The book I’m currently writing is a contemporary novel, a
detective story, featuring a PI by the name of Lews Canon. It is a
not-so-serious story, written in a light-hearted style. Sure, there will be
some action, some violence, after all it is a detective story, but mostly it
will be filled with humorous dialogue.
I wrote the first few pages quite some time ago, but it
never went anywhere. In fact, the main character was Mark Canon, not Lews
Canon. I changed the name later on, because it made more sense having him named
Lews. It fit much more to the theme and style.
Sound it out and you may get an idea of what I’m talking
about.
After reading those first pages, I thought they may make a
good story, but what would I write? So I actually made a character sheet of all
the characters I mentioned in those few pages. I even developed backgrounds for
them. Then I wrote some more, then I made an outline of a story. Of course, as
I’m writing, the outline changes, the story may take a different road, but at
least I do have some sort of guide.
This one is written in the first person. Lews Canon is
telling his story. As a writer I have to become Lews Canon. I have to
experience in my mind what he experiences. I know what he thinks, but I don’t
know what the other characters think. I will never know, unless Lews Canon is a
mind reader. Since this isn’t SF, he isn’t. He’s just a normal man with normal
abilities.
Should I, for some reason, decide to write a chapter
featuring one of the other characters, I could also write that in the first
person, but then I wouldn’t know what Lews Canon is thinking.
So, as you can see, there are certain rules when writing a
story.
Third-person limited
omniscient
When writing in the third person, the same rules apply. When
we follow the main character, we have to write from his/her perspective. We
also know what (s)he thinks but not what the others think. It is called POV
(Point of View). Many writers don’t seem to understand this principle. They
will jump from one character’s thoughts to another, sometimes in the same
paragraph. It is also known as ‘Head-hopping’. It is not a good way to write,
because it can become confusing to the reader. It is not difficult to write
with only one POV, even though some writers think it is. It takes a bit of
discipline but can be achieved.
Omniscient Mode
There is another style where the narrator of the story knows
the thoughts of every character, like a god, who knows everything. It is called
the ‘omniscient mode’. Some writers write in that style. I don’t really care
for that way of writing. It is head-hopping at best and can become quite
confusing. One never knows who is featured. The story becomes impersonal and as
readers we can’t identify with any of the characters.
More next time
2 comments:
The third person point of view is a form of storytelling in which a narrator relates all action in third person, using third person pronouns such as "he" or "she." Third person point of view may be omniscient or limited. Often new writers feel most comfortable with first person, but writing in the third person allows a writer more freedom in how a story is told.
Thank you for the comment, James. You are, of course, correct. When I write in the third person point of view I prefer limited, but that is just my preference.
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