Monday, August 17, 2009

WHO'S POINT OF VIEW??


Good Manic Monday everyone. What do I have in store for you this week? I have a steaming cup of coffee and a plate of virtual cinnamon rolls. Have a seat and help me ponder points of views for a moment. Not all of them. That would give me a migraine and you’d click off to some other shiny more interesting blog.


I want to discuss Deep POV vs First Person.


Another term for “Deep POV” is limited Third Person. It’s a technique that infuses Third Person POV with the intimacy of First Person. It is intended to create intense journey for the reader. Dialogue tags and verbs such as see, notice, understand, feel, realize, and think are considered a ‘no-no’ since it is considered telling not showing. The character’s thoughts are an intimate part of the story, drawing in the reader close to the story as if sitting on narrator’s shoulders the whole time.


First POV is the story narrated by only one character at a time, who use the word I to refer to him-herself. This, like deep, is an intimate relationship with the reader. Opinions, thoughts, and feelings of the main character are shared to the point where the reader experiences the story through their eyes.


Okay, I’m taking my teacher’s hat off and getting to the reason for this blog. I’ve been experimenting with both POVs and enjoy them equally. I have a project waiting for its turn but can’t decide on which POV to write it in.


Which is your favorite and why?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Personally, I've never been a fan of first person unless its an autobiography.
Rachel

Heather Long said...

I like first person in some cases, yet not in others. As an author, my romances are very much in deep POV or third person while my urban fantasy with Chance Monroe is in First Person. Part of that comes from how I "hear" the story in my head. Chance's story is very much Chance's perspective and how she interacts with the world. It can be a challenge -- but one I enjoy writing.

Author Guy said...

I write in what you might call a variant of what you call here deep POV. When I started my first novel I had no idea how to do it, never took a course or anything. I knew I didn't like to read all that descriptive prose, though. So when it came time to write descriptive prose, my first thought was, "Why write what I hate to read?" So I invented a style, in which everything is described from the point of view of the person perceiving it. Descriptive text, interior monologue, and dialog all pretty much on the same level.

Rebecca Royce said...

I like both but I write in deep POV most of the time

Sandra Sookoo said...

I like both. I love writing in first person if the story is more about the heroine's journey. It's easy for me to write in the first person.

However, for a deeper, more impactful book, I like third with the heroes POV. Just depends on what the book calls for :-)

Unknown said...

Hi :)
I enjoy both POV and the others as well, as long as it is a great book. Some books require a certain POV, be it 1st, 3rd, deep, omni, etc.
Nine Princes in Amber wouldn't be the book it is without 1st Person POV.
Nor would Eye of the World be the same without omnipresent.
:)
Thanks for an interesting blog post.
Love and best wishes,
twitter: @RKCharron
xoxo

Amanda Kelsey said...

I never read books 1st POV. Even if it is written by an author I love. I've been so disappointed a number of times picking up books that sound interesting then I open them up to read them and they are in 1st. Ugh! I throw them away immediately. I know that's extreme but...

I really don't like 1st pov for some reason.

Deep POV, however, I LOVE! Can't get enough of it.

Yeah, I'm strange like that.

Shiela Stewart said...

I'm a deep pov kind of gal. :) I can't write first person, it's just not for me. I can read it, if the book is good.

Leigh Royals said...

Hi Annie! You know, I don't think I have a preference as far as reading either unless it's done poorly. When it is done seamlessly and I hardly notice because the writing is so good, I'm drawn in and forget my author/editor hat, then I'm pleased.

As far as writing? I like Third. I like to show reactions from the character of the scene to the happenings. I'm doing so to try and improve/ exercise my skills.

Some wise mentor once told me that to change syle, just try changing the pronouns from he/she to I/me.

Lakisha S said...

I like both types and like Author Guy, I tend to write in a hybrid style of the two. Also like others have commented, it dependson how it's written. Any poorly written story, no matter the POV is a turn off.

J Hali Steele said...

Annie, for me it's third. Though I've read a few good first person, I'm not a fan of it and normally stay away from it.