Author: P.J. MacLayne

March 6, 2023

Do you have advice for changing perspective? For example, switching from writing exclusively in third person and switching to first person? Or do you have a reason for staying with the perspective you do?

The first book I set out to write, (one that will never be published,) I rewrote four times before calling it quits. I changed perspective twice in that process. The first two versions were third person past tense, the third version was in first person, then I switched back to third person. It was a great learning process. Frustrating, perhaps, but publishing the story was never a consideration, so I could ‘play’ with how the characters interacted with no deadline to interfere.

What the experience taught me was that I can write in either perspective. Which one I choose is dictated by the story. For example, in its original form, what turned into The Marquesa’s Necklace started out in third person. I didn’t get very far into that version before realizing it was all wrong for the story that was taking shape, and switched to first person.

On the other hand, The Free Wolves’ books are all written in third person. They started that way and never changed. 

What advice do I have for writers wanting to switch? If you want to, do it! Yes, I know you’ll find readers who don’t like to read first person. You’ll also find readers that prefer it.

Something to consider—In first person, you can only see characters and action through one set of eyes at a time. As the author, you have to use dialogue or show physical cues from other characters to allow your main character to know what everyone else is thinking. I think that restriction is useful in helping to prevent head-hopping. On the other side, it may be a good tool for diving deeply into the internal thoughts of the speaker.

One minor thing: I’ve seen it done way too often. If you are writing in first tense, please, oh please, don’t have your main character look into a mirror or a pool of water or whatever to describe themselves. Just don’t.

What to be aware of if you’re moving from first to third person? I have to pay close attention to be sure I don’t head-hop for a sentence or two. It can also be easy to slip into the voice of an omniscient narrator. You, as the author, may know something that your characters and readers don’t know and it can be hard to not include it. 

I haven’t tried some of the lesser-used points of view, like second person and fourth person. (Yes, that exists, but it’s rare.) It’ll be interesting to find out if any one else in this hop has used them. To find out, follow the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

March 6, 2023

Do you have advice for changing perspective? For example, switching from writing exclusively in third person and switching to first person? Or do you have a reason for staying with the perspective you do?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Jan 23, 2023

Do you include any inside jokes or Easter eggs in your work?

I have a weird sense of humor. What I find funny is not the same as most other people. So, although I’ve tried to incorporate humor into my books, I don’t know if it works. Hopefully, there will be places where readers chuckle, but that’s the most I can hope for.

‘Easter eggs’ are another story. You can blame it on my day job manager. (Back before I retired.) We were discussing the differences between the first book I released (Wolves’ Pawn) and the second (The Marquesa’s Necklace.) He laughingly suggested that Eli, my male main character, be revealed as a shifter. While that didn’t happen—although I considered it—it sparked an idea. Thanks, Danny!

I decided the two books were based in the same ‘world’ and I wrote in subtle references to the shifter series in my mystery books. For example, there’s this passage:

I was the only person out of place at the bar/restaurant. All the regulars knew each other’s names, but the occasional tourist like me was welcomed. The person who seemed most out of place was my waitress, Dot. Her hair was dyed with bright blue streaks.                                

That’s a reference to Dot McKenzie, my main character in Wolves’ Pawn.

I had so much fun with that, I made it a point to include references to my shifters, not always so hidden. In The Baron’s Cufflinks, I wrote: : 

As I glanced down, I noticed what appeared to be a leather-bound book half-buried under some old college textbooks. I set them aside, picked it up, and with my other hand, rubbed my forehead in puzzlement. As thick as the volume was, it should have weighed more.
I ran one finger across the gold-embossed title. Wolf’s Knight, Tasha’s Tale. Another unknown. I gingerly lifted the cover, half-afraid the book would fall apart.
The book was hollowed out to create a hiding place. Inside the empty space was a small, purple velvet covered box. I hesitated for the briefest of moments before taking the box out and setting it on top of the nearest stack of books.

By the way, I didn’t mean for it to happen, but that passage is what inspired the book, Wolves’ Knight. I came up with the title and then Tasha wouldn’t leave me alone—I stopped writing The Baron’s Cufflinks in order to tell Tasha’s story.

I got carried away in The Samurai’s Inro, and had Eli Hennessey from the Harmony series and Gavin Fairwood from the Free Wolves adventures involved together in a minor subplot. They both work with computer software, so it seemed natural they’d run into each other.

There were a couple of other Easter eggs I planted in The Harmony books. Each contained a reference to Harmony taking care of the African Violets she’s received from her mother. That was done as a tribute to my mother, who kept African Violets for many years. The other continuing reference are mentions of John Denver.

The Easter eggs were a one-way street. I didn’t include links to Harmony in the Free Wolves books. But I feel like I still have one more story to add to that series, so there’s still time!

Do other authors on this hop include Easter eggs or inside jokes? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Jan 23, 2023

Do you include any inside jokes or Easter eggs in your work?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.