TECH: Stretching First Person

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First posted 3 April 2007

Without getting into the issue of whether first-person is a good choice or not, let's take a look at what James Scott Bell has to say in Writers Digest June 2004 on pages 21 and 22. The basic problem that James tackles is simple -- when I talk from my first-person point of view, I may have difficulty getting around the limitation of being stuck in my own perspective. So he proposes four different ways to stretch the first-person point of view.

First, to replace the cut to a different scene which raises readers wonderment about what happened in the original scene which is left usually at a cliffhanger, James proposes time delay. Simply end one chapter on a note of high tension, then let the first-person narrator start the next chapter with a digression, flashback, or some such delaying tactic. Then get back to what happened next. For example, James suggests:

I heard a shot. And a jolt to my chest. Hot blood stained my shirt.
[next chapter]
When I was six, my father taught me a valuable lesson. "Son, " he said . . .

Second, you can replace third person description with first-person imagination. "I can picture them . . . " or even "in my imagination . . ." easily introduces a bit of description.

Third, the ever popular dreams can help reveal the narrator's mind and the stakes that he/she confronts. Don't overdo them, but they're another tool in your toolbox.

Fourth, and final, as you know, Bob, you can have another character tell the first-person narrator about events. This may be a monologue or dialogue, but be careful about sudden momentary shift in points of view. It is very easy to have this slip over, and you need to be in control of the sliding.

So if you want the immediacy, empathy, intimacy and so forth that a first-person account brings with it, go ahead and try it. You can use these methods to help deal with the limitations that the first-person point of view also has. Use time delay to build suspense. Use imagination to describe a person can't see. Use dreams as a way to bring out the narrators inner concerns. Use those secondhand reports from other characters as a way to fill in. Some great detectives have depended on the reports of their assistants!

And, of course,if you need to, you can always go back and rewrite it in third person.

Write?

TECH: Make Your Characters Work

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Writers Digest, September 2004, page 10 has a quick tip by Erika Dreifus. Basically, Erika points out that when we are looking for telling details about a character, it can be useful to remember that everyone has to earn a living. Work situations are familiar and an important part of real life, so use them to help enrich the story with believable details. Some prompts to help you define the character:

1. Write your character's resume
2. Write your character's current job description
3. Write your character's fantasy job description -- what would they like to be doing?
4. Fill out a job application for your character
5. Describe your character through a coworker's eyes
6. describe your character's greatest professional accomplishment
7. Describe your character's greatest professional regret or failure
8. Write a scene in which your character confronts a challenge at work

Now Erika doesn't suggest these, but they are obvious twists. For one thing, give your character a yearly review. What does their boss think about their work? What about a customer or client -- what do they think about your character? How about the company or business - is it doing well, slipping, maybe about to go under?

Put your character to work - and let that work show in the story.