Getting up Close and Personal: the Magic of Limited Point of View in Stories

Let’s talk about one of the coolest tricks in a writer’s bag: the limited point of view. Imagine putting on a pair of glasses that only lets you see the world through the eyes of one person. Everything is filtered through their experiences, their feelings, their quirks. That’s what it’s like to dive into a story told from a limited point of view. It’s like being in someone else’s shoes, but you’re not just walking in them – you’re thinking and feeling in them too.

First off, why do writers love this technique so much? It’s all about connection. When you’re hitching a ride in a character’s brain, you’re getting the VIP tour of their inner world. You’re not just observing their actions; you’re in the front row seat of their thought process, feeling their emotions, and sometimes even wrestling with their conscience. This is storytelling gold for creating characters that readers can really get behind, or occasionally, love to hate.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Imagine being stuck in a room with only one window. You can see a part of the world, sure, but what about everything happening outside your field of view? That’s the challenge with limited point of view. You’re at the mercy of the character’s knowledge and observations. If they’re clueless about something, so are you. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing, which can be thrilling or a tad bit frustrating depending on how the story unfolds.

The choice of narrator can make or break a story. Pick a bland character, and your story might feel like it’s dragging its feet. But choose someone with a voice that pops off the page, and you’ve got something that readers can’t put down. The character’s attitude, their way of seeing the world, even their sense of humor (or lack of it) can turn the story into a completely different experience. It’s like seasoning a dish; the right amount can create a masterpiece, but the wrong choice can leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Let’s look at some famous examples. “The Great Gatsby”? That’s Nick Carraway’s show, giving us the lowdown on the enigmatic Gatsby and his extravagant world. And then there’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”, where we see the complexities of a grown-up world through the innocent eyes of young Scout Finch. These stories wouldn’t have the same punch if they were told from any other perspective.

In a nutshell, the limited point of view is like a secret passage into a character’s heart and mind. It can turn a simple story into an intimate journey. Sure, it’s got its limitations, but that’s part of the charm. It challenges writers to be more creative and readers to be more engaged. When it’s done right, it’s like magic – transforming words on a page into a living, breathing world that you can step right into.

Did you like this example?

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