This week: Which Point of View? Edited by: Joy  
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“In contemporary writing, one may do anything one pleases with point of view, as long as it works,”
John Gardiner, The Art of Fiction
“But just think how it would be if every one else looked at things as you do – what would the world be like?”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Lindner: "…most of the trouble exists because people just don’t sit down and talk to each other…That we don’t try hard enough in this world to understand the other fellow’s problem. The other guy’s point of view.”
Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin In the Sun
“...the thing about portraits is, you need to show people the way they want to be seen. And I prefer to show people as I see them.”
Celeste Ng, Little Fires Everywhere
“My father says that there is only one perfect view — the view of the sky straight over our heads.”
Edward Morgan Forster, A Room with a View
Hello, I am Joy , this week's drama editor. This issue is about choosing who tells the story.
Thank you for reading our newsletters and for supplying the editors with feedback and encouragement.
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Welcome to the Drama newsletter
Telling your story well to have it make the desired impact on your readers is important to you, isn't that so?
Then, as fantastic and wonderful your plot is, who among your story's characters tells the story could be just as important, and at certain instances, even more so. The point of view you choose, therefore, significantly shapes how readers will experience your theme, plot, and characters.
To find the right person to tell what's happening in the story in the most effective way depends first how you yourself understand your story's focus.
 The first question to ask that pops into my mind is: "What's the central element in this story?" If the story revolves around a single character's growth and experiences, a first-person POV or even a close third-person POV can provide what you need. If the story sprawls around several important characters, then the third-person omniscient POV is a better fit.
Examples:
First Person POV: "My pen falters, then falls from my knuckly grip, leaving a worm’s trail of ink across Fedwren’s paper. I have spoiled another leaf of the fine stuff, in what I suspect is a futile endeavor. I wonder if I can write this history, or if..." From Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Close third person POV: "He strode in a swarm of fireflies. He wanted above all, like the old joke, to shove a marshmallow on a stick in the furnace, while the flapping pigeon-winged books died on the porch and lawn of the house." From Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Third-person omniscient POV: "Late one evening toward the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barreled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else's forehead, and pulled the trigger.
This is the story of how we got there." From Beartown by Fredrik Backman
The second question could be, "What's the depth of characterization? That is how much or how limited information and perspective you wish to show.
With first-person POV, you can create intimacy and have your readers connect deeply with the thoughts and emotions of the character as well as you, the author. Yet, this POV is limited to the narrator's knowledge and their way of seeing things.
Example: “I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around — nobody big, I mean — except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff..." from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Second -person POV then creates an immersive type of an experience as it puts the reader directly into the story; however, it is, so far, only used in experimental or interactive fiction and on the negative side, it may feel awkward and contrived.
Example: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
The third question could be how you can match the POV to your very own narrative style.
For a lyrical prose piece or an introspective tone, first-person or close third-person POV might enhance the storytelling.
For fast-paced, action-driven plots, third-person omniscient provides the flexibility to shift focus and maintain momentum.
Other considerations and questions may have to do with your plot's complexity or if you are using multiple threads in a general plot.
Again, here in this area simple, character-driven plots do well with a limited POV since it draws readers into a designed perspective.
If you are dealing with complex plots with multiple threads, then the omniscient POV or narrator would give the story its clarity and cohesion.
With the above points taken in consideration, a proper advice could be experimenting by writing a sample paragraph from the story through multiple POV's. Also, since certain genres tend to favor specific POVs, you might consider aligning your story-telling with a genre's expectation, although there are no set-rules for those. For example:
Romance is often written in first-person or alternating first-person.
Fantasy/Epic genre frequently uses third-person omniscient.
Mystery/Thriller genre has first-person or third-person limited to maintain suspense.
Above everything, it is up to you to test and adapt your story to which feels the most natural and engaging to you. Always keep in mind that nothing is off-limits, including how every character in a room thinks and feels, if only from an external point of view. Your readers, most likely will agree with your choices and your true creativity.
Until next time! 
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 Enjoy!
| | Chapters (18+)
A man contemplating suicide encounters a street kid with a different point of view
#2254772 by Graywriter  |
| |  | The New Normal (E)
Plague, a relocation, lost bear, a bit of time travel, told from multiple points of views
#2312809 by Ritzy Vampi  |
| | | Cloudy (E)
The saddness of Alzheimer's from a personal point of view
#2319921 by MoonChilde |
Although the seminar below was in 2021, maybe Max Griffin 🏳️🌈  can bring it back. 
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 This Issue's Tip: To find out the point of view that feels right, take a pivotal scene or two and try writing it from several different points of view—not necessarily different characters, but different voices: omniscient, limited third, etc.
Always keep in mind that. like everything in writing, POV, is also subjective.
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Feedback for " Using Fairytales & Folklore for Fiction"
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Quick-Quill 
What a great Newsletter. I hadn't thought of the backstory character as a monster. The thing that drives my MC to denounce all religion and belief is the fact she was kidnapped by a religious fanatic and abused by the man. Similar to E. Smart.
Thank you  . Yes, some earlier experiences have something to do with the way people behave later. And those experiences could be the monsters pushing the characters.
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Drama: January 29, 2025 Issue [#12942]
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