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Home » Writing Craft » Page 4

Writing Craft

Point of View Post #2

By Lynette Easonon October 9, 2024
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Welcome back to our discussion about point of view (POV).

I want to continue to build on what I talked about last time.

In the last post, I explored what point of view actually is. Now I’m going to break down three different types of POV. Note that these are not the only other points of view, but ones used most often in fiction.

First Person Point of View

This is when the narrator is a character in the story, using “I” or “we.” The reader experiences the world directly through the eyes of that character. This POV creates a personal and/or intimate connection with the reader, but it can also limit information. Remember, the character can only know what he or she perceives.

Example:

Outside house character: The lights in the house went off, but I wouldn’t move yet. I shifted the weapon to my left hand. I needed the element of surprise on my side so the timing had to be perfect. So did my aim.

If I wanted to blatantly show how the character was limited in information, I’d switch to another point of view of someone inside the house:

Inside house character: With the lights off, I sat away from the windows and directly across from the front door. I held the gun in my lap, fingers curled around the grip. He’d be coming soon, but I was ready.

Books written in first person:
The Shack
The Great Gatsby
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Third Person

Third person is probably the most common point of view used in fiction. There are several advantages to using this. Writers are able to shape a story around one or more protagonists or the villain, but still remain “distant” enough to describe what’s happening around the characters.

Example:

Dr. Maya Sullivan lay still, ears ringing, heart thundering. Was it over? The roar of the avalanche had begun as a quiet rumble, like thunder rolling in from the distance.

Third Person Limited

This point of view is when an author writes a story from the point of view of a single character. But again, the advantage is they can also describe things around them by using the five senses.

Example:

Oliver stood frozen in the doorway. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the scene before him.

Books written in third person limited:
The Hunger Games
Divine by Karen Kingsbury
Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn
Any Love Inspired book that’s ever been published

Third Person Omniscient

This point of view is when the narrator knows everything—what every character is thinking, feeling, and doing at all times. The omniscient narrator can give the reader insight into multiple characters’ perspectives within the same scene. (I call this head-hopping.) This is not currently a very popular POV with publishers; and I recommend you stay away from it unless you know how to do it really, really well. It can make the reader feel detached from the story and the characters.

Example:

Oliver stood in the doorway, unaware that just upstairs, Rachel was making a life-changing decision of her own. She hadn’t told him yet, but the truth would come out soon.

Popular books written in omniscient POV:
Lord of the Flies
Charlotte’s Web
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Which POV type do you use for your WIP (Work in Progress)?

Here are a couple of exercises if you’d like to try your hand at something fun:

  • Exercise 1: Take a scene you’ve written and rewrite it from another character’s POV. How does it change the way the reader understands the story? Does it change the way you understand it?
  • Exercise 2: Write a brief scene using omniscient POV (this is actually very hard to do right), and then rewrite it in limited POV. Ask yourself which version feels more personal.

 

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Category: Craft, Writing Craft

A Scrivener Flunky Weighs In – Guest Post

By Guest Bloggeron September 30, 2024
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A Guest Post by Deborah Raney Deborah Raney’s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Thirty years, forty-plus books, and numerous awards later, she’s still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. A RITA and ACFW Carol Award winner and three-time Christy Award finalist, Deb is represented by our agency.  She is …

Read moreA Scrivener Flunky Weighs In – Guest Post
Category: Book Business, Guest Post, Technology, Writing CraftTag: Scrivener, Technology

When You Don’t Feel Like Writing

By Steve Laubeon September 23, 2024
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Multi-colored paperclips

“I don’t feel like writing today.” Ever said that to yourself? I’m saying it today. But if I followed through on the impulse, this page would be blank. Why You Won’t Write Today (1) Physical Illness can strike without warning. And some people suffer from chronic conditions. I have clients who pray for a “good” day so they can put a few words on the page. …

Read moreWhen You Don’t Feel Like Writing
Category: Career, Craft, The Writing LifeTag: Career, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Point of View #1

By Lynette Easonon September 19, 2024
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I’ve been discussing description over the past several posts, and I hope that’s been helpful. Let’s move on to a different topic. One that’s really important. Point of View (POV). I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately, and one thing that has jumped out at me has been the issue of  point of view. Many writers simply don’t seem to understand how to incorporate it into their stories correctly. …

Read morePoint of View #1
Category: Craft, Writing Craft

Description Part 4

By Lynette Easonon September 4, 2024
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We’re still discussing description and how to use it effectively in your story. Today, let’s address how doing description right is crucial to the pacing of your story. Balancing description with action is key to maintaining the appropriate pace. Let’s write a little more of Oliver’s scene and see what happens to the pacing. Here’s the last little bit of the scene we’re writing: Someone had broken …

Read moreDescription Part 4
Category: Craft, Writing Craft

Happy Laborious Day

By Steve Laubeon September 2, 2024
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[I posted this piece four years ago and thought it worthwhile to repeat it.] Today is Labor Day in the U.S., a national holiday. The holiday is “a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country” (a …

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Category: Craft

The Oft-Hidden Plus of Writers Conferences

By Bob Hostetleron August 22, 2024
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As I write this, I just returned from a wonderful Christian writers conference. As an author, agent, and speaker, I schedule four or five every year (back in the day, I would do as many as eleven or twelve a year, but these days other commitments make such insanity inadvisable). Christian writers conferences offer many benefits: You get to meet famous and accomplished writers like me. (I can hear …

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Category: Conferences

Description Part #3

By Lynette Easonon August 15, 2024
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I’m back to talk a little more about description and how it can advance the plot.  First, descriptions can foreshadow events or provide important information. What do I mean by foreshadowing events? First it helps to understand what foreshadowing means. If you think back to your freshman high school English 101 class, you’ll remember that foreshadowing involves giving subtle hints or clues about …

Read moreDescription Part #3
Category: Craft, Writing Craft

New Book Proposal Course

By Steve Laubeon August 12, 2024
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I have some exciting news to share! The Christian Writers Institute has released an all-new edition of my “Elements of an Effective Book Proposal” course. Completely revised and expanded to provide even more value and insight. Why This Course Matters I have long taught that writing a book proposal is one of the most critical steps in securing a publishing deal. Whether you’re a …

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Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, Pitching, Platform, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Know Your Genre When Making a Pitch

By Steve Laubeon August 5, 2024
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Awhile ago I received a call that illustrates a common error a writer can make when making their pitch: the problem of not knowing the genre in which they are writing. The call went something like this: Writer: I’m calling to see if your agency handles westerns. Agent: That is a tough genre to sell in the current market, but a lot would depend on how well you can write it. Writer: Some …

Read moreKnow Your Genre When Making a Pitch
Category: Book Proposals, Branding, Conferences, Get Published, Marketing, PitchingTag: book proposals, Genre, Get Published, Pitch; Genre; proposals, Pitching
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