Great article on POV and narrative distance

[Lone_Crane]

https://www.awpwriter.org/magazine_...ays_distance_point_of_view_in_fiction_writing

In my opinion, classifying works of fiction according to their person tells us virtually nothing about either the specific works or point of view in general. As Booth has said, "(W)e can hardly expect to find useful criteria in a distinction that would throw all fiction into two, or at most three, heaps. To say that a story is told in the first or the third person will tell us nothing of importance unless we describe how the particular qualities of the narrators relate to specific desired effects." In other words, we need to focus on the techniques a narrator uses, not his person. And as Booth has pointed out, all narrative techniques are available to all narrators, regardless of person. For example, first- and third-person narrators can, and do, tell us the thoughts and feelings of other characters.

I first read this essay years ago in a book called Alone With All That Could Happen by David Jauss, which has since been republished under the title On Writing Fiction: Rethinking Conventional Wisdom About the Craft. The essay offers a much more nuanced look at point of view than you will usually find.



If you'd like to delve deeper into the subject, I highly recommend the book, The Rhetoric of Fiction by Wayne C. Booth, which is more literary theory than some might prefer, but is also the most complete look at POV and some other topics that I have seen thus far.

 

[sak-chii]

What a good resource of material

 

[mrsimple]

@GuanZhong Thank you for the find.

 

[Scribbler]

I actually could really use this. I've been writing in first person and have been feeling extremely limited compared to when I wrote in third. I have to make sure I only describe things that the MC can perceivably perceive. And I have to shift the narrative style from one of omniscient where I could go into the heads of everyone to only the style of the MC. It does feel more personal, though.

I could definitely do better since I feel like I'm writing worse compared to when I wrote in third. And because I don't think I'm using everything I can while writing in first. Writing differently is hard. I should definitely pick up a first person book and start reading it, and this one.

I also think the MC shines less because I mostly write about what they see instead of having the camera on the MC. But it's also more immersive; what they do see.

 

[Lone_Crane]

I actually could really use this. I've been writing in first person and have been feeling extremely limited compared to when I wrote in third. I have to make sure I only describe things that the MC can perceivably perceive. And I have to shift the narrative style from one of omniscient where I could go into the heads of everyone to only the style of the MC. It does feel more personal, though.

I could definitely do better since I feel like I'm writing worse compared to when I wrote in third. And because I don't think I'm using everything I can while writing in first. Writing differently is hard. I should definitely pick up a first person book and start reading it, and this one.

I also think the MC shines less because I mostly write about what they see instead of having the camera on the MC. But it's also more immersive; what they do see.

Hope the article helps! I don't know the details of your story, but if you want to continue with first-person, you can try to focus on showing the other characters' thoughts/feelings through their actions more. Could be a good way to show also that the first-person narrator doesn't is perhaps incorrect on some of his/her assumptions (if the MC thinks a certain way about a character, but we, the reader see them acting or saying something differently).

You might also be able to employ scene breaks and use the new scene to enter a different character's head, but still in first-person, and use that to shift narrative focus.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

I actually could really use this. I've been writing in first person and have been feeling extremely limited compared to when I wrote in third. I have to make sure I only describe things that the MC can perceivably perceive. And I have to shift the narrative style from one of omniscient where I could go into the heads of everyone to only the style of the MC. It does feel more personal, though.

I could definitely do better since I feel like I'm writing worse compared to when I wrote in third. And because I don't think I'm using everything I can while writing in first. Writing differently is hard. I should definitely pick up a first person book and start reading it, and this one.

I also think the MC shines less because I mostly write about what they see instead of having the camera on the MC. But it's also more immersive; what they do see.

i had the same problem with first person. But then i realized there;s several ways to get around that. Like you dont HAVE to write only what they see. You can also write what they THINK they see. Specifically in others. It touches upon unreliable narration but is more akin to a colored lens. The story's tone and world changes with the type of personality you give your character. The readers pick up on that and so experience the story in whatever way you want. Third person gives you more freedom and lets you be more factual with what the characters are thinking or feeling, yeah, but while you dont get that with first person you can easily make your story more immersive and just as interesting in first person. Provided your character, the one who the reader is looking at the world through, isn't dull and boring.