Craft Chat P.O.V.—A useful guide to Third Person.

[Paul Whybrow]

I found this guide to writing in the third person omniscient and third person limited interesting and useful:

How to Write From Third Person Omniscient and Third Person Limited Viewpoints

I write in third person limited, including multiple points-of-view.

The omniscient viewpoint is said to be dated, but one author who's always used it is John Irving. He flips between third person limited and third person omniscient, which can be delightful and also a bit distracting, as he'll suddenly appear on your shoulder whispering in your ear that he knows something that's going to happen to the protagonist before they do—or you as the reader do—and can you work out what I mean, you slowcoach?!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I love the omniscient. I like reading it and writing it and it offers huge freedom, but I've traded that for immediacy, redrafting the finished novel into first person present tense. A publisher said they felt held at a distance and wanted to feel right alongside.

 

[AgentPete]

Hello @Paul Whybrow,

We are changing the status of this ticket to closed as we have not heard back from you in 7 days.