The following prompt was written for the Charlotte Nano Writers Chat Room, which has the world's worst word processor. Hence, it is posted here for all to share:
First writing prompt: Take a scene or a chunk of your novel and really really really check it for point-of-view consistency. For example, get rid of all those sentences (about your point-of-view character) which start, “He saw . . ., “ such as “He saw that his mother was parking out front.” Of course he saw it! If he hadn’t seen it, we wouldn’t know! If your narrator is omniscient, which is more typical of 19th century novels, then it could happen without him seeing. Then the sentence has to be, “He didn’t realize it, but his mother was parking out front that very moment.” Probably he did see it, though, so your sentence is simpler, “His mother was parking out front,” or, in first person, “Mother was parking out front.” Every time you write “He saw” you are interjecting yourself as writer and breaking contract with your reader. Get out of there!
Secondly, use point-of-view to make your scenes richer and more lifelike. By getting into the head of your point-of-view character and perceiving the world through her eyes, not yours, your writing really picks up. For example, right now my dogs are barking their heads off at a squirrel in the birdfeeder. This drives my husband nuts. I hardly hear it. What about my point-of-view characters? Yes, she would find it irritating. So add that telling detail and indirectly, by seeing through her eyes, your reader develops empathy, identification with your character, and ultimately likes the book more. A reader who cares is a good reader to have. So I might, for example, change the following, “Beverly was busy on a new project all afternoon, gradually getting more tired and grumpy, gradually making more and more mistakes until she finally had to give up for the day.” New sentence with the telling detail, the seemingly-irrelevant-atmosphere building detail, “Beverly worked on the Simpson project all afternoon. The bamburger lace would not cooperate, even after she hand-basted. By four she was weary and her nerves on edge. The dogs started to bark, at a squirrel in the feeder?, and would not let up. It was the last straw. The gown would have to wait. Beverly put it away, locked the dogs in the laundry room, and poured herself a glass of wine.” Notice that one detail leads to another? You’ve stepped into another realm of imaginary reality. Good! Hang out there for awhile and see what happens to your story.
Your tutor du jour.
Cynthia
