Show, Don’t Tell! Creating a Point-of-View

General Vs. Specific (review) Last time, we talked about how important it is to use SPECIFICTY in your writing. This means that you are writing precisely what you mean, building a very clear picture in the reader’s mind. GENERAL: Could be lots of different things (building, child). SPECIFIC: Could only be ONE thing (a stone school crumbling with age, a gurgling baby girl).

Choosing a Perspective Using specific details is really important, but it’s even MORE important, especially in narrative writing, to choose a point-of-view. You should be showing the events of the story through the eyes of a characters, not telling the events at a distance.

Why is this important? Have you ever completely lost yourself in a story to the point where hours have passed and you haven’t even realized it? This only happens when the reader fells like he/she is part of the story…and that can only happen when they feel as though they are walking in a character’s shoes. This is your goal as a writer.

Another Way of Thinking About It Writing with a specific point-of-view is writing from inside the story. The reader is living the story vicariously* through the character! They are THERE! Writing without a specific point-of-view is writing from outside the story, like you’re observing the events at a distance. It’s hard for the reader to get as involved in this type of story. *Big words are fun.

Example Without a point-of-view: The boy was late to school. It was the third time he was late this week. His teacher was really mad at him. The boy was given lunch detention.

Example#2 The same story, with a point-of-view: Trembling with fear, Derek tried to slip into the classroom without being noticed. I can’t let Mr. Bucher see me! he thought. He’ll give me detention for sure. Luckily, the imposing social studies teacher was writing on the board, his back turned to the class. Ignoring the snickers of Victoria Maysap—the oh-so perfect girl who sat directly in front of him—Derek lifted his chair slightly so it wouldn’t scrape against the floor and drew it away from his desk. He sat down, and was just about to sigh with relief when he saw Mr. Bucher looking in his direction. He did not look pleased.

How to Write with a Point- of-View Using the following techniques will help you to remain in a specific point-of-view:  Use thoughts.  Use dialogue.  Use specific details.  Write in first person (not required, but it sometimes helps).  Remember to view the world as your character sees it!

You Are Your Character! When you write, make sure you see the world through your character’s eyes. Derek sees Mr. Bucher as “imposing” and Victoria as “oh-so perfect.” This is HIS perspective, not the author’s perspective. If this was written from Victoria’s perspective, on the other hand, she would see the world differently! For example, Mr. Bucher is an “easy A,” but she sees herself as “a total clutz who never does anything right.” She also finds herself always laughing nervously around Derek because he’s cute.* *Don’t tell Derek.

Assignment (3 rd /4 th ) The following passage lacks a point-of-view. Please give it one and re-write it! “The students were really excited about the field trip so they were very loud and noisy.”

Assignment (5 th /6 th ) Take the same passage and re-write it from two different perspectives. Each passage should demonstrate the worldview of a completely different character. (Hint: Choosing a child and an adult is a good idea.) “The students were really excited about the field trip so they were very loud and noisy.”