Characterization Series - First Person Point Of View
One of the major stumbling blocks when beginning a new piece of fiction is determining how the character relays the story to the reader. There are many possibilities and each one brings with it certain strengths and weaknesses that can literally make or break a story. This article will confine the discussion to the First Person voice. If you are interested in reading about Third Person or Omniscient, please check this site for my articles concerning these voices.
When your characters are first coming to life you want to give them that chance. As writers, we all want our characters to jump off the page and scream to the reader, I'm interesting, love me, hate me...whatever it takes, just get involved. Character actions can relay a huge amount of information to assist the reader gain an in depth involvement, but it is voice that truly breathes life into them. One of these voices is First Person.
First Person is the voice in which we are most intimately aware. After all, this is how we think. When you think, you think in terms of "I" or "me". Since this is a natural function, First Person is perhaps the easiest voice to master. It is also the voice that can most accurately relay how a character feels and gives deep insight into their actions. First Person is highly personal and allows the reader to see all those hidden thoughts that we often hide. When you are in a difficult situation with a person and you are given a tight-lipped smile, you know that smile isn't genuine yet you will never know how that person honestly feels. This is a true statement since, at times, we are the people giving that shallow smile. What are you thinking about then? What would you like to do or say if you had the chance? As a voice, this tool is excellent to achieve that level of honesty. With this tool you can shock the reader and draw them deep into the character's psyche. In character development this tool shines above the rest.
Naturally along with the advantages come the disadvantages. First Person is extremely limited into the minds of other characters. You as a writer are limited in how you describe other character thoughts and emotions. You don't have the luxury to say what those characters are thinking or feeling outside of dialog and since characters (as well as people) often say one thing and do another, your main character can never really know the mental or emotional state of the rest of your cast. This is where skill comes in. When using First Person it is imperative that your other character's thoughts and emotions are shown to the reader through action. The limitation here is that your main character is judging the situation based on his or her perception and that perception is made through observation. If your main character gives his would-be girlfriend a flower as a present and she subsequently breaks out in hives, well now the reader knows she has an alergy and your main character has committed an inadvertent faux pas. How she reacts at that point lets the main character know how she feels about him. Does she curse, yell, stomp away silently or does she pat his hand and trot off to the restroom? Her actions tell your character and the reader all they need to know and all they can know.
Personally I like this voice the best as I tend to get into my character's minds and like peeling their emotions open to the reader like an onion. Handling his or her perceptions is tricky and yet, as a writer, very fulfilling. Using this voice will push your skills and help make you a much more accomplished artist.
Now, if you are seriously interested in continuing your writing education and skills, then following the link below is highly recommended. The site at the other end is not just for beginners. Regardless of your current skill level there is always room for improvement. If that weren’t the case then you would never seem published writers attending conferences and workshops. Give that a thought and then click the link below.
Until next time, keep writing and make those characters interesting. It’s the road to being published!
Steven Morse wrote his first story when he was seven. The novel, Dracula, left a huge impression on him when he was ten and he knew from that point that he would write the books that held him with such fascination.
He considers himself an continuous student knowing that writing is a never ending love and advances his craft on a daily basis. His works cover a broad spectrum from science fiction and self-improvement to supernatural romance and, of course, his favorite genre, southern horror.
Steven has won various awards in different genres, but feel his best accomplishments have been through the reactions to his writings. His stories have moved some to tears and others to laughter and it is this fact that brings him the greatest rewards.
He has completed to southern horror novels and is currently working on a self-improvement non-fiction book aimed at helping people recognize and celebrate the joys in their lives. Over all it is this latest effort that best sums up the writer Steven has become. His goal is to simply help others either through a thrilling story or getting them in touch with the spiritual wonders life has to offer.
www.myeasynovel.com
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