One of the first decisions to make when writing any story is selecting the type of Point of View (POV), and from which character’s perspective the story will be narrated. Trust me, it may sound like an easy decision, but I can assure you that it is anything but!
When I started Masque of Honor, I didn’t understand the “rules” around POV. I just started writing the story. And I soon found out that my default style of writing (at the time I didn’t realize how important POV was!) had my readers “head hopping”, which I have subsequently learned is a real no-no! We’ll explore “head-hopping” in a future Monday post (I don’t want y’all losing your heads quite yet!).
So my Literary Coach quickly schooled me on the different Types of Point of View. There is FIRST PERSON POV, when “I” am telling the story. The character is in the story, relating his or her experiences directly. There is SECOND PERSON POV when the story is told to “you”. There is THIRD PERSON CLOSE POV, where the story is about “he” or “she.” In today’s world, this is the most common point of view in commercial fiction. The narrator is outside of the story and relating the experiences of a character. And finally, my favorite, THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT POV, where the story is still about “he” or “she,” but the narrator has full access to the thoughts and experiences of all characters in the story. Apparently this final POV type is not as popular these days and is seen by many as an old-fashioned and dated style of writing. I guess I’m just an old-fashioned gal!
Next Monday, I’ll share with you how I make THIRD PERSON OMNISCENT work in Masque of Honor and some thoughts on how I am approaching my next project, my psychological drama featuring the trial of a woman accused of multiple murders in 1872.
