Bronwyn Green

Best and Worst is a newish feature where we just talk about whatever we feel is the best and worst of the scheduled topic, and this month, we’re talking about POV.

Worst: Ugh–Third Person Omniscient. I don’t know if I can straight up say it’s the worst POV–I mean, a lot of people enjoy it. I, however, am not one of them.

If you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s the style of storytelling where the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters. As a reader, I don’t want to know what’s going on in everyone’s head. When that happens, I don’t feel as if I get to know any of the characters well enough to care about them. Also? Third Person Omniscient tends toward head hopping. And I fucking hate head hopping. I mean, I loathe it with all the fiery passion of a thousand burning suns.

Best: Third Person Deep POV/First Person I know. I’m cheating. I chose two. But, whatevs. It’s my blog, and I do what I want.

You might not think so at first glance, but these two POVs are actually very similar. No, don’t give me that side-eye, just listen a sec. They both immerse the reader deeply into the POV character’s mind. Done well, the reader is submerged and feeling what the POV character is feeling. That’s what I’m looking for when I read (and write). I want to experience the character’s feelings as intensely as I do my own.

Executed well, the only POVs that really do that for me are Deep Third and First. When you’re writing or reading Deep Third, you should be able to mentally substitute I, me, and my for her/him, she/he, hers/his. And the narrative should be as free from filter words and phrases as possible. You want to ditch the things that create an emotional distance between reader and character.

So, those are my best and worst. Check out the other bloggers’ takes on the subject.

Kris  *  Gwen