Lisa Hall-Wilson's Blog, page 4

4 Ways To Make Limited Third Person Into Deep POV

Are you writing (or wanting to write) in limited 3rd person POV or Deep POV? Many blogs write as though the these two popular fiction styles are the same and it muddies the water quite a bit leading to a great deal of confusion. Deep POV came out of limited third person, and they have some similarities, but they are in fact different in style and strategy.

Third person POV has a three different styles: omniscient third, objective third, and limited third. This distinction is important to ...

Creating unique voices for multiple POV characters – and how to show their emotions

So excited to have Aiki Flinthart on the blog today. I’m recovering from knee surgery and Aiki generously stepped in for me and is sharing about creating unique characters. Aiki describes every pantser’s nightmare below, *grin* but don’t panic. You would go through all the same steps to pants your way through this, you’d just do it through a first draft and a lot of rewriting.

Be sure to check out Aiki’s book for writers (I’ve already ordered mine): [image error][image error]

As authors, we all know that she wh...

8 Ways Voice Can Show Emotional Depth

How we say things communicates as much or more than what our words say. Deep point of view takes show-don’t-tell to new extremes, and I’ve found it helpful to pause and take things in from new angles and perspectives because there are a great many things we overlook or take for granted.

When we communicate in real life, we use quite a lot of non-verbal cues to convey emotion. We parse the meaning in speech from body language (gestures, expressions, etc.), from content, and voice.

Tone...

An Emotion-Critique Group For Intermediate Writers

Are you looking for a critique group that goes beyond the basics? A group who is committed, who has a bit of a thicker skin, who understands story structure, character arc, plot, tension, pace, etc. They might not always have these things nailed, but they know how important they are and want to craft the best stories they can. And they need/want help adding emotional depth to their stories.

And hey – maybe there are some advanced writers in this place too?

I have found that many confe...

Writing Traumatic Memories Without Overwhelming Readers

PTSD and trauma (both big “T” and small “t” trauma), affect our memory in different ways, and when writing in deep point of view, it becomes telling to label an emotion for readers. So, how do we write trauma memories realistically without overwhelming readers with gratuitous details and melodrama?

PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and trauma, either as current events or historical, are compelling elements in fiction. An essential tool then becomes backstory, memories, and flashbacks ...

3 Ways Distance Creeps Into Deep POV And How To Fix It!

Deep point of view is a stylistic choice to remove the writer voice and instead write the story as though the reader is inside the characters head. You want to remove any hints that the reader is in a chair at home reading a story instead of living out the story alongside the main character(s).

Learning to recognize when distance creeps into your story is really hard, especially if you havent read a lot of stories written entirely in deep point of view. Its a tricky mindset shift that needs...

Using Defense Mechanisms To Create Emotional Depth In Fiction

This is part two to a post I wrote last week for Writers Helping Writers on giving characters emotional context.

Your character has a reason for feeling the way they do and reacting the way they do. In deep point of view, everything is filtered through your POV characters perspective. What does this situation mean to THAT character, RIGHT NOW, based on their own unique past experiences, prejudices, fears/concerns, priorities, and goals (emotional context)?

We know that emotions serve a...

How Do I Add Emotion To My Fiction?

Part of the power of deep point of view (I think) is diving deep into emotions in a way thats both specific and unique to the character and universal to the reader. Some writers focus more on whats happening than on whats being felt. I fall into this category. I have to put the emotions in during edits. Here are the steps that have really helped me.

Were continuing in our FAQ series on Deep POV. The question that came in was: Ive been told my novel is dry. Plenty of action, low on emotion....

Keeping Secrets From Readers In Deep Point Of View

How can I keep a secret from the reader? I’m writing mystery, and I can’t let the reader know why my POV character is [insert action: searching, driving to, making a u-turn without explanation, making accusations] because then there won’t be any suspense.

Yes, I’m continuing on the Deep POV FAQ series and this isn’t an actual question from readers but I’ve said: ‘you can’t keep secrets from the reader’ so often I SHOULD be asked about it.

How Deep Point Of View Works

It’s hard to justify a...

5 Pro Tips On Writing Description In Deep Point Of View

Woop! Let’s give 2019 a giant kick out the door and welcome in 2020 with a bang! Beginning January 1st, I am launching 30 Days Of Deep POV on my Facebook page, where I’ll be creating a video a day based on my 30 most popular blog posts (including guest posts) on deep point of view (t. Don’t miss out! Join the fun on Facebook!

I am continuing the Deep POV FAQ series and today’s question is: how do I add more pertinent details without boring my readers?

I get asked this A LOT concerning...