the writer can actually pretend like the MC is him/her and write naturally. Just write how you'd think in the story.

I'm not a fan of POV shifts though. They confuse me... but maybe that's just me.

As for the flashbacks, you can maintain whatever tense you were doing. If it's just recalling a memory, then just use past tense for the verbs (eg remember what you did yesterday "I had curled my hair last night for this")

If it's like a full on flashback with BGs and past sprites etc, then just do it as if the scene is actually happening that moment... if you want to make it extra special, just put some blurring effect over the backgrounds, have characters younger, etc.

[pondrthis]

While I also recommend simply cutting out non-first-person sections if possible, sometimes that isn't the best course of action... especially if you need action without the POV character present or want to present a POV character with an ambiguous identity (i.e. scene swaps to the unknown murderer's POV without people thinking the protagonist just up and killed someone).

In those cases, there are a few precedents in JVN that you can utilize. There's nothing wrong with thinking up your own ideas, but since you asked...

A random game I once played *coughnukigepr0ncough* used a different-colored UI to represent a different point of view.
Ever17 did the above in addition to shooting a colorful light across the screen at the moment of the shift.
Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shoujo used a NVL format for 3rd person scenes and an ADV format for 1st person scenes.
Its spiritual sequel, G-Senjou no Maou (my baby... look to the left) used the ADV-NVL distinction in addition to customized UIs for most POV characters. A little silhouette in the UI can go a long way.

I think drastic changes like complete UI redesign send the message best.

[Snowflower]

I think drastic changes like complete UI redesign send the message best.

Rearranging to a different UI design definitely helps the player aware of the POV shift, instead of being confused.

[SilverxBlue]

Don't worry about that, 1st person POVs are pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I prefer POV shifts between characters rather than POV shifts between the 1st person POV and the 3rd person POV though.
And as for flashbacks maybe (if you'd like) you could use NVL mode.

Oh and for your last question; Sometimes change of POVs distract me sometimes they don't.

[Aozora210]

Thanks guys 8D

I'm trying to rewrite everything in 1st PoV, although I noticed the personalities changed slightly compared to when I'm write in 3rd PoV. I wondered what happened.

Anyway, pardon my ignorance.... but what is JVN? D8

[pondrthis]

JVN is "Japanese Visual Novel". I dunno if that's common, but people call the games made here "EVN" where "E" is "English".

Of course, in the translation scene, they call "EVNs" "OELVNs" for "original English language visual novel".

[Snowflower]

I'm trying to rewrite everything in 1st PoV, although I noticed the personalities changed slightly compared to when I'm write in 3rd PoV. I wondered what happened.

Well, it might be because of the fact that you recently altered your writing style's POV. That's why it feels uncomfortable/awkward. The more you write in the 1st POV, the easier and more polished your style will become. When you were writing in 3rd person, you were imagining someone else as the MC, but now, you have to make yourself much more familiar with the character. Also, you have to write the inner thought of the MC now :3