Thursday 3rd September

I am in the process of trying to publish my new book “The Philanthropist” and part of the process is an Editorial Evaluation.   There is initially a disclaimer stating that this is simply an opinion and that the Author (me) has the right to ignore or to take any advice given and amend ones manuscript accordingly.  Well, I have been down this road (sort of) before.  My second book “wot I rote” I was unhappy with.  I liked certain aspects of it and thought there were some good bits in there, but it didn’t seem to work somehow so I sent it off myself for an independent evaluation, which only confirmed my suspicions.  I haven’t abandoned that project completely and will try to re-write it taking those comments on board.

However…..the new book I am happier with.  I can see that some of the comments might be useful but some I initially disagree with.  The main point I have an issue with is POV or “point of view”.  The book is written by an unseen observer in the third person, but that narrator does relate thought processes in the characters minds.  Now the criticism is that on a few occasions I offer the reader two different points of view close together, sometimes on the same page or even in the same paragraph.  For example James was thinking x, but Fiona had something completely different in mind and was actually thinking y.  Now I don’t see this as a problem; in fact it was deliberate, to show the differing viewpoints (POV) of the protagonists.  The Evaluator thinks that this “head-hopping” is confusing for the reader, whereas I think that it is simply explaining what goes on when two people are talking or thinking about a mutual situation.  I quite clearly state who is thinking what so the reader will always know which head I am inside.  So who is right?

I hesitate to say it is me.  But in a way I think I am right.  You see I don’t want to write to any given formula, where in Writing Class it may be taught that this or that is good or bad writing. And while it is extremely difficult to be objective I do sort of know when something I have written works or not.  So, I am not going to make an instant judgment but will think about these comments for a bit, and who knows I may make the changes suggested.  But don’t bet on it.