By Monet M. Jones
I think POV is a lot of BS. Let me clarify that statement. I think strict adherence to a particular Point of View when writing a novel is as useless as Broom Straw.
Understand me; a field of broom straw undulating in a light breeze is a beautiful thing. I remember running with my brother through such fields as a youngster. My brother and I thought the waist high grass was wonderful. However, after stumbling over hidden roots in one and almost stepping on a snake in another; we concluded broom straw looks good but hides important details.
I agree that when defining a scene it is important to use a strict point of view. However confining one’s depiction of a story to the insight of a single character simply because some nebulous “they” has decided one should is BS; those letters may not mean Broom Straw in this instance.
I recently reread Of Mice and Men and thought it would have been a shame if Steinbeck had read his story to a writer’s workshop. He told the story his way. So much dimension would have been lost if he had slavishly observed a restrictive narrative mode.
I have decided that henceforth I will use third person omniscient as my usual writing point of view. This should resolve any conflicts about a narrative mode and of course make my writing more like that of Steinbeck.
4 comments:
3rd person om is one of my favorites. I've gone through most of my life reading and writing that way. I have, however, had a story rejected, citing my pov switches as a reason. It has certainly fallen out of vogue as late. I have noticed it cited as law in our group, rather than as "I think this scene would suck me in more if there was only one pov," or "the pov switches knocked me out of it." As a new writer I have mostly honored this new convention... after that rejection letter... but I do wonder about how often it can be broken.
I personally hate the 1st person POV. I don't like reading it and I don't like writing it. I, I, I, me, me, me, mine mine mine...it's just sounds like such an ego trip.
I don't think that one has to stick to the same POV all the way through their work. You just have to make sure that the reader knows you have changed it.
I loved your POV....and the article about it, as well. I too have decided that third person omniscient is the way to go. I love to read first person, but my writing skills "can't handle it!" as Jack Nickolson would say.
Beth
I don't think that one has to stick to the same POV all the way through their work. You just have to make sure that the reader knows you have changed it.
Post a Comment