Wednesday's Writing on Writing

Your choice of point of view can make or break your short story or novel.

Veteran editor and Christian Writers Guild Board Member, Dave Lambert, says, "No decision you make in writing a story will have more impact on its shape and texture than your choice of point of view." I agree.

Imagine your story as a party with you as host. Your job is to choreograph the events so people feel comfortable and never wonder what's going on. Without being intrusive, your aim is to make sure everyone has a good time.

We've all been to parties where the host has not covered the basics. Although we don't expect our host to be the center of attention, we expect her to manage the details. When this is done right, we hardly notice. We simply know we've enjoyed ourselves. When details are neglected, everyone leaves with a bad taste.

Picture yourself as the host of your fiction party. Invite readers to a treat. Don't take center stage, but manage the basics in such a way that the reader barely notices. Nothing should jar her as she engages with your characters and plot.

No one should notice that you followed the rules of perspective, that you limited your point of view to one character per scene. But they'll notice if you don't.

In my more than 100 novels, I've written in first-person, third-person, and omniscient points of view. There are many options: first person (singular or plural), second person, third person (single, multiple, subjective, and objective), and omniscient.

Regardless which you choose, there is one unbreakable rule: one perspective, one point of view per scene. Period.

When you violate this cardinal rule, few readers (unless they study writing) will think, Hey, she switched perspective characters on me! But they will feel like the underdressed partygoer, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do.