JCB's Ruminations on the Craft of Fiction #2
May 28, 2020
I recently heard a literary agent answer a question about Point of View (POV) in a novel by noting that while writers are often very hard-nosed about the "rules" of POV, readers don’t really pay any attention to it. I know I am highly sensitive to the portrayal of perspective, and I often give feedback and advice centered around POV. If the reader doesn’t care, is it all for naught? This got me thinking about how we as writers approach the "rules" of writing.
As writers, we should always remember the main purpose of fiction is to create an enjoyable experience for the reader. The so-called "rules" of fiction are intended to help us with creating that experience. POV is a means by which we can shape the experience in order to evoke the reader's understanding of the point-of-view character. We can show what the character is thinking and feeling and depict their personality through the subtle ways they interpret the world. Character motivation is a story driver, and we need a natural way to let the reader know what motivates our character. We adhere to rules about POV in order to make it clear where thoughts and feelings are coming from.
When the perspective is not clear, the reader probably won't say anything about POV, but they will tell their friends not to read the story because it's confusing. Probably the most important rule for POV is to make sure the reader understands from whose perspective any construal of fictional elements arises. The reader won't necessarily know why, but they'll understand the character better, which means they'll enjoy the experience more.
Next: On Style Guides