Let's Discuss - Perspective
I have briefly touched upon perspective in writing during the discussion of The Narrative Voice. But today, I'd like to dive a little deeper into it.
Perspective follows your main character (or characters, depending on if you're writing from multiple viewpoints), and can influence the way you write the story of your book.
There are three point of views you can write from:
First person perspective -> Good for unreliable narration, diving deep into the thoughts of your main character, and for seeing the world through their eyes. Examples of this: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.
Second person perspective -> Good for turning the audience into the character, great for interactive reads. Examples are few, but the main one that springs to mind is the Give Yourself Goosebumps by R. L. Stine and Scholastic Press.
Third person perspective -> Good for turning the narration into a character themself (if so chosen), reliable narration and ability to hop between characters viewpoints with ease. Examples: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson, Discworld by Terry Pratchett, most of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Universe.
Readers like different perspectives and each writer will have a preference, but as a writer it is your job to pick the best one for your story and your style.
As well as the perspective of the main character/narrator, you also have to choose which tense to write in.
Past, present, or future?
Past tense, this is the easiest to write in, and as such easy for the readers. Everything has already happened, you're just describing it. Think of it like writing a diary.
Present tense, this is where you write as if the scene is happening in front of you. A lot of writers have trouble with this initially as it's easy to accidentally slip into past tense whilst writing (which is why proofreading and editing are important!). However, when done correctly, it can be very impactful.
Future tense, you're writing things that will happen, before they come to pass. This, in my personal opinion is the hardest to write and more difficult to read. However, this one can work quite well with a second-person perspective.
Finding and sticking to the tense you've chosen can be a challenge, but once you do and it fits nicely with the perspective of narration, you will see that you can elevate your own writing voice and style even before an editor looks at it.
If you haven't had any experience with any of the perspectives listed above, I recommend finding and reading books or stories that feature them. Get a feel of those writing styles as a reader, and see what you like and what you don't like about each.
Remember, writing is a marathon, not a sprint, and you train for it by reading and writing little experimental drabs.
