Deep point of view allows the reader to feel and experience exactly what our characters feel and experience. Authors who do deep point of view well often create stories that are highly engaging – where the characters come to life and the reader gets lost in the pages.
Once we get the hang of it, deep point of view takes our writing to the next level.
So when I saw a tweet about this book called Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View, free on Kindle for a limited time, I was immediately intrigued. I hadn’t read a craft book in awhile, so I hopped on over and downloaded it.
I’m super glad I did.
It is a super quick (it’ll take you an hour, tops), informative read.
Not only did I freshen up on some important writing techniques, I now have a craft book I can recommend to lots and lots of writers.
The author (Jill Elizabeth Nelson) addresses techniques that so many writers fail to employ.
Mistakes I see all the time whenever I critique a piece of writing or judge a contest entry.
Two of the BIGGIES:
- Authorial Intrusions
- Prepositional Tells
I see this one ALL the time! I catch myself doing it too.
She nodded in agreement.
She frowned with displeasure.
He jumped up and whooped with glee.
His stomach clenched in fear.
Nix the prepositional telling!
Your writing will be so much stronger for it.
Nodding implies agreement, right?
Frowning implies displeasure.
Jumping and whooping usually go hand in hand with glee.
And a clenched stomach is often indicative of fear or nerves.
Believe in the context you’ve created and trust that your readers are intelligent enough to make some logical inferences.
So there you go.
A small taste of the many tips and tricks this book has to offer.
The e-book version is only $2.99 on Amazon right now. I highly recommend!
Let’s Talk: Have you read any novels that nailed deep point of view – where you truly felt and experienced what the characters felt and experienced? Please share them here!
Oh, right. That’s where she left her purse
Did you know you can make it deeper? I found a blog article about this somewhere, and you can take out that she in the sentence there and change it.
Oh, right. That’s where it is! She snatched up the purse running out the door.
It just requires more words. 😛 This pov is fun, there’s so many ways to do it. I personalty like to do less deep time transitions, other people want them in the characters pov. *shrug* They are all good.
The first ten chapters are free of this problem. (Yay!) Now to go check the rest. 46 more to go. Anyone got an extra energy drink? 😉
But I LOVE prepositional telling; sigh. It’s hard; trying not to. 😀
we lose the poetic license of writing don’t we??
deplorable rewrites! 😀
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So glad this was helpful, everyone!
Thanks for this Katie, a really helpful reminder. And I downloaded this book. Its great of you to share the wealth!
P.S. Good luck with your auction. And as I said, if you offer a critique I will definitely bid
Hey Sally! Hmm….I’ll have to think about that! Are you thinking a partial critique? Like the first however-many pages?
I downloaded it, but haven’t gotten to it yet! I plan to soon. 🙂
I grabbed it while it was on-sale! I’m trying to figure out how to get out of the “Prepositional Telling”, but I also own a thanks to you.
Awesome practical tips, Katie! I hadn’t heard about this book until now. Thanks for sharing!
I just finished reading this book last week. It was so helpful, as are your thoughts on this topic. 🙂
I bought it (and read it!) a couple months ago when another author recommended it. It’s a quick and easy read chuck full of great information. I am planning on reading it again soon.
I shall get this book. 🙂 lol.
Didn’t have this one, but have downloaded it. Sounds like a great book on the craft of writing. Looking forward to reading it and then implementing the teaching into my writing. Thanks, Katie, for the info.
Great, helpful post!
I grabbed the book when it was free, but haven’t read it yet. Good to know it’s a quick read.
I had never heard of deep POV until after I’d written my first ms. But my Genesis judges pointed out my tendency to point out stuff the character wouldn’t have noticed or pointed out. I’ve been attempting to chop out that stuff now!
Currently editing & thinking I could go take care of a few of those bad boys right now.
Thanks for the reminder. These are good!
~ Wendy
Missed this as a free e-book, but will go snag it now — it’s still a bargain.
And yes, Susie May Warren and Rachel Hauck know how to write deep POV.
(And thanks for the shout-out, Melissa!)
Great stuff, Katie. Thanks!
Hi Katie, those are great tips for deepening POV. I also picked up Jill’s eBook, and I am looking forward to reading it soon. There is always more to learn to improve our writing.
I’m reading this book right now! 🙂
These are great tips and examples. I first heard the advice to avoid “she wondered, she knew, etc” from Susan May Warren and that tip alone changed my understanding of deep point of view. Good stuff! I nabbed up Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s book when it was free, too, but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Pretty sure that needs to happen…tonight! 🙂
As for books that nailed deep POV…yours! Beth K. Vogt’s debut novel. Anything by Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck. 🙂
Aw, thanks Melissa! I totally agree about the others! I’m reading Rachel Hauck’s the Wedding Dress right now and she definitely nails deep POV.
Anything by Jeanette Windle!! Oh my, she and Dee Henderson slay me everytime I open one of their books.
Is it horrible that I’ve never read anything by either Jeanette Windle or Dee Henderson??
Hahaha! Yes! You have failed western civilization as we know it!
I just got a itty bitty edit back from a sainted woman, and AHHHHHHHHH!!
I have SINNED! POV is my nemesis!!
Curls up in corner, bites paper of Dairy Milk bar. Rams whole thing in mouth.