My upcoming
course for FF&P is title “Beyond Research: Stronger Point of View and the
Effective Use of Detail.” I initially approached the topic from the perspective
of a historical romance writer--hence the workshop title "Beyond
Research." Originally, I wanted to convey to workshop attendees that
research was not the be-all end-all. It's not about how many obscure details
you can cram into a book, but how meaningfully those details create individual
characters who resonate with the reader.
I accidentally
stumbled on this idea for myself while teaching an introductory creative
writing class for senior citizens. We were in a spare, industrial room, where
florescent lights glared down on long gray desks--a wholly uninspiring space.
But as I looked out across the room, I noticed that all of the chairs were
brightly colored plastic. My daughters, then age three and four, would've loved
that room. They would've run along the four tiered levels, probably skipping
back and forward along each one, and most certainly counting the number of
blue, red, yellows, and green chairs. They would've used the chalkboard to keep
track of each color.
To write a
description of that room from a non-parents' perspective might have been a dull
affair, but to describe it from my POV would've demonstrated a mother's
affection for her blossoming children. To write it from a child's POV would've
been to create a place nearly as much fun as a playground. Perspectives make
the scenes, the characters, and the story as a whole.
Grounding any
information--from historical details to paranormal world-building--within POV
not only provides the reader with a sense of location, but helps her connect to
the characters. Details that do not contribute to this goal are
expendable.
With that in
mind, consider the following passages. One is from my June 26 release from
Pocket Books, STARLIGHT, and the other was taken from Wikipedia. Both
describe the Northern Lights.
Being able to
name each star held nothing to way he saw the aurora anew. Through her eyes. He
had wanted to show her a natural marvel. Instead, she had given him a gift. He
saw color like a field of flowers and movement like a dancing angel. Science
fell away to reveal only beauty. Now, this moment with Polly wove into each of
his veins and promised to remain just as bright.
Auroras seen
near the magnetic pole may be high overhead, but from farther away, they
illuminate the northern horizon as a greenish glow or sometimes a faint red, as
if the Sun were rising from an unusual direction. Discrete aurorae often
display magnetic field lines or curtain-like structures, and can change within
seconds or glow unchanging for hours, most often in fluorescent green.
The second,
factual description is pure research, but readers would be disappointed if that
was the full extent of how information was relayed to them in fiction. The
description as seen from Alex Christie’s point of view is more personal. He’s a
scientist who’s suddenly looking at a familiar sight in very new ways.
That is deep point
of view. Take research. Make it personal. Use it to enrich characters and
further the plot or romance.
I hope you’ll
come along with me as we further explore the concept of deep point of view, and
how little tricks and details will enrich your writing. Once you start to see
through the eyes of your characters, you’ll never see research or your writing
the same way again.
Next up for Carrie:
STARLIGHT, the second full-length romance in the Christies
series, is set in Victorian Glasgow. It just received a 4½ stars Top Pick from RT Book Reviews. Then comes Pocket Star
digital original, HIS VERY OWN GIRL,
an honest to goodness historical romance set in WWII! Available September 4.
Carrie on the internet
Twitter: @carrielofty
I
hope you will join my class
Beyond
Research: Stronger POV
&
Effective Use of Detail
Hosted
by
Fantasy-Futuristic
& Paranormal
Romance
Writers
This
2 week class starts July 2nd
For
more information click HERE.
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