When you learn how to write deep point of view (POV), will take your writing to the next level.
The nemesis of writers is Point of view. Staying in one character’s head and experience until there is a new chapter or set break within a chapter, is a difficult skill to master. But once you have a firm grasp on strict POV, there is more to do. Next, an author needs to learn to write deep point of view. Doing this an author can pull her reader deeper into the characters’ skin.
How to Write Deep Point of View
Writing deep point of view removes words such as: thought, felt, heard, and more. As I tell my middle school students in my day job, “Don’t tell me what you are going to write about—just write it.”
Example of Deep Point of View
Don’t tell the readers what the character heard. She heard footsteps. Write so they hear it too.
The slow click of heels falling on the polished wood floor grew louder. Like
a metronome ticking off the beat, the rhythm never broke. Click. Click.
Click. Closer and closer down the hall. Then it stopped outside her door. Her
breath caught in her lungs. The latch scraped, and the hinge whined.
This is also good show don’t tell writing.
Notice the difference? An author can make the hairs rise on a readers’ arms, drawing them into the story and never let them go.
Another Example of How to Write Deep Point of View
Let’s try another. She felt a tear slip down her cheek. Nothing wrong with that sentence. It denotes emotion—strong feelings, but could it be done better with deep POV?
Tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision. Don’t cry. Don’t let them see your hurt. She
blinked, and again quickly. Then one hot drop slipped from her lid, trailed along
the crease of her nose, teetered on her upper lip. She released a slow breath
as it dropped to her lower lip burning a hole where it landed.
Better? Did the reader feel the slow slipping of the tear as though it were on their own face? This is what we want to do for our readers. Draw them into our character’s skin.
Take the time to learn POV—then make the extra effort to dig deeper. Your readers won’t be able to put your book down. And isn’t that what every author wants?
For more on Deep POV, read the fabulous book, Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.
