Comments on: Three Keys to Effective Viewpoint Writing http://writeanovelfast.com/three-keys-to-effective-viewpoint-writing/ Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:50:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: AA http://writeanovelfast.com/three-keys-to-effective-viewpoint-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1659 AA Sun, 03 Jul 2011 11:28:17 +0000 http://writeanovelfast.com/?p=109#comment-1659 Hi Michael, Firstly, if one is using "third person omniscient narrative" to write, is one still subject to viewpoint writing? Can one describe a character without employing any particular viewpoint if one's using "third person omniscient narrative" to write? E.g. "Despite Mr. Jones' great reputation, he was a small, wiry man ." Also, if it is okay to describe a character without employing another character's viewpoint, when can one do so, and what are the acceptable ways/limits of doing so? Please help, I have the urge to describe a character, I have seen such done by some successful writers, but I'm not sure if I am missing something, and if by doing so, I will make the story less credible, because I've come across warnings against doing so. Thank you. Regards, AA Hi Michael,

Firstly, if one is using “third person omniscient narrative” to write, is one still subject to viewpoint writing?
Can one describe a character without employing any particular viewpoint if one’s using “third person omniscient narrative” to write? E.g. “Despite Mr. Jones’ great reputation, he was a small, wiry man .”

Also, if it is okay to describe a character without employing another character’s viewpoint, when can one do so, and what are the acceptable ways/limits of doing so?

Please help, I have the urge to describe a character, I have seen such done by some successful writers, but I’m not sure if I am missing something, and if by doing so, I will make the story less credible, because I’ve come across warnings against doing so.

Thank you.

Regards,

AA

]]> By: Michael A. Haver http://writeanovelfast.com/three-keys-to-effective-viewpoint-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-591 Michael A. Haver Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:48:05 +0000 http://writeanovelfast.com/?p=109#comment-591 Limited/Deep I meant. Suppose I was mixing objective with limited. My problem is I enjoy objective, with that said. All my research shows that Readers want Limited. I seem to hooked on finding a POV that fits me and the reader. Perhaps a objective pov, that the character journals.......ie. Tells his THOUGHTS that way. Guess, I am trying to stand out a bit from the crowd. Thanks , Michael Limited/Deep I meant. Suppose I was mixing objective with limited. My problem is I enjoy objective, with that said. All my research shows that Readers want Limited. I seem to hooked on finding a POV that fits me and the reader. Perhaps a objective pov, that the character journals…….ie. Tells his THOUGHTS that way. Guess, I am trying to stand out a bit from the crowd.

Thanks ,

Michael

]]> By: evanmarshall http://writeanovelfast.com/three-keys-to-effective-viewpoint-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-590 evanmarshall Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:05:05 +0000 http://writeanovelfast.com/?p=109#comment-590 Hi Michael, Doesn't objective third person mean the narrator only knows what someone watching would know, like in a movie: we don't know characters' thoughts; we have only their actions and words. So I'm not sure what you mean by "go deep." Personally, I think objective third person distances the reader. I always feel that one of the key features of a novel, as opposed to film, is that we ARE able to get inside characters' heads, know what they're thinking and feeling. Best, Evan Hi Michael,

Doesn’t objective third person mean the narrator only knows what someone watching would know, like in a movie: we don’t know characters’ thoughts; we have only their actions and words.

So I’m not sure what you mean by “go deep.”

Personally, I think objective third person distances the reader. I always feel that one of the key features of a novel, as opposed to film, is that we ARE able to get inside characters’ heads, know what they’re thinking and feeling.

Best,

Evan

]]> By: Michael A. Haver http://writeanovelfast.com/three-keys-to-effective-viewpoint-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-589 Michael A. Haver Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:24:17 +0000 http://writeanovelfast.com/?p=109#comment-589 Objective third is my choice. However, I like how Viewpoint Characters work ie. painting the scenes. Your views on a combination of the two. Go deep but stay objective ( No thoughts ). Regards Michael A. Haver, Phoenix, AZ Objective third is my choice. However, I like how Viewpoint Characters work ie. painting the scenes. Your views on a combination of the two. Go deep but stay objective ( No thoughts ).

Regards
Michael A. Haver, Phoenix, AZ

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