In this three-part series, we have moved from looking at what characters are and where they come from in the first article to their function in a story, how to bring them to life with description and where they really come from in the second article – ie you – the writer. In this concluding article of the series, we will examine the issues of point of view and voice. Each of these huge subjects requires several articles to cover effectively, but we will be looking at them here only as they pertain to the writing of characters.
Point of view
Whether you are writing in the First Person or the Third Person, you must stay true not just to who your characters are but where they are – their physical presence in the scene. You have to see and feel it all. Yes, you. To achieve this, I find it helps to approach your writing as if you are directing a movie. You – the writer – are in control of the camera at all times. The placement of the camera is determined by your choice of the point of view you wish to tell your story from.
There are three main points of view: First Person, Second Person and Third Person. Second Person, where you address the reader directly as ‘you’ can work sometimes in short stories or flash fiction, butbeing a stunning example of writing in the Second Person. So, in terms of our discussion we will be focusing on the First Person and Third Person.
