Writers Tips

Viewpoint

In most modern fiction, the reader views the story through one or more viewpoint characters. The author allows us into the mind of his players to experience the proceedings for ourselves. This technique enables us to empathise deeply with the characters and be immersed in the action.

When using a viewpoint character the reader must only be presented with information that the character could possibly know. For example if the main character is in discussion with their boss, we cannot be told exactly what the boss is thinking. But, we can be told how the main character perceives his boss’s reactions. See below:

Viewpoint characters – Example I)

‘Did you approve my raise?’ Mike asked his boss. The additional money would come in handy.
‘Yes, sure,’ the boss lied. He was fully aware that Mike would be laid off later in the month.
‘Oh. Maybe there was a problem with the payroll,’ Mike said.

In this example, the viewpoint character is Mike, but we are told that the boss had just lied and that he knew of Mike’s forthcoming redundancy. However, we are supposed to be viewing the scene through Mike’s eyes and he could not possible know this information as fact.

Viewpoint characters – Example II)

‘Did you approve my raise?’ Mike asked his boss. The additional money would come in handy.
‘Yes, sure,’ the boss said.
Mike got the impression he wasn’t being told the truth. Should he persevere and question the point further? He decided not to.
‘Oh. Maybe there was a problem with the payroll.’

Whist the text in this example will not be winning any awards anytime soon, you should be able to observe how the reader views the action through Mike’s eyes. We even get into his head and experience some of the inner conflict brought about by his reaction.

There is one issue with the latter example however, in this scene we cannot be told that the boss knows of Mike’s impending lack of future with the company. Therefore, the author needs to decide whether it is necessary for the reader to know this information right now. If not, the issue must be got around some other way. Maybe Mike could read a confidential memo that contains this fact. Or, the author could write this paragraph from the boss’s viewpoint. Note that this should only be attempted if the boss is a major character who we will be meeting again later. At least fifty percent of the story should be written in the main characters viewpoint. Also, it should be made clear that the viewpoint has switched by using a paragraph or chapter break.

If you choose to not write using a viewpoint style, you will be using an omniscient point of view (as in example I). This is very much a telling style of writing in which the reader is informed of the scenario at hand. Prologue’s are often written in this style to impart with information about the setting in which the events are about to take place. It often displays an unemotional tone.