I remember when I was first starting my writing journey, and someone mentioned deep point of view to me, and I thought they were talking about some Inception stuff.
But I took the time to read up on it, learn it, and understand better on this topic. As a writer, one of your goals is to create a story that your readers can get lost in. You want them to feel like they are with your characters, experiencing everything they experience. If you can do this, then you can really call yourself a writer. One way to achieve this is through a deep point of view, a technique that allows readers to share the story through the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
Deep Point of View: What It Is and Why It Matters
Deep point of view is a writing technique that eliminates the distance between the reader and the character. It creates an immersive reading experience and takes a lot of work to do. As Maya Angelou used to say, “Easy reading is damn hard writing.”
Instead of using an authorial voice to express the character's thoughts and emotions, the writer uses internal monologue and sensory description to convey the character's experience. This creates a more immersive reading experience and allows readers to feel like they are experiencing the story firsthand.
Techniques for Achieving Deep Point of View
To achieve deep point of view, writers must eliminate the distance between the reader and the character. This means avoiding authorial voice and expressing the character's thoughts and emotions through techniques like an internal monologue and sensory description.
To avoid the authorial voice in fiction writing, writers should try to express the character's thoughts and emotions directly rather than interpreting them for the reader. This means avoiding phrases like "he thought" or "she felt" and instead using techniques like internal monologue and sensory description to convey the character's experience. By doing this, writers can create a more immersive reading experience that draws readers in and keeps them engaged.
One way to write an excellent internal monologue is to focus on the character's emotions and thoughts. This can be done using short, fragmented sentences and avoiding complete thoughts. Also, try to use sensory details to convey the character's experience and make the reader feel like they are with nature. Another tip is to use the character's voice and personality to shape the monologue, making it unique to the surface and adding depth to their personality.
By doing this, writers can create a more immersive reading experience that draws readers in and keeps them engaged.
Examples of Deep Point of View in Fiction
To see deep point of view in action, it's helpful to look at examples from popular novels. By analyzing how other writers use this technique, you can learn how to incorporate it into your own writing and create a more immersive experience for your readers.
Counterargument
While some writers may argue that deep point of view is limiting or restrictive, it can be quite liberating. By eliminating the distance between the reader and the character, writers can create a more intimate connection. This makes the reading experience more enjoyable and allows writers to explore the depths of their feelings in a way that may not be possible with other techniques.
I used to do this kind of ‘deep dive’ a lot before I became a writer in the form of roleplay in MMOs. I used to do character journals (still do, let’s be honest) that helped me with fleshing out my character and creating an excellent foundation others enjoyed. While I won’t say you should do character journals yourself, you can dive into your character in many different ways. Which do you think would work best for you?
Supporting Evidence
Studies have shown that readers respond positively to deep point of view, citing it as one of the most immersive and enjoyable reading experiences. Some even say the absence of the author's voice/presence allows them to enjoy the story. Some even comment that the author’s voice in the story can be taken as ‘lecturing’ depending on what is happening. No one wants to be chided while doing something in their free time.
Wrapping it Up
Deep point of view is a powerful writing technique that can help writers create immersive stories that keep readers engaged from start to finish. By eliminating the distance between the reader and the character, writers can create a more intimate connection that allows readers to experience the story firsthand. By incorporating this technique into your writing, you can create reports that resonate with readers and keep them returning for more.