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Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Writing Craft » Page 84

Writing Craft

The Wrong Point-of-View

By Karen Ballon July 27, 2011
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Last week we identified Point-of-View (POV). This week, let’s consider some common POV misteps.

What’s My Line?: When POV/voice doesn’t fit the character.

Here’s an example. The POV character is male and a construction worker. So is the following appropriate for his POV?

She walked toward him, wearing a white organza dress with a white dimity underskirt. Both were hand-embroidered with yellow sprigs and her matching yellow satin sash was tied into a swag at her left hip.

Yeah, not so much. Not unless he’s on one of those Style channel design shows. Make sure your character’s voice matches who and what he is.

I’m Gettin’ Dizzy: Head hopping.

This one drives me nutty. The rule of thumb? Stick with one POV per chapter or scene. Hopping heads at will ends up being confusing and frustrating for the reader. And the last thing you want to do is give said reader a reason to put your book down–or throw it. Now, I know head hopping tends to be more common in romances, which jump from the hero to heroine. But even in those cases I’d urge writers to stick to one POV per scene.

Here’s an example of head hopping:

Sarah knew Charles was angry. She could see it in his eyes, his stance, the way his fingers opened and closed. Tense. White knuckled.

He turned away from her, wondering how she’d gotten to him. She was making him crazy.

Sarah wanted to stop him, but she couldn’t. All she could do was watch him walk away.

Where’s the jump? Yup, when we get inside his head and have him wondering. Stick with one POV per scene or chapter. Your readers will thank you. So, for that matter, will your editor.

To See the Impossible Scene: Things POV character can’t see or know

I see this most often with descriptions. Writers want to sneak in physical descriptions of their characters, but end up doing so in ways one normally wouldn’t think. For example, this is from the Third Person POV character in the scene:

She pushed back her sumptuous, curly hair, a glint in her eyes.

Looks good to you? Well, try this trick to see if you’ve gone outside of POV. Put the section into first person:

I pushed back my sumptuous, curly hair, a glint in my eyes.

Yeaaahhh…not so great now. Unless your charcter is a narcissist, having her describe her own hair this way doesn’t work. And unless she’s staring into a mirror (please don’t use that old ploy) she sure can’t see there’s a glint in her own eyes.

So, to recap:

  • POV is the eyes through which you’re seeing a scene. Also called character voice.
  • There are three types of POV: Omniscient, First Person, Third Person
  • Omniscient POV is where you’re not in any particular head. This POV lets you tell and know all, but lacks intimacy.
  • First Person is where you’re in one character’s head, and speaks in terms of I. This POV is immediate, emotive, and intimate, but can be limiting and difficult to write.
  • Third Person can be in a limited number of heads, and speaks in terms of he/she.

Last but not least, here’s an exercise for you to try, if you’re so inclined. Write one of the following scenes from all three POV angles:

  • Someone sitting by a loved one’s bedside, waiting with that person as s/he prepares to meet the Lord.
  • Someone waiting for a letter bearing the answer to an important question.
  • Someone driving a car who just manages to avoid a collision with a semi.
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Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Karen, Point of View, Writing Craft

Out of Their Minds: The basics of point-of-view

By Karen Ballon July 21, 2011
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Ever been reading a novel, cooking along with the character, when you realize you’re not seeing things through that character’s eyes any longer? Somewhere along the way, something shifted and you’re inside a different character’s head. Jarring, huh? Probably jolted you out of the story, if only for a few seconds while you figured out what happened.

That, my friends, is what you want to avoid at …

Read moreOut of Their Minds: The basics of point-of-view
Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Karen, Point of View, Writing Craft

The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread?

By Steve Laubeon July 11, 2011
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Guest Post by Teddi Deppner

Today debuts our first guest post. I first met Teddi at the Mt. Hermon Writers Conference while she sat through my Major Morning Track, listening patiently to 8 1/2 hours of lecture over four days. She has recently been asking some penetrating questions about technology and the publishing industry so I invited her to create a post and express those thoughts for …

Read moreThe Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread?
Category: Book Business, E-Books, Guest Post, Publishing A-Z, TrendsTag: Book Business, Creativity, E-Books, Get Published, Ideas, Traditional Publishing, Trends

RWA 2011 – Bright Lights Big Stories

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 7, 2011
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by Lynette Eason

Today we are pleased to have a guest post from Lynette Eason, author of the bestselling "Women of Justice" series published by Revell. She also won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award for romantic suspense. Last week Lynette was at the RWA (Romance Writers of America) convention and we asked her to share her experience.

__________

"Bright Lights Big Stories" …

Read moreRWA 2011 – Bright Lights Big Stories
Category: Book Business, Conventions, Guest Post, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: convention, RWA, Tamela

True Words

By Karen Ballon July 6, 2011
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Several months ago someone challenged me to read an article by Marilyn McEntyre entitled “Letting Words Do Their Work.” Because I respected the editor who made the recommendation, I hopped right on over the the link.

It’s not easy reading. Nor is it a “quick read.” But I’ll tell you what it is:

Powerful truth. If you're a writer, speaker, agent, reader, or simply one who loves--truly …

Read moreTrue Words
Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Karen, Writing Craft

Book of the Month – July 2011

By Steve Laubeon July 2, 2011
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by Steve Laube

Small Message, Big Impact by Terri L. Sjodin is this month's "Book of the Month." I recommend that every veteran and aspiring writer read this book and glean from it.

The key to this book is in the subtitle: How to Put the Power of the Elevator Speech Effect to Work for You. Sjodin defines the elevator speech as:  "A brief presentation that introduces a product, service, …

Read moreBook of the Month – July 2011
Category: Book of the Month, Book Review, Steve, Writing CraftTag: Book Review, New Books, Writing Craft

The Care and Feeding of … WORDS!

By Karen Ballon June 29, 2011
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“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.”
Pearl Strachan
“By words the mind is winged.”
Aristophanes
“The turn of a sentence has decided the fate of many a friendship, and, for aught that we know, the fate of many a kingdom.”
Jeremy Bentham
Amazing, isn’t it? Something so small as words can have such huge impact.

The right word in any circumstance can bring …

Read moreThe Care and Feeding of … WORDS!
Category: Craft, Creativity, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Creativity, Get Published, Karen, words, Writing Craft

Print: A Thing of the Past?

By Karen Ballon June 22, 2011
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by Karen Ball

Remember the musical Oklahoma? Gordon MacRae singing to, of all people, Rod Steiger: "Poor Jud is daid, poor Jud Fry is daid..."

Well, the way folks have been talking lately, I'm waiting for the new musical, "Digital World," where a Gordon MacRae-esque editor will stand next to a book and sing out, "Poor print is daid, poor print books is daid, they're lookin' oh, so tattered …

Read morePrint: A Thing of the Past?
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Publishing A-Z, TrendsTag: Print, publishing, Trends

The Fear of Rejection

By Steve Laubeon June 20, 2011
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Randy Ingermanson recently interviewed author Mary DeMuth in his "Advanced Fiction Writing E-Zine" and the topic of rejection surfaced. I thought it was very insightful and, with permission, am posting their conversation.

_______________

My friend Mary DeMuth recently published an e-book with the title The 11 Secrets of Getting Published.

Given that the price is only $2.99, I assumed the …

Read moreThe Fear of Rejection
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Rejection, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Get Published, Rejection, Writing Craft

A New Agent Joins Us!

By Steve Laubeon May 17, 2011
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We are thrilled to announce that Tamela Hancock Murray is joining The Steve Laube Agency as a new literary agent for the firm. For the last ten years she has been with the Hartline Literary Agency representing a number of successful authors.

She interned on Capitol Hill and at the U.S. Department of State before graduating with honors in Journalism from Lynchburg College in Virginia. Tamela …

Read moreA New Agent Joins Us!
Category: Agency, Book BusinessTag: Agents, Book Business
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