This week, as I promised you, we will begin our exploration of proven techniques for writing in deep point of view (POV). So take notes and start using these techniques in your own writing. Then write to share some before and after examples.
TIP #1: Become your character. In order to write in deep POV, you must first know your character intimately. One of the best ways to do this is to become your character. This means placing yourself inside your character and pretending you are your character.
When you become your character, you see, hear, smell, touch, taste, feel, and perceive everything through your character. Everything you write is filtered through the person of your character and your character only. You, the writer, are in a real sense out of the picture in that there is no author intrusion in deep POV.
To help you become your character, ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I notice around me?
- How does what I notice make me feel emotionally? Physically? Psychologically?
- What am I thinking about in this situation?
- What am I sensing or discerning?
- What am I longing for? Afraid of? Confused about?
When writing in deep POV, you have to be in touch with the deepest parts of your character’s soul. Here are before and after examples of writing in deep POV by becoming your character:
Before:
“Oh, dear. It looks as though I just broke my toe. It is turning blue. I wonder if I’ll be able to dance in the competition. If not, I think Brad will be angry.”
Deep POV:
“Great! Just what I needed right now. A broken toe. How am I going to get my foot into my dance shoes? Brad is going to kill me. We’ve been training for this dance competition for over a year now. I can’t back out now because of a stupid broken toe.”
In the second example, you are inside the character, feeling, thinking, and perceiving what she is feeling, thinking, and perceiving. And, best of all, your reader is inside your character too.
Next week, we’ll look at TIP #2 for writing in deep POV: Do not label your character’s emotions. So be sure to stop back then.
Hi Mary Ann –
This is so helpful! I’m going to link to this post in a future Friday Round-Up. 🙂
Blessings,
Susan
June 19, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Thank you very much, Susan! I’m so glad this post proved helpful to you.
Blessings, dear friend!
MaryAnn
June 19, 2011 at 6:35 PM
I agree with Susan, this is very helpful! Thank you, MaryAnn!
Have a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Karen
June 19, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Thanks so much for your feedback, Karen! My goal is to helpful.:)
Blessings,
MaryAnn
https://www.maryanndiorio.com
Something my mentor has taught me is to take your main character out to lunch and talk with them. 🙂 We’ve also written letters where I’ve asked questions – personal questions. Did that for my antagonist, too. It was really interesting.
And then I wrote a conversation between my hero and villain. THAT got interesting, too. I found out my villian was a lonely person. Boy, did that change how I wrote her.
It’s worth getting into deep POV.
June 21, 2011 at 6:35 AM
Great ideas, Pam! I read with special interest that, after interviewing your villain, you discovered that she was a lonely person. I had a similar experience with the villain in one of my stories. Amazing, isn’t it? 🙂
Blessings,
MaryAnn
https://www.maryanndiorio.com
June 21, 2011 at 9:15 AM
MaryAnn, very helpful post. Thanks.
July 10, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Thank you so very much for commenting, Dena. I’m so glad you found my post helpful.
Blessings,
MaryAnn
July 10, 2011 at 5:18 PM
Wonderful post – thank you for writing and sharing with all of us. God bless!
You are most welcome, Maegan! Thank you for your comments.
Blessings,
MaryAnn
Thank you, Dr. MaryAnn!
You are most welcome, Karla. Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Blessings!
MaryAnn