Dual POV or Single? Trying to figure it out & getting STUCK (VLOG) Writing the Butter Book: Part 6

[@sarahhawkins7668]

As a reader, came here to say, short chapters are gold! I read so much more if chapters are short. Also, seeing Zion still in his crib gives me so much hope! I want my LO to be one of those crib until 3 kinda kids so bad!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thanks Sarah, heck yes I love short chapters too! And Zion still does sooo good in his crib, never once has he tried to climb out, so it’s totally possible!

[@mynameisemilygood]

Omg a fellow writer who has small kids! I'm also writing a book and am constantly fighting tooth and nail to find the time to do it. Came here for the title of the vid, staying here for the relevance to my life 😂 Good luck girl! Ill be cheering for ya.

[@olalas1455]

Thank you Bethany for posting these vlogs, they really help me to think about my own writing process, I hope everything goes smooth for you!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yay I love hearing that, thank you! You got this!

[@ericarowanarts]

I love that you test out soooooo many different ways to approach your books! It's so nice to see when I'm stuck in a rut. It shows me I can experiment and get some kind of result. Love the dual pov! I think you'll do well with that, especially if he's already giving you his false beliefs and how they were formed before the story even started is a good sign. As long as he has his own goals and motivations outside of the FMC then you're good! I hate when the love interest only lives for the MC. It's so flat and boring 😴

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thanks Erica! It’s fun to experiment but if I wasn’t on camera I probably wouldn’t think to try half these things so it’s kinda nice having to “talk it through” with you guys so to speak, it makes me look at it from more angles haha! And so happy you like the dual pov, I’m getting more and more excited about it too! 🥳

[@Bu-o3o-p7u]

Love the idea of including his POV not only to expand and explore his character but also the world that you have created. It also gives you the chance to explore different perspectives. And you can always just sprinkle his chapters here and there when needed. As for starting a book when you shouldn't I totally understand, I just started one and haven't written a word since. Now I am rushing to finish it so I can get back to work 😅

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thank you, I think it’ll be so fun to see if it works and makes it to the final version of the book! Sprinkling chapters where it feels right is def the goal, I prefer that too! Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one who has trouble writing while reading a good story haha!

[@isabellajuanitalyn]

This is so inspiring and I completely relate on the sleeping on major changes.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@eve12667]

Hi Bethany! I just wanted to say that you are so inspiring and really helped me on my own author journey and now I’m a published author at 15! Ps. My book is called Flames and Shadows: the lost quest ❤

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yay! I’m so happy to hear that, thank you!

[@DeborahPettit]

Yay for brainstorming!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yesss! 🙌🏻🥳

[@saritaschaffter9276]

Can’t wait to read the novel. I realized why I was struggling with my stories. Because I geared towards Middle grade fantasy books. ( set for tweens and above. But I loved to read YA and middle grade. But I love to write books geared towards kids and teenagers.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yay thank you! And that makes sense, glad you figured it out!

[@drobertucci6072]

The inheritance games series has super short chapters as well! That series is CRAZY popular right now!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yessss good point, thank you! I really enjoyed the first book in that series!! The others weren't quite as exciting to me, but still good!

[@kellyalbertson962]

I like short chapters, too. It actually makes it easier to keep reading because I know they're short. Bethany, there was a bookstore in Bisbee, AZ and it was run by an older gentleman, Walter Swan, who wrote his memoir. Nobody would publish it, so he published it himself and rented/bought this little storefront and sold his book out of the store. ONLY his book. It was/is called The One Book Bookstore. And it was successful. But everyone knows you "can't" have a bookstore with just one book.... that's ludicrous! ;-)

[@mariannapalmer]

I love Photoshop! That temporary cover for the Butter Book looks amazing! I hope you do choose dual POVs, but you're so right. I want it to fit for the book, and if dual POVs don't, then throw Soren away (oops, too harsh 😆). I love these vlogs. I gain so much motivation from them.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yesss photoshop is so fun (and intimidating haha!) So happy you like the fun temporary cover though, thank you! And agreed, we'll throw away whatever is necessary, even if it's tough haha... So glad you like the vlogs, thank youuu!

[@storiesbydesirae]

You got this, Bethany!! My second main character in my upcoming release was asking me to write from his POV but I fought it for multiple drafts. When I got feedback asking why I didn't and when more and more scenes started feeling like something was missing, that's when I finally accepted this character needed and deserved to have their voice and perspective explored. Wishing you well on that character exploration journey. Hopefully some things come out naturally.

[@DeborahPettit]

@@storiesbydesirae 😂 I love the way you put this!

[@storiesbydesirae]

@@DeborahPettit aww, well thank you!!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

I love that way of discovering it - because now you know for sure it’s needed and wanted! 🙌🏻☺️

[@SheegogProductions]

The Kiss of Deception BLEW MY MIND!!!! I listened to it on libby, and when THAT plot twist happened, I screamed that it could not be so!!!! Listened to it twice in a row and caught all the foreshadowing the second time around. I still refer to the book learning how to control the flow of information for maximum effectiveness.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yessss it's so good!! Hahah I also really enjoyed reading it and catching all those details the second time around, it makes a re-read even more fun!

[@the_bookish_took5348]

I'm really loving your journey with writing and publishing and thank you for sharing it! It's so incredibly encouraging to me! Personally, I think you should do the dual POV and discover what is going on with Soren. I think it'll be really fun to read his side of the story. Also, I thought the excerpts you shared in your last video were setting the right tone to be funny. They greatly amused me!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yayyy thank you, I'm so glad it's been encouraging! And I will share more in the next vlog, but I ended up giving him a shot and have been loving it so far! :D So glad you thought the excerpts were funny too, that makes me so happy hehe!

[@its_maria]

I have a suggestion: As you get stuck in these character and scene ruts, when you lay down for a nap or bedtime, think about the character or scene... try to visualize them/it or hear the conversation that's going on around them. Sometimes this helps to get more sense of what's going on, also.. keep something nearby to jot down the thoughts/notes for when you wake up lol

[@AlexVeeGee]

Love those books so much too! Read them years ago and last month I finally dipped back into that world with the Duology that takes place 6 years later, with new characters. But Lea and the gang make caneos. I'm half way through the second book now, and I dont want it to end! I wish I'd read this duology sooner, lol. Highly recc it!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yayyy that’s awesome! I’ve already read the duology and also the spin off novella called Morrighan, but now you’re making me want to re-read all of those again too haha!

[@AlexVeeGee]

@@BethanyAtazadeh Yes! The spin off Novella is on my list. 😊

[@vampireassassin4750]

Just as i am stuck in my writing literally have papers notebooks binders and my laptop all surrounding me right now and i am stuck on how to move forward in my scene that i am writing i decided screw it i am giving my brain a break real quick i go on KZbin to try to clear my brain and here you are with a new video I tell you now its crazy how your creative juices start flowing by watching someone else working it brought ideas to my own mind so for that i thank you back to my writing

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yayyy love hearing that! I feel the same way when I watch other people’s writing vlogs, they’re always inspiring! 🙌🏻🥳

[@Jaime-f2k]

I did several first-person and third-person POVs in a cozy mystery novel I wrote 2 years ago (with 70 chapters). I was hesitant because I read a book like that, and I didn't like it. But it worked for my book. I've never done it since because it doesn't work with my plots. Go with your gut.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

That’s so cool that you tried it and loved it-and I think you’re absolutely right, it all depends on what’s right for the story.

[@emmatfink]

I know dual POV is the “thing” right now, but I know that as a reader, I feel annoyed when the second POV is shoehorned in without adding much value to the story. I like that you’re exploring the option without committing to it. Then you can decide if the story actually NEEDS a second POV. A dual POV doesn’t have to be a totally even split, either! In DIVINE RIVALS by Rebecca Ross, the narrative was mostly Iris’s POV with a bit of Roman’s POV sprinkled in when the story required it. Lots of options!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yeah exploring without committing is a fantastic way to approach it, I like that perspective! That way it's not set in stone and I can figure out if it's truly needed during edits. :) And 100% agree to doing less of Soren no matter what - that's what I did for the guy's POV in The Stolen Kingdom series and it worked perfectly, so I'll remember that, thank you!

[@charlotteharper4202]

Oh I forgot it was like that in Divine Rivals! Usually I get annoyed when the second POV is just sprinkled in 'for variety/to see the love interest's perspective a couple of times' but Rebecca Ross did it very well.

[@IHeartYT]

I’m the same way! I can’t be trusted to do anything interesting during drafting or even editing. I can’t read or watch tv or go on KZbin because I’m so easily distracted and will find everything so interesting. Currently trying and failing to detach myself from another rewatch of greys anatomy so I can finish editing 😅

[@dezziefbby]

I just found your videos from two years ago and you’d look down and talk to baby! Now baby is a big boy and there’s a new baby baking. 🥺🤍

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Awww yay haha, yep time flies by so fast!

[@MrRosebeing]

If you're writing a novel I would recommend writing multiple povs because that will add to your wordcount and you can say you've written a novel, or, on the other hand, you can have one pov character and say you've written a novel. It's literary, your choice. This is why I have written short stories for years, much easier. Good luck with your Butter Book, if I see it on Audible I may give it a look, or a listen.

[@woodlandlady7011]

I think the more time you spend with Soren writing his backstory, it will not only allow you to get to know him and his wants/needs but help your decision to have his POV or not. But I'm pleased to see you throwing around a lot of maybe this maybe that's while you draft for that's the fun of writing! Take care of yourself and baby, and of course little cutie Zion

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Such a good point, thank you! It's definitely a lot of fun to sort of chat on here as I go, it almost feels like we get to talk about it in person (sort of lol)... Thank you so much, I appreciate it!

[@tammiegipson8870]

So Relatable! I am an obsessed reader too and I frequently put writing aside to read a book that is so hard to put down. And over the weekend I literally binged two seasons of a Netflix show in one day. I so understand that. Random question - Where did you get your laptop writing pillow stand (don't know what to call it)? I have been looking for something like that and all I am finding are bed type stands and not the pillow like you have.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Haha yessss once a good book is started, there's no room for anything else! Good stories open up those amazing curiosity loops that just have to be answered! Oh yeah the laptop desk - I believe I got that one from Amazon but it might've been from Office Max (it's been years so I can't remember, I'm sorry! But definitely browse those two stores for lap desks, they're really nice and most include the soft bottom!)

[@celiaeven878]

I love reading/writing books where the characters don't know something that the reader knows. For example if you show his pov, we can see the reasons why he's going to have this deal with her. And then we await the moment when she's going to find out why/what/etc, if that's worth keeping secret?

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yessss me too! 🙌🏻 There’s something sooo satisfying about it haha, love that!

[@AuthorJenniferKrigbaum]

Try not to spread yourself too thin! (Like butter 😂) Take the time to focus on The Queen’s Rise and also on yourself! ❤️ also, love the graphic you made! If I was scrolling on Amazon and found a fantasy-looking book with the title ‘The Butter Book’, my curiosity would pique instantly! 🤣 Btw the clips of your little guy were so incredibly precious ☺️ he’s so sweet! I loved Kiss of Deception! I actually read it after seeing a video of you talking about it :) so thank you! It’s funny cuz I’ve been trying to get my friend to read it and she’s been trying to get me to read Prison Healer haha Okay so now the dual POV issue…I totally get your dilemma. There’s so many limitations to one pov and it’s so hard to get the full scope of the world and other characters, especially when you’re stuck in an outsider’s pov that has no idea about any of it. However, I also understand the need to keep readers in the dark strategically to up the suspense. For example, in my first draft of my werewolf suspense romance, I included the male interest’s pov early on in the story. However, as I was outlining for draft 2, I had a lightbulb moment. The whole point of the genre is suspense. And the hidden identity of my male love interest is crucial to the story. If the readers know the identity right off the bat, it takes away all the suspense. The readers immediately knew he was a good guy and had no ill intentions toward my fmc. BUT, when I removed his pov, it made the story sooo much more suspenseful because she didn’t know who he was or why he was trying to get close to her. It wasn’t until AFTER I revealed his identity and intentions that I finally included his pov in the story. We’re obviously writing very different stories but it’s just something to keep in mind as you’re mulling things over 😊 Also, thank you for validating having a lot of chapters! My book has A LOT of chapters and I didn’t even realize Kiss of Deception had that many! (It’s been a while since I’ve read it lol)

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Bahaha like butter! I cracked up at that, love it haha, but sooo true too! Thank you, I'm biased but I agree! :D No way that's so fun to hear you read it based on a recommendation before! If you liked the surprise in that one, you'd probably enjoy the twist in Prison Healer too, although that one was hardest to wrap my brain around out of the three books I mentioned. (And The Thief is my favorite twist out of the three hehe) Love that point about keeping the suspense -- and also how you figured it out a little bit later too, I think that might be how it happens for me, that I just go with it and then decide during edits if it actually works or not haha! And heck YES to a lot of chapters!! It just means they're shorter usually, and I highly prefer that as a reader, makes the book feel like it's so fast paced and fun! :D

[@xxaleksi]

I'm using dabble writer and I'm over 60 chapters in and i need to check and fix the font for flashbacks and internal thoughts etc but I'm too lazy to do it myself because it's so much work

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Well that’s more a formatting thing than a writing or editing thing, so I wouldn’t worry about it while drafting if I were you either. :)

[@xxaleksi]

@@BethanyAtazadeh so i should just finish writing it and go back afterwards? i do think i will st art doing it now from where i am at when i write but need to see what i do with the first 60ish chapters dabble writer only has normal and cursive and bold and strikethrough

[@bridgetgiles7560]

Just write it. It still counts because it will help you move the book along.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

So true! 🙌🏻

[@Avionne_Parris]

I had a mirror scene idea (two scenes that "mirror" each other to show positive / negative character growth): In the beginning, the MMC and his friends do a mini mock heist to show readers their friendship dynamic but also to highlight their individual skills. But in the end, they fail because the skill they lacked to complete the heist, the FMC has; still they laugh about it. Later on, the FMC shows character growth by learning to trust others and helps them, making the heist a success BUT this will make the MMC feel like a failure, playing into his core fears and misbeilef. Might add some great tension too :)

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Oooh that sound so fun to both write and read, I love it! Thanks for the idea!

[@DyranHunter]

I'm obviously not aware of your outline, but if you think the scenes at this point are too passive for Soren, you can always wait to bring in his POV My debut book is a portal fantasy, and the male POV doesn't have a pov chapter until about 1/4 of the way through the book. Mainly because the first portion is about how the female pov gets from one realm to the other, but my point is it doesn't have to be balanced. While Andric gets more page time in the sequel, on the first book Lizzy has more pov time than he does at about 2/3rds to his 1/3rd. I feel like I'm rambling lol. I guess what I'm saying is don't force a pov switch if it doesn't feel like that scene is better served by Sorens pov. Chapter 15 of my epic fantasy I got stalled on for days before I rewrote it in the male POV, and realised that everything I needed the reader to know, from the female pov, I had to tell not show because Stella simply didn't know it. Reilly did. So yeah. Tldr; Trust you gut ❤❤ you got this!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thank you! That’s a great reminder to not force it and leave the option open for when it feels right for the story! :) That’s what I did in The Stolen Kingdom series and it worked out really well, so I’m glad you reminded me!

[@apocketfulofink]

Darn it listening to the POVs explanation I feel like I missed my chance. The first draft of THAT story that all authors have (the one that stole your heart but will take ages to see the light) was finished like in 2014, and by today standard it would be a dual POV romantasy, but at the time I didn't know! I wonder if it will ever see the light. On a different note, that Pacemaker website is amazing, thank you for sharing your progress and the site! I just created a profile myself, it's gonna be fun (and disappointing when I don't keep up, lol)

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

It’s never too late! And so glad you like the pacemaker website-they’re getting so much free accidental promo from me haha, but I love it so it’s worth it! :)

[@apocketfulofink]

@@BethanyAtazadeh you are so right, I am trying! And I have to say, the transparent and honest look at your writing life you give us through your vlogs is really helping me to keep my expectations realistic and not get demoralized!

[@raekline763]

OMG I really hope you write the scene where he starts noticing her because I bet it’s gonna be super cute lol her thinking she’s totally getting away with it and him being like she’s just so cutely obvious and she has no idea lol I also read this book one time it was so good literally got to about half point of the book and it basically went over the love interest And kind of his misbelief and how he felt about everything that happened between him and the main character so far which was very cute and this whole time you thought he didn’t like the main character but really he’d been in love with the main character, the whole time too, and it was adorable And then it would kind of bounce back-and-forth between the two characters point of views and then it was pretty much almost all the main characters point of you places where they would put the love interest in so you could see like how jealous he was lol how he was dealing with the main character dealing with all his stuff lol

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Awww I like the sound of that other book, it sounds so good! And you make a good point that him noticing her is not only active but also super fun, I’m excited to see if that scene will make it to the final! 🥳

[@jeanbaardsen2863]

It seems you spent most of this video talking about the male character, and your interest in doing a 2nd POV. Not once did you mention the female as the sole POV. That says something to me! It says you really want the excitement of doing dual POVs. Just my opinion!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Ooooh very true, good point, the excitement is definitely there haha! I will share more in next week's vlog, but I did end up going for it and love it so far! :D

[@tblackthorne]

One thing he could do to not be so passive is writing in a notebook…maybe making a strange motion with his hands, making a spell…

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Oooh fun ideas!! I currently have him thinking the signs of an intruder are an assassin and getting ready to fight which made it more active too and it’s so much fun hehe

[@authoreloisebahr]

I don’t know if you already have a solution to the scene where he finds her sleeping, but what if he’s looking for something in his own house, and is trying to not make noise and or the thing that he needs is very close to her? Some object related to whatever heist he’s working on?

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Oooh that's a fun idea, thanks Eloise! I did write it, but I like you're thinking and will remember that for when I come back to edit that scene too, thank you! :D

[@authoreloisebahr]

@@BethanyAtazadeh Whatever you end up with will be great! 🤗

[@petergostelow]

Pick an independent character that both can confide in, to some extent, for the pov. While the character may not make sense of the pieces at least the reader will get a handle on the relationship, without full disclosure.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

That would be another angle for sure! A little too distant for my taste, but a fun way to tell the story another way!

[@hopejohnson9068]

What if you wrote the first draft with just Brynn’s pov and then decide after if you want to add the male pov? That way you don’t have to make the decision right away. I know Rebecca Ross (unintentionally) did this when she wrote Divine Rivals and realized she needed to write the male pov as well after she had already written the first draft.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

That’s a fun idea! I’m winging it now and ended up trying Soren’s POV but in the end you’re right, a first draft will always change so we’ll see what happens!

[@kellyalbertson962]

Bethany, I hear you are conflicted a bit on the name Soren. Just wanted to say that we have a friend named Solen, so I think of him whenever you mention Soren. I offer this up because possibly you are the same when choosing a name. To me, the 'r' in Soren sounds rough whereas the 'l' in Solen makes the name sound smooth. There may be a subconscious connection with "sore" also. I get a connection with "sol" (Light in Spanish) and possibly with "soul". There is power in names! Please don't think I am criticizing the name Soren. I just have heard you mention the uncertainty of it many times recently and if I knew you and we were chatting over iced coffees and Chips Ahoys, I'd bring it up in conversation and try to help you talk out the 'why' and 'why not' of his name, but since we don't know each other, I bring it up here. And wish I had an iced coffee. Dark. With cream. :)

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thanks for the idea, that’s a fun twist on the name, I like it! You can always share! I’m making myself stop changing it until I finish the first draft otherwise I’ll get super confused hehe, but after that it’s totally open to changing again, thanks for the idea!

[@67LMcC]

So many things...I can't read when I write because 1) I don't want to get accidentally influenced and 2) I always get demoralized because the books I love are so well written my stuff looks like crap!! As for that writer who gave you a hard time for having a lot of chapters, who died and made her the God of All Writing Laws? Seriously, I always have a ton of chapters - as many as it takes to tell the story.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Totally agree with both of those reasons too, they’re both valid! And yeah who knows what she was thinking haha, but thankfully I didn’t listen bc I know tons of readers who love short chapters!