Mastering Your Character's Voice!
Deep Point of View!
From The Write Practice!
DEEP POINT OF VIEW: 6 WAYS TO MASTER CHARACTER VOICE.
WHAT IS DEEP POV?
DEEP POV IS A TECHNIQUE THAT IMMERSES THE READER FULLY IN A CHARACTER'S EXPERIENCE, DIRECTLY CAPTURING THEIR IMMEDIATE SENSORY PERCEPTIONS, EMOTIONS, & THOUGHTS. THE IDEA IS THAT THERE'S A TRIO OF FORCES THAT DRIVE A READER FORWARD THROUGH YOUR STORY-CURIOSITY, SURPRISE, & SUSPENSE. DEEP POV IS A POWERFUL TECHNIQUE FOR GRABBING YOUR READER'S ATTENTION & GROUNDING THEM IN THE STORY.
6 KEY TYPES OF DETAILS
1. CHARACTER-FOCUSED DETAILS:
EVERY WORD IS FILTERED THROUGH YOUR VIEWPOINT CHARACTER, WHO IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A BACKGROUND OF EXPERIENCE. WHAT ARE THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THEM? YOUR MC IS A PROFESSIONAL CHAUFFEUR. WHAT DETAILS WOULD A CHAUFFEUR NOTICE THAT OTHERS MIGHT NOT? WOULD THEY NOTICE THE STATE OF A VEHICLE'S TIRES? A SUSPECT'S TAN LINE FROM WEARING DRIVING GLOVES IN A CONVERTIBLE?
2. SENSORY DETAILS:
EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT COMES TO YOUR READER MUST PASS THROUGH YOUR VIEWPOINT CHARACTER, & HOW DO WE RECEIVE INFORMATION BUT THROUGH OUR SENSES? THIS IS WHERE "GETTING INTO CHARACTER" IS USEFUL. FEEL WHAT YOUR MC IS FEELING; SEE WHAT THEY SEE. HEAR, TASTE, & SMELL WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING. WHETHER IT'S THE STICKY HEAT OF AN AMAZON JUNGLE OR THE SHRIEK OF BRAKES ON ASPHALT, PASS IT ON TO YOUR READER.
3. SPECIFIC DETAILS:
IF YOU WANT THE READER TO STAY IMMERSED IN YOUR STORY, YOU NEED TO BE IN CONTROL OF WHAT YOU COMMUNICATE. THAT MEANS USING SPECIFIC DETAILS THAT COMMUNICATE CLEAR PICTURES AND IDEAS TO THE READER.WE CAN NEVER TRANSPORT THE STORY IN OUR HEADS IN UNDISTORTED AND PERFECT FORM INTO A READER'S HEAD, BUT WE NEED TO COME AS CLOSE TO THAT IDEAL AS WE CAN OR RISK BUMPING THE READER TO THE SURFACE.
4. OPINIONATED DETAILS.
YOUR MC WAS NOT BORN ON PAGE ONE. THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF LIFE EXPERIENCE WHICH HAS GIVEN THEM OPINIONS. THEIR OPINION SHOULD COLOR EVERYTHING THEY PASS ON TO READERS. THOSE OPINIONS ANIMATE YOUR CHARACTER, MAKING THEM REAL. THIS HELPS PULL THE READER DOWN BENEATH THE SURFACE OF YOUR STORY. THEIR OPINIONS ALSO MAKE THEM DISTINCT FROM OTHER CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK, ALLOWING THEM TO STAND OUT AS A THREE-DIMENSIONAL INDIVIDUAL.
5. EMOTIONAL DETAILS.
BECAUSE YOUR READER IS A REAL ENTITY WITH LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THEIR OWN, THE EMOTIONS OF YOUR MC WILL STIR YOUR READER'S OWN EMOTIONAL EMBERS TO EVOKE AUTHENTIC, PERSONALIZED FEELINGS.
WHAT A POWERFUL WAY TO DRAW THE READER DEEP INTO YOUR STORY WORLD & GET THEM INVESTED IN YOUR MC. FOCUS ON DESCRIBING WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO THE MC TO BE ANGRY OR HURT OR DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY, RATHER THAN NAMING THE EMOTION OUTRIGHT. SHOW, DON'T TELL.
6. CONSISTENT DETAILS: YOUR WORDS FORM A PICTURE IN THE READER'S MIND, ALLOWING THEM TO EXPERIENCE THE STORY AS IF THEY WERE IN IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THEY WON'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN UNLESS YOU POP THEM OUT OF THE STORY. YOUR READER CAN BE JARRED OUT OF THE STORY IF A DETAIL CLASHES WITH THE REST OF THE IMAGE YOU'RE ESTABLISHING. DETAILS CAN BE ECLECTIC, BUT THEY SHOULD WORK TO FORM A CONSISTENT FLOW FOR YOUR STORY.