Why Breaking the Rules of Writing Can Be FUN

The other day, I told you about the basic stylistic setup of the Grimoire Trilogy. I thought it might be fun to go into a little more detail.

 

Though the basic setup of Lichgates was pretty standard, I did something in the middle of the book not everyone liked. I love it, though, as do most of the people I encounter. I will be using it for the last two major books in the series, too. I call it the “guest perspective.”

 

In the middle of each book, there is a clear shift in the movement of the story. This happens in all three of the Grimoire Trilogy novels. And when the tides change, neither Braeden nor Kara are there to witness what happens. There is a crucial component of the tale that needs to be told, but can’t be told through the two main perspectives.

 

So I tried something a little risky.

 

The guest perspective concept is technically a no-no when it comes to traditional rules of the writing craft because it’s sudden. There is no introduction to these characters’ POVs, nor are they ever revisited. But my favorite professor back at Florida State always said to only break the rules if you could do so brilliantly. Because there was an element of the story that needed to be told—an element that would enrich the story and give the reader dramatic irony—I felt it could work.

 

In each guest perspective chapter, I add two voices that aren’t mentioned previously and are never mentioned again. These two characters are always connected to each other in an important way. By adding their voices, I could show readers how these characters see those around them. Through this new perspective, you get a greater understanding of the full scope of the trilogy’s characters and world, rather than the bits that Braeden and Kara see. I figured I couldn’t ignore the seemingly minor characters who play a much larger part than it otherwise appears.

 

So in Lichgates, you see the world through the Queen of Hillside’s POV, as well as that of her son Gavin. In Treason, you meet two more characters—and I think you’ll be surprised just who you meet. In Heritage, you’ll meet another two, and I think their stories are the most incredible of them all.

 

My exception to the guest perspectives rule is my epilogue. The epilogue in Lichgates features Deirdre. Deirdre carries the undercurrent of the series, and her story is a darkly beautiful one. I can’t wait to see what you think of her. I’m keeping mum about the subsequent epilogues to keep you on your toes.

 

So there you have it: the guts of the Grimorie Trilogy, spilled for the world to see. If you’d like, you can tell me about your book—what are you doing differently with it in the stylistic sense? Or, for my Grimoire fans out there, did you notice the shifts in perspective? Did you feel they helped, or maybe even hurt? I love hearing your thoughts.