Today’s consultation challenged conventional point of view and arrangement. Most stories revolve around a protagonist who is changed at depth over time by the dramatic action that happens to her. The story is arranged into chapters and told through either:
First person present — I revel in the balmy ocean breeze
First person past — I reveled in the balmy breeze
Third person present — she revels in the balmy ocean breeze
Third person past — she reveled in the balmy ocean breeze
Today’s consultation revealed a story more about the transformation of a culture which is changed over time by the dramatic action that happens to the characters who live in the culture than to one particular character.
Some of the most difficult aspects of writing a story, be it a screenplay, novel, or short story, are deciding where the story begins, who’s tells the story — POV, and how best to arrange the overall flow the story.
We seem to gravitate toward a favorite way of telling a story. First person allows the writer and thus, reader closer access to the character. Third person allows the writer and thus, reader less intimate access to the protagonist from her point of view but more access to information beyond the character herself.
What’s your favorite?
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