Multiple-POV story versus single-POV story? Which is the right choice for you? The answer depends on many factors, since every story is different. Knowing which approach to POV to choose isn’t difficult once you know how to choose. My just-released historical-superhero/gaslamp-fantasy novel Wayfarer was the first ever single-POV story I’ve written. For years now, I’ve consistently been minimizing the […]
August 24, 2015 by 187 Comments CharactersProtagonist and Main Character— Same Person? The Answer May Transform Your Story!
Writers tend to use the terms for protagonist and main character interchangeably. In fact, if asked to define one of these terms, we would probably come right back with the other term as our quickest explanation. And why not? Both describe a story’s central character, right? Not necessarily. This argument doesn’t even matter most of […]
December 1, 2013 by 45 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes: Weak Character Voice
Voice. It’s one of those elusive elements in fiction that everyone talks about—and no one can quite define. We all nod sagely when agents and editors harp on it, but secretly we’re hoping no one asks us to explain how to actually create it. And just when we think we’ve figured it out for ourselves […]
May 30, 2012 by 16 Comments CharactersWould Your Story Benefit From a Distant Narrator?
One of the reasons readers love books is because books allow us to not just observe characters, but to get inside their heads and see how they tick. This is the reason for the modern popularity of what’s known as the “deep,” “tight,” or “close” POV, in which the narrative itself, whether it’s told in […]
March 14, 2012 by 49 Comments Point of ViewThe Biggest Danger of Multiple POVs
An author’s choice about which and how many characters to feature as point-of-view narrators is crucial to the story. The narrating characters will control the tone and flow of the story, and largely decide whether or not the book works. It’s true there are many advantages to multiple-narrator books. Not only do they allow you […]
November 16, 2011 by 17 Comments Point of ViewThe #1 Factor to Consider When Choosing POV Characters
How do you go about choosing your POV characters? This is one of the most important decisions you can make in planning your book. The characters who narrate will largely control the flow, tone, and focus of your story. Change the POV characters, and you’ll likely change the entire story. And yet this is a […]
August 24, 2011 by 14 Comments NarrativeHow to Create Subtext by Letting Your Readers Fill in the Blanks
As I discussed in a recent post (“Why Your Reader Is Your Co-Writer”), the best authors understand how to sketch their stories with just enough detail to let readers see the scene, while still leaving room for readers to fill in the blanks. The trick for how to create subtext with just the right balance […]
June 5, 2011 by 132 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes: Overpowering First-Person Narrator
Stories told by a first-person narrator are increasingly popular these days. First-Person: “I went to school today.” Third-Person: “She went to school today.” First-person is often a narrative perspective that’s tricky to get right. The first-person narrator, more than any other type of narrator, is inclined to lapse into self-centered telling, in which the narrating […]
February 23, 2011 by 21 Comments NarrativeIs Authorial Voice Different From Character Voice?
This whole idea of “authorial voice” is something many authors struggle with, in part because they’re not always sure what “voice” means. Is voice something that remains the same in every one of an author’s projects? Or is it something that changes from story to story? This is a question that causes a lot of […]
February 20, 2011 by 51 Comments Narrative5 Ways to Write Character Thoughts Worth More Than a Penny
One of the key benefits of written fiction is also one of the most difficult techniques to master: the characters’ inner narrative. The inner narrative of the characters—their thoughts put on paper—is the essence of fiction. Mastery of that essence equals mastery, in large part, of the art form of fiction itself. No wonder it’s […]
