Tag Archives: point of view

Setting is a matter of point of view

One of the top reasons for why someone reads, according to most reader surveys is, to escape. Escapism is not only found in the fantastical, the things that wouldn’t happen in the reader’s every day life. Escapism is also found in the places stories take their readers. I’ve talked before about “talking heads” dialogue, notContinueContinue reading “Setting is a matter of point of view”

Recommended Reads: Point of View

Of all the tools in storytelling, point of view seems to be the most often bungled. An author says they’ve chosen omniscient POV, but what they’ve written is close third person POV with numerous errors. Or they wrote 3rd person POV from the MC’s perspective, but then when both the love interest and the MCContinueContinue reading “Recommended Reads: Point of View”

To POV or not POV

Today I’m going to talk about ways to figure out if a character in your story needs to have a scene written from their point of view. First, POV is more than just using third person (he/she/they) or first person (I/we us/them). It is about choosing a PERSPECTIVE — a lens through which readers willContinueContinue reading “To POV or not POV”

Editorial Advice 2

Today’s editorial advice is for authors writing synopses. If you are planning to traditionally publish, you have to query publishers or agents to see if they’ll pick up you and your work. What agents and publishers frequently request is a synopsis. What is a synopsis? A synopsis is a full summary of your story, fromContinueContinue reading “Editorial Advice 2”

Editorial Advice

This week in editorial advice tweets. Questions about POV and MC (main characters; protagonists) https://twitter.com/lz_edits/status/1641759760130224128 This first question asks about when to introduce the MC. My short answer is above, but here’s a longer discussion because 256 characters is never enough. Point of view (POV) is the main vehicle for connecting readers to a characterContinueContinue reading “Editorial Advice”

Describing character: gain perspective

Listen to this post and more on Spotify or Anchor.fm You, dear writer, have all those wonderful character sheets filled out with demographics: Jamie Dotter is, 29, 5’11”, blonde, Nordic features, muscular build, college degree from Wellsley College, law degree from Harvard, in her fourth year working as a lawyer with Grant, Hardy, and Iglesias,ContinueContinue reading “Describing character: gain perspective”

Advice for when writers struggle

Writer’s block. Some say it exists. Some say it doesn’t; it’s all in your head. Pointedly, both sides are right. Everything about story writing is in your head. Until it moves to your fingers to the rhythm of a swishing pen, or the clickety-clack of keys on a keyboard. Author Peggy Lantz posted about herContinueContinue reading “Advice for when writers struggle”