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rolanniSteve's doctor was able to squeeze in an appointment with him in the late morning. Since Steve was. . .not in particularly good shape to drive, I left work early and fetched him across the river.
On the drive from work, I heard "Smoke that Cigarette," on WBLM, a rock station out of Portland, Maine. I'm not sure what's up with that, but it was astonishingly good to hear it. It was not necessarily one of "my" songs, but it was certainly one of the Songs of My People, my dad having been a big Tex Williams fan.
That digression aside, we arrived at the appointment -- a lengthy appointment and now we are home, having achieved a diagnosis -- bronchitis -- and a prescription -- antibiotics for the bacteria, Tylenol(R) for the fever and aches, lots of RESTrest and plenty of fluids. Cats were not prescribed; we're self-medicating, there. Also, we picked up a humidifier while we were in the drugstore -- better part of valor and all like that.
Steve now napping the nap of the Justly Exhausted, I'm about to tackle the top of the dining room table, which runneth over with Tax Stuff. I am bored with Tax Stuff, so over it goes onto the top of the bookshelf, freeing valuable space for work.
Yes, it is a sad fact of the Life of an Author that no work is work but the writing. No, it doesn't matter that I spent hours last night getting the tax forms all in a row, I didn't write a single word, and thus I am made of fail.
I know that everyone who reads here has their Points of View down cold. However, if you happen to know someone who was not taught the forms, the below is provided as a PSA.
A FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE is told from the point of view of I. The point of view never deviates from I, and the only plot points available to the narrator are those things sheorhe has witnessed or researched for himorherself.
This? Is a first person narrative:
I almost missed the left onto Route 5, which would've been embarrassing as hell. Luckily, I recognized the intersection before I was through it, snapping dry-mouthed out of a quarter-doze. Luckily, the Subaru answered quick to the wheel.
Luckily, there wasn't anybody else fool enough to be driving this particular stretch of Maine highway at this particular ungodly hour of the morning-or-night. If there had, I'd've been toast.
Route 5 twisted, snakelike,between parallel rows of dark storefronts and shuttered motels. I pushed myself up straighter in the seat, biting my lip when the pain knifed through my chest, and tried to stay focused on the matter at hand. Not long now. Not long.
Going home, after all this time.*
A THIRD PERSON NARRATIVE may focus a single character's POV (aka Tight Third or Limited Third), or it may be Omniscient (that is, the narrator has access to the thoughts and actions of all the characters). The give-away words in third person narration are the pronouns HE and SHE. Tight third resembles first person in that the narrator may only know those things that sheorhe observes or deduces for himorherself. If in doubt, examine the pronouns.
This? Is a third person narrative:
"Sinit, must you read at table?"
Voni's voice was clear and carrying. It was counted a good feature, Aelliana had heard, though not so pleasing as her face.
At the moment, face and voice held a hint of boredom, as befitted an elder sister confronted with the wearisome necessity of disciplining a younger.
"No, I'm just at a good part," Sinit returned without lifting her head from over the page. She put out a hand and groped for her teacup.
"Really," Voni drawled as Aelliana chose a muffin from the center platter and broke it open. "Even Aelliana knows better than to bring a book to table!"
"It's for anthropology," Sinit mumbled, fingers still seeking her cup. "Truly, I am nearly done, if only you'll stop plaguing me—"
"If you keep on like that," Aelliana murmured, eyes on her plate, "your teacup will be overset, and Ran Eld will ring down a terrific scold. Put the book aside, Sinit, do. If you hurry your breakfast you can still finish reading before your tutor comes."**
Thank you.
-----------
*excerpted from Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee
**excerpted from Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
On the drive from work, I heard "Smoke that Cigarette," on WBLM, a rock station out of Portland, Maine. I'm not sure what's up with that, but it was astonishingly good to hear it. It was not necessarily one of "my" songs, but it was certainly one of the Songs of My People, my dad having been a big Tex Williams fan.
That digression aside, we arrived at the appointment -- a lengthy appointment and now we are home, having achieved a diagnosis -- bronchitis -- and a prescription -- antibiotics for the bacteria, Tylenol(R) for the fever and aches, lots of RESTrest and plenty of fluids. Cats were not prescribed; we're self-medicating, there. Also, we picked up a humidifier while we were in the drugstore -- better part of valor and all like that.
Steve now napping the nap of the Justly Exhausted, I'm about to tackle the top of the dining room table, which runneth over with Tax Stuff. I am bored with Tax Stuff, so over it goes onto the top of the bookshelf, freeing valuable space for work.
Yes, it is a sad fact of the Life of an Author that no work is work but the writing. No, it doesn't matter that I spent hours last night getting the tax forms all in a row, I didn't write a single word, and thus I am made of fail.
I know that everyone who reads here has their Points of View down cold. However, if you happen to know someone who was not taught the forms, the below is provided as a PSA.
A FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE is told from the point of view of I. The point of view never deviates from I, and the only plot points available to the narrator are those things sheorhe has witnessed or researched for himorherself.
This? Is a first person narrative:
I almost missed the left onto Route 5, which would've been embarrassing as hell. Luckily, I recognized the intersection before I was through it, snapping dry-mouthed out of a quarter-doze. Luckily, the Subaru answered quick to the wheel.
Luckily, there wasn't anybody else fool enough to be driving this particular stretch of Maine highway at this particular ungodly hour of the morning-or-night. If there had, I'd've been toast.
Route 5 twisted, snakelike,between parallel rows of dark storefronts and shuttered motels. I pushed myself up straighter in the seat, biting my lip when the pain knifed through my chest, and tried to stay focused on the matter at hand. Not long now. Not long.
Going home, after all this time.*
A THIRD PERSON NARRATIVE may focus a single character's POV (aka Tight Third or Limited Third), or it may be Omniscient (that is, the narrator has access to the thoughts and actions of all the characters). The give-away words in third person narration are the pronouns HE and SHE. Tight third resembles first person in that the narrator may only know those things that sheorhe observes or deduces for himorherself. If in doubt, examine the pronouns.
This? Is a third person narrative:
"Sinit, must you read at table?"
Voni's voice was clear and carrying. It was counted a good feature, Aelliana had heard, though not so pleasing as her face.
At the moment, face and voice held a hint of boredom, as befitted an elder sister confronted with the wearisome necessity of disciplining a younger.
"No, I'm just at a good part," Sinit returned without lifting her head from over the page. She put out a hand and groped for her teacup.
"Really," Voni drawled as Aelliana chose a muffin from the center platter and broke it open. "Even Aelliana knows better than to bring a book to table!"
"It's for anthropology," Sinit mumbled, fingers still seeking her cup. "Truly, I am nearly done, if only you'll stop plaguing me—"
"If you keep on like that," Aelliana murmured, eyes on her plate, "your teacup will be overset, and Ran Eld will ring down a terrific scold. Put the book aside, Sinit, do. If you hurry your breakfast you can still finish reading before your tutor comes."**
Thank you.
-----------
*excerpted from Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee
**excerpted from Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
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no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 08:39 pm (UTC)It gets on my nerves?
But! In the interests of Public Service, if you've got one, run 'er out.
Don't know what you think of fan-fiction in general…
Date: 2010-01-16 09:38 pm (UTC)I will freely admit that I have not actually managed to get all the way through it yet, never mind progressed to the sequel. When I say "mind blowing" I'm not just whistling Dixie…
no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 10:17 pm (UTC)[1] I remember having a lot of problems with 1st person narrative in a gender not the same as mine as a teenager. This was a similar feeling.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 08:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 10:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 10:38 pm (UTC)Thanks for the PSA but, the one that has been brought up in conversation recently that I find myself sorely lacking in comprehension is 2nd Person (I've totally forgotten any coverage of this from eons ago school).
no subject
Date: 2010-01-15 10:55 pm (UTC)*You walk into the room. There's a scarf crumpled on the floor. You pick it up, your nose wrinkling at the scents of lavender and stale smoke.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-16 01:33 am (UTC)You cannot possibly be 'made of fail'.
We all firmly know you to be made of awesome and win!
Tylenol (r) contaminated - be careful out there
Date: 2010-01-16 02:14 am (UTC)see the article at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/tylenol-problems-affected-extra-strength-rolaids/story?id=9561842
The pills "smell bad" so if they smell off, you've a contaminated bottle.
Hope Steve feels better soon and you don't catch it...
Re: Tylenol (r) contaminated - be careful out there
Date: 2010-01-16 02:09 pm (UTC)No smelly pills here, AFAIK ...
I tend to consider *all* drugs contaminated and take as few as possible and as low a dose as possible. I have an outgoing package of prescribed but unused drugs going to the local drug reclamation headquarters to make sure they won't be grabbed out of the trash nor end up in the water supplies.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-16 02:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-16 02:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-16 08:57 pm (UTC)"Snow Crash" is the only novel I have liked in present tense, although Zelazny used it to good effect in short segments of the "hellrides" and a couple of others have used it well in similarly short bursts to provide contrast.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-17 01:50 am (UTC)"You will have had fun!" ... might make a good button or t-shirt if i can use it at the srm boardwalk shop...
A new marketting technique!
Date: 2010-01-16 04:06 pm (UTC)p.s.: Surely Choose your own adventure wins the 2nd person contest, at least with respect to volume...
Re: A new marketting technique!
Date: 2010-01-16 09:02 pm (UTC)