This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert continue the point of view conversation, going deep into the third person. We talk about the limited narrator and how that actually limits you, earned POVs, thrones and crowns. As a bonus, we get nuts and bolts on how to italicize a character’s thoughts.
Stop! Before you listen to this episode make sure you have listened to our Introduction to Point of View.
Show Notes:
What is the third person point of view and why is it so popular? How do you use multiple points of view in the third person? And what are the pitfalls that authors encounter? How do you know if a character has earned their point of view? And whose point of view should your next scene be written in?
What we talked about:
What is the third person point of view? (0:20)
Why is third person such a popular point of view? (1:02)
Do we gravitate towards third person? (4:43)
What is third person limited versus omniscient? (5:35)
What is “head hopping” and why should you avoid it? (10:50)
What is an unearned point of view? (14:10)
How can the narrative distance also effect the character and the action? And whose perspective should you use anyway? (16:37)
Multiple point of view in film versus literature. (21:10)
The Multiple Point of View test: Are your characters all distinct? (23:38)
How do you portray character thoughts? (24:20)
Things we mentioned:
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 26: Introduction to Point of View
SWRT 27: First Person Point of View
60 Second Tip: POV Stranglehold
