Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: How This View Works
• Part 2 of 3: How to use this perspective
• Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes
• Tips

The omniscient narrator, or the omniscient author, knows everything that happens in the world of the work, at any point in it, and also has happened or will ever happen. Using this storytelling mode will allow you to provide readers with information that they would not have received if you had used a different mode. This is because your narrator knows and sees everything and can move from the point of view of one character to the point of view of another. Based on this, you need to follow some rules so as not to confuse readers with points of view. This article will cover the basic laws of third-person presentation. Arm yourself with them to write like a pro.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: How This View Works

1. 1 First, understand the purpose of the point of view. Any point of view, whether narrated in the first person or from the third, is used so that the reader can recognize the thoughts, feelings, emotions and knowledge of the character.
   • The point of view also allows you to describe the environment of the character - what he sees, hears, feels. Therefore, the point of view describes both the inner world and the external environment.
2. 2 Get familiar with what third-person storytelling means. When you write in third person, you call the character by name and use the personal pronouns "he", "she", "they". This point of view allows the narrator to tell the story of the character "from the outside" (rather than from the character's perspective), but at the same time describe his thoughts and feelings.
   • Here's an example of a third-person narrative: “Veronica turned on the bedroom light. At the same moment, frost ran over her skin. The same stranger from the park stood right in front of her. Veronica didn’t know whether to rush to run or stay and fight him back, but it didn’t matter: she was simply paralyzed from horror ”.
   • This fragment describes not only what the heroine does, but also what she thinks and feels.
3. 3 Realize the benefits of using a third-person storytelling style. Here, the narrator has access to all the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in the work and is not limited to just the point of view of one character. Therefore, as an author, you can move from the point of view of one character to the point of view of another, and the same event can be illuminated from different angles.
   • Since the author is omniscient, his point of view is, as it were, above the characters, and he can present the events, actions and thoughts of the characters from a bird's eye view.
   • This point of view gives you, as an author, the freedom to populate a work with more character voices and diverse perceptions.
4. 4 Be aware of the disadvantages of third-person storytelling. Unfortunately, detachment has its dark sides. Due to the fact that the characters are viewed from a distance, you also introduce them to the readers from a distance. As a result, this can lead to the fact that in the work you will tell more than show. This can prevent readers from getting deeply into the characters' feelings and make the story dry and boring. They may feel that they are learning information about the heroes, and not immersed in their story.
   • If your story is more focused on one character, then the point of view of an omniscient author may not quite fit into the format of the work, since it will not allow depicting it in detail, including his thoughts and emotions.
   • If the main driving force of your work is the plot and there are many lines and characters in it, then the point of view of an omniscient author can work best, as with the right approach, it will allow you to easily move between scenes with the involvement of different characters, as well as in time and space. ...
   • Regardless of the point of view you use, you always need to try so that the reader can relate to the characters, not get confused in them and not lose the narrative thread.
5. 5 Keep in mind that by using this point, you can refer directly to the readers. Another advantage of this point of view over other points of view is that you, as an author, can engage in direct dialogue with readers, creating a deeper, personal relationship with them.
   • This may sound simple, for example: “Dear reader, it was not an easy decision for me to make the decision to kill Alice. Let me explain why. "
   • Or you can use a less direct message to the reader, such as “Don't worry about Alice. It will be difficult times for her, but in the end everything will pass and she will live happily ever after. "
6. 6 Keep in mind that there are two types of omniscient third person. This point of view can be characterized by two types: objective and subjective.
   • The objective version is presented by the “fly on the wall” point of view, in which the narrator is present, but remains invisible in the work.He will present events as they are, but will not offer his opinion on these events. This point of view is like a camera that follows the characters wherever they go, showing their actions and dialogues, but not getting into their thoughts.
   • In the subjective version, there is a strong voice of the narrator, who discusses the inner thoughts of the characters within a certain scene. Therefore, all emotions and thoughts of the characters are filtered through the voice of the author and conveyed in their own words.

Part 2 of 3: How to use this perspective

1. 1 Determine which type of third-person omniscient perspective will greatly benefit the story you want to tell. If you are trying to develop an idea through multiple narrative, but want to show the emotions of the characters through actions and dialogues rather than through inner thoughts, then the objective point of view of an omniscient author is more suitable for you.
   • If you want to write a story with a strong narrator who broadcasts an inside view of the character, then it might be better to opt for the subjective point of view of an omniscient author.
2. 2 Practice writing from your chosen point of view. Instead of using the pronoun "I" (writing in the first person) or addressing readers with "you" (in the second person), call the characters by name or using the appropriate pronoun: he, she, him, her, him, her.
   • For example, instead of "I arrived in town on a cold, windy morning," you could write, "She arrived in town on a cold, windy morning," or "Alice arrived in town on a cold, windy morning."
3. 3 When using the objective point of view of an omniscient author, avoid revealing the identity of the narrator. When writing from this point of view, remember that the narrator is usually an unknown entity acting from the perspective of the all-seeing eye. Therefore, you do not need to give it a name or give the reader information about it.
   • This is the difference between this point of view and writing in the first or second person, where the narrator plays one of the main roles in the work and his point of view is dominant.
4. 4 Make sure you have a strong narrator if you use the subjective point of view of an omniscient author. An example is Lemony Snicket from Lemony Snicket: 33 Misfortunes. The narrator not only identifies himself as "I", but also speaks directly to the readers and throughout the work moves from the point of view of one character to another.

Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes

1. 1 Stick to one character's point of view until you move on to another character's point of view. Failure to follow this rule can lead to a violation of the point of view.
   • A point of view violation occurs when a character knows something that he cannot know from his point of view. For example, while the narrator may know that Paul hit John from behind, John will not know this unless he finds out from outside sources or through elimination.
   • Violating the point of view can also make the whole work implausible and invalidate the voices of the characters you worked so hard to create. Therefore, beware of any violation of the point of view.
   • Another problem that can arise is associated with jumping, where in one scene you jump from the thoughts of one character to the thoughts of another. While this is technically the correct way to use third-person storytelling, this technique can confuse readers and overwhelm the scene with too many thoughts.
   • Be consistent in your explanations of the dialogues so that it is clear who said what. If characters of the same gender are involved in the dialogue, it is worth calling them by name, and not just "he" or "she".
2. 2 Use smooth transitions between the thoughts of multiple characters. To avoid confusion for the reader, try to create a "bridge" or smoothly transition from one character to another within the same scene.
3. 3 Warn the reader to jump to another character's point of view. To do this, draw the reader's attention to the character by describing the character's actions or movements in the event.
   • For example, as you move from Paul's perspective to John's perspective, you might note the following: “John rubbed his back where the impact was. He noticed Paul standing behind him. Could Paul have run into him, John wondered.
4. 4 Give your character the lead in the action. This is a good way to move to a different point of view. As soon as the new character takes the lead in the action, continue the story through his thoughts or feelings.
   • For example: “John slammed the mug on the bar with all his might. "What kind of idiot hit me?" he yelled. Then he noticed Paul standing behind him. "And what is he doing here?" - thought John.
5. 5 Experiment with using the perspective of an omniscient author in short texts. Before writing a large-scale work on behalf of an omniscient author, practice on small fragments. Writing from the perspective of an omniscient author can be difficult at first, especially if you haven't gotten into the head of several characters at once and are still learning how to seamlessly transition from one character to another.
   • Sit down and try to write a few scenes from this point of view to get a feel for it. Reread and revise what you have written if you notice jumping over or disturbing your point of view.

Tips

• One of the best ways to learn to write better from the perspective of an omniscient author is to read books by other authors who have successfully applied that perspective. Take a close look at the transitions the writer uses to smoothly transition from one character's point of view to another, and try to copy his approach in the scene you're working on.