Working up a new project, and had the unique experience of realizing - in the middle of the night of course - that I was about to tell the story from the wrong character's point of view. Luckily I'm still developing things so it's just a matter or rearranging notes and thoughts, but that's never happened to me before! Wondering if I HAD started writing from the "wrong" point of view, if that would have been reflected in the writing process by it being really difficult to get any traction in the storytelling. Anyway, it's interesting to me - anyone else have this?
Screenwriting : Wrong Character's Point of View by Terri Viani
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I was recently struggling with something like this. Only I realized that there were two ways to tell this story. Then I started to wonder which character's story was I telling. The best comparison I could come up with was Holmes and Watson. Which story was I really telling and which perspective. I am still undecided on perspective and have to make a decision soon.
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Oh, yeah, definitely been there... but much further. I was like three drafts into a script before I realized I had the wrong protagonist. I kept trying to tweak my main character's arc to make it more interesting, and then it suddenly hit me, the most obvious thing in the world: I'm trying to tell the wrong guy's story. That's why it's dull. It was the next draft that finally came alive.
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Like Kerry, my current project started out with the wrong protag's viewpoint. After several attempts well into act 2, I finally realized that both the character arc and theme were not being adequately met. I changed the perspective and it opened up an entirely new set of story options that solidified the theme. Good question Terri.
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Hmmm... since your story is not done... what could possibly be the "wrong protag's point of view"??
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Shadow - the written story was not completed. The entire story was completed in other forms - not the least of which was in my head.
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Good question, and often a style in which I enjoy writing... ie. '21 Grams' or 'Traffic'. Who's to say from the audience standpoint that one protag' is all you need? If the character themselve's are not stale, then take us on a ride with all of em'.
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Thank you Terri ... This has completely changed my world today, my story is True and about a shocking incident and the revelations based around this incident ... I have struggled with it for some time now because of my fears of making a loved one the antagonist ... You have helped me see that the best way to get my story out is if I am the antagonist ... Total re-write is in motion as we speak ... What a fantastic share this has been .. Wx
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Great comments! Stephen, I'm actually leaning towards your thoughts, though shifting perspectives at least in my head has opened up the story for me. Seems the story is richer from the "new" protagonist's POV but interestingly, not just for her, but for the other characters as well. Fun stuff, this writing life. =)
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I've had other characters come out of nowhere and take over the plotline. It's captivating, but if you let it carry you away too far you'll have to go back and cut it all up in a re-write. Best to do what you did, and redirect yourself early.