Lesson In POV
Point of View is something writers need to be aware of. I've heard the "rules" but the more I read the more I realize we can write however we want if it's done well. By well, I mean everything from clear to engaging.
Here's some types of POV.
Omniscient: Like God. The writer tells the reader things the character couldn't possibly know, so it's an all-knowing type of point of view.
Third person: Using the pronouns "she" or "he". Sensory details, thoughts, etc. are experienced through one character's pov at a time.
Second person: Using the pronoun "you". I don't see this very often.
First person: Using "I".
Those are all extremely simple examples from me. For better details, check out this article at Fiction Factor.
What POV do you write in? Which are you most comfortable using? What genre is your favorite to read, and what POV is the norm for that genre?
Here's some types of POV.
Omniscient: Like God. The writer tells the reader things the character couldn't possibly know, so it's an all-knowing type of point of view.
Third person: Using the pronouns "she" or "he". Sensory details, thoughts, etc. are experienced through one character's pov at a time.
Second person: Using the pronoun "you". I don't see this very often.
First person: Using "I".
Those are all extremely simple examples from me. For better details, check out this article at Fiction Factor.
What POV do you write in? Which are you most comfortable using? What genre is your favorite to read, and what POV is the norm for that genre?
Comments
~ Wendy
Wendy, that's cool. First can be tricky too, I think.
The novels I like best are written in first person--that makes them seem more exciting somehow. You go throught the story in the writer's skin, so to speak.
I've heard omniscient is very hard to pull off.
Great, informative post! Thanks!
I read historicals and mysteries. The historicals are almost always 3rd person and the mysteries are almost always 1st person. :)
Most of the historical fiction I read is in 3rd, however I read a lot of YA and the trend in that genre is writing in 1st.
Blessings,
Karen
I'm most comfortable with third person. Someday, I'd like to try first person.
Mystery/Suspense used to be my favorite, but Historical Romance is catching up fast. Most of what I read is third person. I'm currently reading Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig.
Blessings,
Susan :)
:-)
To me omniscient is VERY difficult; I rarely connect with this POV. A notable exception was The Book Thief. Brilliant!!
You get this tremendous bond with ur main character, but then you don't care too much about the other characters.
There's a movie example that shows it for me-In 'Titanic', you hear the main woman's thoughts- and ur really touched by ur bond with her...but then they kill the main guy-whose head we can't get into and expect you to be be super sad and upset, but ur like, "I feel bad for her, but I didn't REALLY know him-so his death isn't as impactful as the writers wanted it to be.
...but that's just my opinion. :)
OHH! Jess! I dunno if u got my comment on ur kiddos and cupcakes- I don't remember if I messaged u with it, or it was a long comment, but I'm doing some some samples of birthday cupcakes for kids, and I'm looking for a different theme to go on each cupcake. I wanted to extend the offer to ur kiddos to have a cupcake each that's tailored to their personality, favorite things, hobbies, fav colors/flavors. I can't send it to them since cupcakes don't survive the journey so far, but they'd have the pics I could send you, and the pics would be on my bakery blog named after them.
Let me know if they might want to do that-and if u are alright with it!
:)
Thanks for chiming in ladies, about POVs. It's a tool in our box, for sure.
Another great and interesting post.