Description and Viewpoint

18 4 10
                                    

Ok, so now you have a general idea of structure and how to write in a way that rewards re-reading. A writer's biggest goal is to write a book that is worth a reader's time, after all. The type of book where you can catch things you hadn't caught before. Now, let's talk description and viewpoint selection.


Use adjectives and adverbs as little as possible. With a word bank floating around in a writer's head, it's only naturally we dress sentences up from time to time. We want to use that fun word we randomly saw on a billboard. We want to use that cliche noun because it sounds best, at least in the moment. We want to make sure the reader knows the character is sad, so why not include words like "sadly" and "cautiously" every five seconds? In most cases, you want your nouns and verbs to carry the weight of your descriptions. You want a reader to translate a situation based on the situation or how the characters are acting; a reader prefers to "figure it out" rather than being forced to feel a certain way. Readers still need to be helped, but don't make them feel dumb. In other words, keep a crutch near by, but don't always hand it to them.

This isn't to say that adjectives and adverbs are useless. Adjectives and adverbs work best to clarify, especially with things a reader may not be able to translate or wouldn't expect an adjective or adverb to be used for. Similes and metaphors are your friend.


Rebecca skated like a dove.

Rebecca gracefully slid across the lovely ice.


Rebecca skated. That's all we need to know. "Like a dove" helps clarify the sentence so we can visualize the scene, and it's more satisfying than the second sentence. When we think of skating, we're already thinking of "graceful" in our minds. I don't think I've ever seen a hectic skater fling their body across the ice. Unless they're new to skating or they're playing hockey, maybe. Therefore, there's no need to include the word "gracefully." "Lovely ice" is not only abstract but confusing and cliche. Ice isn't usually described as "ugly" and therefore we're already thinking of the pristine ice as a lovely thing.

Use comparisons that make sense. If it doesn't make sense, an explanation is in order. The reader should eventually understand why the word bothered them and appreciate why it was used when more of the plot is revealed. For the most part, however, use appropriate comparisons.


Rebecca skated like a dove.

Rebecca skated like a rat.


Yeah, that doesn't sound very attractive... or right. If you've done it on purpose, is there a reason why? If not, keep searching or thinking until you've landed on a more accurate comparison.


How is the reader going to "enter" your writing? That all depends on viewpoint. Pick a viewpoint and stick with it. To switch from first-person to third-person can be incredibly confusing for a reader. I understand quite a few Wattpad works introduce the main character as the reader himself. "Y/N" quite literally means "your name." If you're pressed for time or struggle with coming up with original characters, I can understand why many writers use this option. Personally, I enjoy the "struggle" of coming up with a character and deciding their look, background, and personality. It's very rewarding in the end, I can promise you that.

1. First-person, single 

The reader cannot go into the minds of other characters; a narrator is chosen, and it does not have to be the main character. The tone is natural (a reader could put themselves in the place of the "I" person) and it works very well for mystery books because the reader can only see through the lens of the narrator. However, the style must be expressed in a way that fits the narrator's background and personality. The reader may also be dealing with an unreliable narrator and must take the narrator's assertions with a grain of salt.

2. Third-person, subjective

This is the most common option. Descriptions are netrual but tainted by a chosen character; you typically cannot go into the minds of other characters. This is similar to first-person, single except the reader is slightly more "aware" of what's going on and the writer refers to the main character by name.

3. Third-person, omniscient

This is an option used for a long, generational saga with an abundance of setting and characters. A reader can go into the minds of any characters, and there are no barriers for time jumps or how far the setting stretches. On the down side, there is less of a surprise factor for this option if the reader knows what everyone is thinking in addition to what they are saying. In large doses, this option can also be very overwhelming if not written well.

4. Third-person, objective

The narrator is quite literally a camera, and the reader cannot go into the minds of any characters. The reader must be alert, since they have no "help" through thoughts, and the writer must do a good job of helping the reader along.


All of these options have been used and loved; there is no "wrong" option. However, be sure to stick with the option you chose and read your writing more than once to be absolutely sure you're staying within the viewpoint "rules" for your sake and the reader's sake.


Writing AdviceWhere stories live. Discover now