Thanks for the compliment about the blog! Wes has worked like a hopped-up elf to make it all work right! He’s very brave to do so, too, because I’m a bit (read: very) particular about my blog and am a bit (read: very) demanding and perfectionistic!

Btw, nice blog, I think part of the credit goes to Wes for the graphics

-Dane, I’m certain you could revise a grocery list! Just cross out “carrots” and pencil in “potato (chips)”. There! Revised! Seriously, though, the re-writing and editing is the hardest part of this whole thing but a necesaary part if I’m going to make a go of this noveling thing.

The chick lit genre doesn’t have a standard, really. There’s plenty of 1st person but a generous number of 3rd person books as well, so at least there’s that flexibility.

I like 3rd person limited as well but I can’t do it. I tried in my writing class and I have yet to master it well enough to do it for the length of a novel with any sort of confidence. It may be an acquired skill or turn out to be something like math, which I seem to have a mental block against learning. Time will tell.

I agree about the past tense. Even if I wasn’t changing perspectives I’d change the tense, which, since it would mean re-writing my book anyway, seemed a good enough reason to try re-writing it in a different perspective!

As far as perspective, one thing you need to consider is that for better or worse you are writing genre fiction. I don’t know the answer to this, but what perspective are books in your genre typically written in?

Also, for third person, my preference is third-person limited. In my humble opinion it gives the reader an easier time identifying with your viewpoint character but avoids the first person traps. Although there is something to be said for the narrative voice and playfullness of language that first person allows.

And definitely past tense. Present, although it can lend an air of immediacy to a story, can be very very distracting.

I can’t wait to read any snippets you are willing to share!