As an editor, one of the things I see a lot is people trying to figure out third-person point of view. They’ve got a hero, a clear main character, but the narrative point of view stays very far away from that character’s perspective. Part of this, I think, is that it’s just hard to get into a character’s head, to stay with them all the time and do that darned showing we all aim for. This is true, even if you’re writing in first person, which–as a writer–is where I tend to go.
The other thing I think that may be happening is that some writers get a little too caught up in the definition of third-person that used to be more common–that very outside point-of-view. It’s not quite omniscient, but it also doesn’t give you access to any particular character’s thoughts and feelings. Or we think that third-person can only be the opposite of first, which means outside.
The thing is, I really think a high percentage of third-person books published today are written in close third-person, which means the narrator does share thoughts, feelings, and those visceral reactions we feel in our gut; if not as deeply as they would in first-person pov. So I thought that, today, I’d point you to a few blogs and articles about this close third-person point of view. Which, when done well, can bring a real strength to the narrative voice.
- Sally Apokedak gives a nice description, with examples, here, at Bella Online.
- Tia Nevitt talks about Linnea Sinclair’s take on “Deep” third-person here.
- Annette Lyon discusses here why you might want to choose close-third instead of first.
- Katy Upperman gives you a chance here to compare opening paragraphs of one of her WIPs, written in first and in third.
And finally, I often recommend Alicia Rasley’s, The Power of Point of View. I think Rasley does a great job of showing where and how point of view connects with and impacts the narrative voice.
Enjoy the links, and have fun playing with point of view!
June 10, 2011 at 9:03 am
This is an excellent – and uber-important – point. This is a problem I encounter often in editing as well. It’s often difficult for writers to grasp the intricacies of a deep third-person narrative. In fact, the published novel I’m reading right now could have benefited from its author reading this post! As a reader, I want to be sucked deep into the narrating character’s head, whether he’s telling the story in first or in third. Show me the world through his eyes, and chances are good I’ll be hooked.
June 10, 2011 at 9:54 am
Exactly. Yes, obviously, there are times to choose to write from a distance, but if you’re picking a perspective, it’s so important to SHOW that perspective.
June 11, 2011 at 10:21 am
Enjoyed this post. Added it to my wiki and forwarded to a friend whose ms. I am reading. THis nailed her problem!
June 11, 2011 at 10:22 am
Oh, good!
June 11, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Thanks so much for linking my post, Becky!
I think your right about most of today’s third-person books being in very close third person, especially when it comes to YA. The great joy of reading (in my opinion) is getting inside someone else’s head, experiencing life through their eyes, and feeling what they feel. That’s nearly impossible with a distant POV, and (for me, anyway) tricky even in close third person. I’m new to writing third person, and when do, I write in first person initially, then covert it to third later. Very time-consuming, but the best way for me to be certain I’m “in character.”
June 12, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Katy, I really liked the post. I’ve heard about people writing in 1st and converting it to third. I pretty much choose 1st, but I’ve been struggling with my hero’s WANT in a picture book, and I wonder if playing with it in first, then going back would help. Hmm…
June 13, 2011 at 4:44 am
Becky, I write a lot of close third person, as I find first person so intimate. As someone pointed out, first person works so well for YA. I wonder if we are all still in touch with our inner teenager, and that voice just naturally comes out in first person? Or if because teenagers are so naturally the center of their own universe that no outside narrator can get close enough to speak for them, and they must do it themselves?
Most of the time, I do fine with close third, but I’m writing a character now who is closed off emotionally, and boy is that a struggle. I want her to open up to the reader as the story progresses, but the problem is the beginning. She feels very distant–because she is. This one is a challenge.
Thanks for the recs–I will check those out, pronto!
June 13, 2011 at 6:50 am
Ramona, I’ve always written in first. I don’t know if it’s laziness or if I just like the “feel” better. Have you tried writing a couple of your scenes in first–not to keep it that way, but just to play and see if you can get her to loosen up FOR you a bit?
April 20, 2013 at 1:29 pm
Thank you – this really helps me a lot. I am currently in a creative writing class and am struggling with point of view (especially as the first draft of my short story ended up telling more than showing), and how to bring it closer. I appreciate your post on the subject, and am about to go check out a few of the links you suggested. Thanks!