Whose head is this? The POV lesson

Learning the POV lesson means choosing the best head

When I received the initial manuscript review of “I Knew Men” from Marg Gilks 12 years ago, I felt both encouraged and discouraged. She gave me confidence about the story itself, but serious editing was needed if I wanted a chance at living the author’s dream. I didn’t have resources to pay for anything beyond her manuscript review, and so I undertook the job of editing. Learning the POV lesson opened the door to a whole new world.

Thankfully, Marg edited parts to illustrate the work set before me. She also gave examples and resources for me to study. Talk about enlightening! And, in case you’re wondering, she has no idea that my book is being published, or that I’ve started this website where I am singing her praises. What a thrill it will be — to send her a signed printed copy expressing all of my gratitude!

THE BIG LESSON

Like many inexperienced novelists, I needed to learn and apply a consistent point of view. Throughout my novel, scenes run rampant where several characters are present. If you were a reader of the first draft, your mind got tossed back and forth inside their brains. Skilled writers can use that approach and make it work, but I had created a dizzying reading experience.

I needed to study a scene, figure out the key player, and stay inside that person’s head.

Determining which character’s head to take the lead was not always obvious. If I got stuck, I’d play out the scene from different points of view (alone in the dead of night, in my husband’s basement workshop, smoking cigarettes, pacing the floor — such good memories). I understood firsthand how writing and acting go hand in hand. Sometimes, the discovery of the “lead head” caught me by surprise.

By placing myself in scenes as a fly on the wall, I found my POV approach. Writing thoughts out for others, like a bunny hopping around, became a thing of the past as I adopted the third person objective. My story suddenly sprang to life! I could hear angels singing!

Presently, the editor of my manuscript is determining whether or not I got the POV thing right. I can’t wait to see whether my angels were singing with perfect pitch or a little off key.