(no subject)

[roselightfairy]

Question for writers in this pairing: do you find yourself gravitating to one POV over the other, in general or for particular things? And is there any correlation between that and the character you identify with the most? (Do you prefer to write from the perspective of the character you identify with, or from the perspective of the one OBSERVING that character? Are there certain things you prefer to be in Gimli’s head for, or Legolas’s? Etc., etc.) I’ve been observing my own tendencies and now am curious!

Comments

[roselightfairy]

I’ll go first, since I asked: Legolas is the character I’ve chosen as a projection screen, but I often find myself defaulting to Gimli’s POV. I can’t help wondering (or suspecting) that it’s out of that particular self-voyeur urge: to see/justify/admire/excuse my own tendencies through forgiving eyes. That said, I typically go for Legolas’s POV if the matter at hand is especially angsty or there’s a particular emotion I want to break down (emphasis on the breakdown; I’m a h/c writer, after all). I’m wondering how others’ experiences compare?

[katajainen]

That's a really interesting question.

I feel like I tend to default to Gimli's POV, but I would actually need to check, because that depends so much on the story (ETA: my posted work is like 3:7 Legolas vs. Gimli, so that checks out). One thing I know that alternating POVs are hard to keep balanced; it always veers towards one or the other...

I used to think Gimli was easier because getting into a fellow mortal's skin required less in the way of mental gymnastics (and let's be honest, Tolkien elves are still not an easily approachable people to me - goes to show why I'm not that big on the Silmarillion), but the more I've written Legolas's POV, the easier it has become.

But still, it's like... Gimli has such a big personality in the canon text: great lines, strong opinions, a Presence writ large, while Legolas is somehow more elusive. It feels like I have less scaffolding ready in place for the character, so I have to do more work myself. (And I'm often lazy, hence, Gimli's POV.)

That said, I went and checked my posted fics and noticed that all of my E or M rated stuff is from Gimli's POV. Which probably is indicative of something... that I find it easier to express physical things from that perspective for some reason? (In any case I need to remedy that. I'm sure I have some really horny Legs in the WIPs somewhere. If not, I'll just have to write it. Because that lack is criminal.)

/end ramble

[roselightfairy]

This is a really interesting reply! I also like the thought that Gimli's POV is more accessible from a mortal's perspective and from what we get of them in the canon text - because it's true; Gimli really is a much more grounded character in the text. I have a theory about much of fandom's fascination with Legolas, and discounting the Orlando Bloom Factor, it has a lot to do with how little we get of him in the text. It's more of a sketchy outline than a fleshed-out person, one we can easily project ourselves into. (As I do.) But also, often when he is in the text, he's being Mysterious and Elven and his most notable dialogue is often musings on the nature of time or the sea or nature, making him a bit harder to get a grip on.

I also think there's probably an element of elvish fascination in that, too - at least for me it's the case. I'm fascinated by the way elves see the world but sometimes have trouble actually getting into their heads to do it, so you can be in Gimli, a firmer perspective, watching someone be Elven And StrangeTM. Because I think there is a voyeuristic element to this, too - the perspective we write in is often the opposite of the one we like to watch, when writing for a pairing where there are only two main characters. At least this is the case for me. ;) (And I wonder how this might play out in more explicit stuff, as well...)