Outside Perspective

Welcome to the second focus article in our series covering Points of Views! Last week we talked about First Person, but this week we get to delve deep into my personal favorite point of view, Third! This article excites me because for the longest time I've been tweaking and refining my prose in this style. So sit back friends! Recline in any chair you like with a hot cocoa and a weighted blanket as we explore Third Person Point Of View!

Imagine a funnel. At the base is a single thing, the basics. Third Person is when someone uses pronouns like she/her, he/him, so on and so forth. It's inherently removed from the characters and tells the story as an observer. (John does this, John does that). It doesn't allow the same emotional connection and revelation that first person does, but with more plot centered books, Third person is the best way to go. This isn’t to say that a well-written book in first person can't be action-oriented, or that a well-written book in Third person can't be character oriented. I usually write novels that are character driven and in Third person, but this where the funnel expands into two areas of distance. In Third person, you can have Limited POV and omniscient POV. Limited POV serves to connect the reader to the character in the way that First Person does. The character knows only the immediate surroundings and reveals that to the reader through the lenses of the character’s worldview. Sometimes the prose is supported by italicized thoughts which give the reader an even more detailed view of the character and what they're thinking and feeling. Limited POV also helps to maintain mystery of a plot, as the reader only knows as much as the character. Omniscient POV is found in most classic fiction such as Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Jane Austen's writings etc. These are in their simplest forms, stories. The author is speaking directly to the reader and guiding them by the hand through the lore and the world. J.R.R. Tolkien expertly uses humor in his books to jeer or jest about the subject matter. This is different to Informational Books, or Self Help books because although those speak directly to the reader, they do so by crossing into First Person territory “I know you're thinking … but if I were you, I wouldn't do x, y, and z.” Sometimes Third person Omniscient can bleed into Second person which we'll talk about next week.

Back to our funnel, at the tip we have Third Person Point Of View, then as the funnel size increases it breaks into two categories, Limited POV and Omniscient POV. The next size increase holds my tips for writing each of the two. Omniscient POV requires a consistent distance from the character, else the quick switch between characters thoughts and emotions can be jarring and confusing for the reader. This is called head hopping, like in the Sims, only the difference is that head hopping feels overwhelming as there's so much to keep track of. In Omniscient storytelling it's important to make everything as concise as you can. Since you as the god-like narrator can see everything, you need to decide what's important information and what's not. The reader is relying on you to not fill the story with unnecessary fluff. This is also important to remember for Limited POV but it's harder to add fluff in Limited POV. The fluff will come more in dialogue or conversation that doesn't affect the plot. Not that every conversation should be an Earth-shattering discovery, but if you can remove it and nothing in the book changes, it's better off removed. 

Those are just a few pointers, but there's many more! If you'd like to ask me a question or subject an idea for an article feel free to email Umsteadkaylee064@gmail.com. Until then, friends, never stop dreaming and chasing after your dreams! Stay tuned!