Deep Point-of-View.TPL.24.1005.pptx

An in-depth dive into how to write compelling characters who readers love.

1. Fathoming Deep Point-of-View Ann Narcisian Videan ANVidean.com Oct. 5, 2024

2. About Ann Videan Book Shepherd, author, editor, illustrator, composer A professional writer since 1981 Owned award-winning marketing firm, vIDEAn Unlimited, LLC, since 1996 Editor: corporate, publishing house, and 150+ client books Author: Rhythms & Muse , Song of the Ocarina, and Enchanted Faerie Portals Co-owner Absolutely Wild! Enchanted Faerie Portals & Other Whimsy— inspired by Fae characters in her  Delfaerune Rhapsody series Other career highlights : 2007: Selected by peers for the Public Relations Society of America’s top honor—the PERCY Award 2005: Selected by national panel for Crown Jewel Award— top U.S. home-based business 2004: Served as catalyst to reintroduce white rhinos to the Phoenix Zoo 1996: Enticed 15,000 extras to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ, to film football movie scenes for  Jerry Maguire

3. Let’s talk about… Deep POV • What is it? • Specific techniques • Practice This one change in your character writing will make readers react with high emotion to your story.

4. What even is deep POV?

5. The main technique to make characters “real” and “relatable.”

6. Stay in the action.

7. Viewpoint focuses attention so readers experience your story.

8. Basic reasons to use deep POV:

9. Can deep POV be overused?

10. Specific Techniques

11. How to choose POV Which character has the most to lose in a scene? Use their viewpoint.

12. Scene question

13. Setback answers the scene question Did the character achieve the goal? Yes. [Boring] Yes, but… [Better] No. [Builds tension.] No, and furthermore… [Even more tension and conflict.]

14. 1. Stay in the character’s head Don’t’ use “she saw” or he… thought, heard, felt, wished, wondered, knew, decided, watched, realized, remembered. It distances the reader from the action and takes him/her outside of the character’s head.

15. Example Distanced: She felt her hands shaking uncontrollably, and worried he would notice her fear. Deep: Her hands shook with such violence she clasped them behind her back so he wouldn’t notice.

16. Example

17. Practice Reword this sentence into deep POV. She located a bug high on the wall and stared at it while she reached for the closest weapon, her shoe.

18. Practice Distant: She located a bug high on the wall and stared at it while she reached for the closest weapon, her shoe. Deep: A bug hung on the wall above her head and riveted her gaze. One slow hand drifted down toward the closest weapon, her shoe.

19. 2. Write realistic internal dialogue If someone offered your starving character food, what would s/he actually think? Distanced : He held out an apple and her stomach responded with strong gratitude for something to quell her hunger. Deep : Her stomach lurched at the sight of the apple he held out to her. Thank the gods he brought me something to eat!

20. 3. Don’t simply name emotions Show the character’s physical and emotional reaction in detail. Distanced : As the monster’s head rounded the corner, terror gripped Joe.   Deep : The monster’s head rounded the corner, and his whole body shook, loosening a trickle of sweat that rolled along his spine.

21. Practice: Physical/emotional/ mental reactions What are some physical (visible) reactions for these emotions? Shyness Anger Surprise Emotional (internal) reactions? Mental reactions (thoughts)?

22. 4.Character flaws make characters real

23. 5. Use Emotional/ sequential reaction* When something happens, humans react in this order: Emotion “ Oh, darn!” or teeth gnashing Review, logic, and reason What just happened? Was I at fault? Is anyone hurt? Anticipation What’s going to happen? What do I do? Choice What steps do I take? Who do I call? *per author/professor Deborah Chester, Fantasy Fiction Formula

24. 6. Start action with POV character *Example from author Jessica Morrell

25. 7. Limit use of main character’s name

26. Use unique dialogue and “thinking voice” Use word choices from their vocabulary and experience. Assign specific favorite phrases. Example, if your character is Australian: Use “ G’day , mate,” or “That guy has a punch like a kangaroo kick,” or “We’ve traveled far enough to be in the outback by now.”

27. Consistent, but varied physical reactions Where does the character most often feel physical reactions? Stomach vs. head vs. something else?   Examples, if your character’s reactions often involve her heart in moments of high emotion: He hugged her, and an immediate tattoo of rapid percussion battered her ribs. She watched him walk away as a dull ache squeezed her heart.

28. Individual mannerisms

29. 8. With Deep POV, use strong active verbs Jessica Morrell calls them “word grenades” when they deliver force.   Her examples: Okay: The vandals made a total wreck of our apartment. Better: The vandals savaged our apartment. Okay: The man ate the meal hungrily. Better: He ate at the edge of the fire, slavering like an animal.

30. Brainstorm active verbs

31. Cheat sheet for deep POV

32. Homework: https://anvidean.com/2021/09/26/deep-point-of-view-active-verbiage-writing-example/

33. Q&A

34. I would love to help you move forward with your book…