Looking Through the Eyes

Imagine that you are directing a movie when you tell a story, what angle will be captured by the camera? Whose eyes will you (the viewer) see the scene through? When you write your story you will determine what point-of-view works best.

There are THREE points-of-view (POV) and a few subcategories within that: 1^st person POV is when the narrator, commonly a main character, tells the story/narrative in their own voice – I went to the party expecting to be disappointed… ; 2^nd person POV is when a character narrates by talking to the main character, this might be a form of reflection such as the character talking to a younger version of himself – You didn’t think you would have so much fun at the party, did you?. Be sure to make it clear who is being addressed as YOU.; 3^rd person POV is told from the view of an observer through a character’s eyes – She went to the party fully expecting to leave within a few minutes… Point-of-View lets the reader know actions, feelings and opinions from one or more character’s perspective.

In 3^rd person POV, it’s permissible to change perspective so long as the transition is clear and is a comfortable transition. Don’t jump back and forth between characters (head hopping) too frequently, identify which character’s perspective is involved early in the switch. Off the paper a writer should be able to justify why they changed POV. Some writers prefer to wait for chapter endings, scene changes or, at the minimum, double-spaced line breaks to add more clarity for the reader. If you are writing from a character’s perspective you can use that character’s thoughts and emotions, but remember that is the character whose head you are in; this character is not a mind reader unless, of course, that is the character’s ability, so that character can interpret someone else’s feelings based on facial expressions and actions but NOT be reading their mind. The writer refers to the character as he or she. He didn’t like the looks his girlfriend was giving him…

There are 3^rd person subcategories: omniscient, objective and limited. In 3^rd person omniscient the narrator knows everything that is going on including feelings and thoughts; the narrator may or may not share this knowledge with the reader. In 3^rd person objective the narrator only knows what he sees and is not in-the-head of the major characters; the only thing that the narrator can share is what he sees as an observer. Finally in 3^rd person limited the narrator sees all of the action plus understands what is going on in the head of ONE major character.

1^st person protagonist is told by the main character and from that character’s POV – the story should be told the same way the character speaks in dialogue. If the character is a young child they should sound like a young child whether she is narrating the story or having a conversation with another character. Some writers will interject 1^st person antagonist in order to create tension and mystery. 1^st person witness is the story as told through the eyes of a minor character observing the main character(s), again use the pattern of speech that narrative character uses.

Writing Exercise:  Finish these sentences and write a full paragraph for each:
1) I hope that you’re happy that I have to ______
2) We were hiking when we saw ______
3) The last time I was arrested, I ______
4) I really wish I had more ______
5) How could I tell her that I won’t _____

Writing Prompt:  Think about the past week and make a list of 10 items that would/could be the basis of a story.

Challenge Assignment: Think of the last group function you attended (such as a family dinner, a company picnic, or a group tour) Write a few paragraph story about the event in each of the 3 POV: 1^st person, 2^nd person, and 3^rd person. The story does not have to be factual, but it needs to be the same story in each version.