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The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life

Alicia Rasley (Goodreads Author)

4.14 · Rating details · 220 ratings · 31 reviews

Every Character Has a Voice

Point of view isn't just an element of storytelling–when chosen carefully and employed consistently in a work of fiction, it is the foundation of a captivating story.

It's the character voice you can hear as clearly as your own. It's the unique worldview that intrigues readers–persuading them to empathize with your characters and invest in their t ...more

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Paperback, 265 pages

Published March 11th 2008 by Writer's Digest Books (first published January 1st 2008)

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Sep 06, 2017 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it

Shelves: 21th-century, non-fiction, refrence, writing, language

The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life, Alicia Rasley

The Power of Point of View goes beyond simply defining the various Point of view options and shows readers how to use Point of view to enhance and tie together all other story components The difference between a pedestrian telling of a story and a powerful telling is in how the point of view is handled.

A well-written story is one in which the author allows Point of view to guide not just how the plot develops, but how the st The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life, Alicia Rasley

The Power of Point of View goes beyond simply defining the various Point of view options and shows readers how to use Point of view to enhance and tie together all other story components The difference between a pedestrian telling of a story and a powerful telling is in how the point of view is handled.

A well-written story is one in which the author allows Point of view to guide not just how the plot develops, but how the story--the merging of plot and character--develops.

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و نهم ماه می سال 2016میلادی

عنوان: جادوی زاویه دید؛ نویسنده: آلیشیا راسلی؛ مترجم: محسن سلیمانی؛ ویراستار: محبوبه قاسمی ایمچه؛ تهران، سوره مهر، 1394؛ در 684ص؛ شابک 9786001759802؛ واژه نامه، نمایه؛ موضوع: در باره نویسندگی و نوشتن از نویسندگان - سده 20م

زاویه ی دید، یعنی اینکه، کدام راوی باید داستان را، تعریف کند، و آن راوی، چقدر باید بداند، و چه باید بگوید؛ اگر شما برای بازگویی یک رخداد، راوی را دیگر کنید، داستان شما هم دیگر میشود؛ با زاویه دید میتوان، هر شخصیتی را به خوبی نشان داد؛ نویسنده ی همین کتاب بانو «آلیشیا راسلی»، که خود در دانشگاههای «آمریکا» داستان نویسی درس میدهند، و تا امروز نیز، کم و بیش ده رمان بنوشته اند، در این کتاب ایشان، با مثالهایی گویا، انواع راویها، و خوبی و بدی هریک را، شرح میدهند، و سپس به خوانشگر میگویند: برای هر نوع رمان از کدام راوی یاید سود برد؛

نقل از متن: «شاید شما از دوران مدرسه، اول شخص (من)، دوم شخص (تو یا شما)، و سوم شخص (او) را، در دستور زبان، به یاد داشته باشید؛ اما داستان شخصها در دستور زبان، تازه تنها آغاز بحث «زاویه ی دید»، در داستان است؛ در «زاویه ی دید» این (من)، (شما)، (او)؛ شخصی ست؛ که ارزشها، احساسات، افکار و نگرشهای ویژه ای فردی، در ادراک جهان، و نوع گفتار داستان دارد»؛ پایان نقل

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 12/07/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی ...more

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Dec 24, 2020 Farhang Nazari Doost rated it it was ok · review of another edition

خوب نبود. البته از حق نگذرم ترجمه به‌قدری فاجعه‌بار بود که من احساس می‌کنم ممکنه کیفیت کتاب رو پایین آورده باشه، بنابراین اولین توصیه من به اشخاصی که می‌خوان کتاب رو بخونن پیدا کردن نسخه زبان اصلی کتابه چون مترجم مربوطه، اصلاً و ابداً امانتدار نیست و هرجا دلش خواسته یا نتونسته متن رو ترجمه کنه متن رو عوض کرده، حذف کرده و مثال‌های مثال‌های متفاوتی آورده که شاید با منظور نویسنده درتضاد بوده یا مفهوم رو به‌خوبی منتقل نمی‌کرده.
ولی خود کتاب هم دست‌کم برای من خیلی چشم‌گیر نبود.
من معتقدم بیشتر درس‌های خوب نبود. البته از حق نگذرم ترجمه به‌قدری فاجعه‌بار بود که من احساس می‌کنم ممکنه کیفیت کتاب رو پایین آورده باشه، بنابراین اولین توصیه من به اشخاصی که می‌خوان کتاب رو بخونن پیدا کردن نسخه زبان اصلی کتابه چون مترجم مربوطه، اصلاً و ابداً امانتدار نیست و هرجا دلش خواسته یا نتونسته متن رو ترجمه کنه متن رو عوض کرده، حذف کرده و مثال‌های مثال‌های متفاوتی آورده که شاید با منظور نویسنده درتضاد بوده یا مفهوم رو به‌خوبی منتقل نمی‌کرده.
ولی خود کتاب هم دست‌کم برای من خیلی چشم‌گیر نبود.
من معتقدم بیشتر درس‌های آموزشی این کتاب رو یک نویسنده تیزهوش می‌تونه به طریق تجربی از کتاب‌های خوب اون ژانر و قالبی که‌ می‌نویسه یاد بگیره همون‌طور که شخص من خیلی از بخش‌های این کتاب رو پیش از این تو کتاب‌های مختلف خونده بودم و برام تکراری بود، بنابراین چیز جدیدی برای من نداشت. ولی دست‌کم اسم‌هاشون رو یاد گرفتم!
کتاب از اضافه‌گویی و زیاده‌گویی و اطناب واقعاً بیش ازحدی رنج می‌بره. مثال‌های کتاب واقعاً آزاردهنده‌اند و همه‌شون هم از یه دسته کتاب خاصی انتخاب شدند و خیلی متنوع نیستند.
درمورد اطناب و زیاده‌گویی خودم یکی‌دوجا دیدم که مثلاً سه صفحه به خلاصه یک کتابی اختصاص داده شده که قراره یک یا دو پارگرافش رو مثال بزنه برای فلان زاویه دید درصورتی که مخاطب کتاب مذکور رو نمی‌خونه که خلاصه کتاب‌های متفاوت رو بخونه! هدف کتاب آموزش داستان‌نویسیه نه تبلیغ کتاب‌های نویسنده‌هایی مثل دین‌کونتز و ایکس و ایگرگ!
مورد بعدی از انتقاد من هم کمی شخصی‌تر می‌شه ولی از اونجا که این نظر من هستش باید بگمش. نویسنده‌ی کتاب و (البته) مترجم کلاً هیچی درمورد ادبیات ژانری نمی‌دونن به‌طوری که فانتزی و علمی تخیلی رو کلاً تخیلی و خیالی عنوان کردند درصورتی که اصلاً نمی‌شه مقایسه‌شون کرد! نمی‌شه «ارباب حلقه‌ها» رو با «سه‌گانه بنیاد»، «قیام سرخ» و «نخستین قانون»رو کنارهم قرارداد.
نوشتن یه کتاب فانتزی با علمی تخیلی نوشتن تفاوت‌های عمده‌ای داره و نوع زاویه دید متفاوتی رو می‌طلبه همین‌طور باقی ژانرها و قالب‌های داستانی.

نکته‌ی مثبت کتاب هم به نظرم برای ویراستارهای داستانی و نویسنده‌های تازه‌کاره. ویراستارهای داستانی که کلاً تو این صنعت نشر مریض ایران معنی خاصی نداره بنابراین خواندنش مخاطب رو حرفه‌ای تر می‌کنه و کار نویسنده رو برای نوشتن یه اثر پرفروش سخت‌تر ولی می‌تونه برای نویسنده‌ها هم تلنگری داشته باشه که موقع بازنویسی و بازنگری کتاب رو با دقت و البته بی‌رحمی بیشتری بررسی کنن که درنهایت می‌تونه به داستانی با روایت‌ شخصیت‌پردازی و صحنه پردازی چفت‌وبست‌دارتری منجر بشه. ...more

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Apr 04, 2020 Armina Salemi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

And done!

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Aug 23, 2020 Reza Qalandari rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: نویسندگی

خب حالا که تموم شد، بیایید من از روی پروسه‌ی نوشتن خودم، اهمیت این کتاب و محتواش رو توضیح بدم.
برای من همه‌چی با ایده شروع می‌شه. قبل از هر چیز دیگه‌ای.
بعد تا حدود کمی، داستان رو تو ذهنم شکل می‌دم.
بعد دنبال ارتباط شخصیتم با این داستان و ایده می‌گردم.
وقتی موفق شدم پیداش کنم، یعنی می‌دونم مضمون این داستان قراره چی باشه.
بعدش پلات داستان رو می‌چینم و باقی چیزها رو تعیین می‌کنم. شخصیت‌ها و ستینگ و از این قبیل.
این‌ها مرحله‌ی اول نوشتنم هستن. در حقیقت مرحله‌ی پیش از نوشتن.
اما وقتی می‌خوام شروع کنم به ن خب حالا که تموم شد، بیایید من از روی پروسه‌ی نوشتن خودم، اهمیت این کتاب و محتواش رو توضیح بدم.
برای من همه‌چی با ایده شروع می‌شه. قبل از هر چیز دیگه‌ای.
بعد تا حدود کمی، داستان رو تو ذهنم شکل می‌دم.
بعد دنبال ارتباط شخصیتم با این داستان و ایده می‌گردم.
وقتی موفق شدم پیداش کنم، یعنی می‌دونم مضمون این داستان قراره چی باشه.
بعدش پلات داستان رو می‌چینم و باقی چیزها رو تعیین می‌کنم. شخصیت‌ها و ستینگ و از این قبیل.
این‌ها مرحله‌ی اول نوشتنم هستن. در حقیقت مرحله‌ی پیش از نوشتن.
اما وقتی می‌خوام شروع کنم به نوشتن، دو چیز رو باز از پیش تعیین می‌کنم.
اولی روایت و زاویه‌ی دیده، دومی نثر. ( خب طبیعتاً هر ایده و داستان نثر خاصی نیاز داره :دی)
اما درباب زاویه‌ی دید:
برای خودم، ابتدا به‌عنوان خواننده و سپس در مقام نویسنده، روایت خیلی مهمه. باید طوری باشه که نه از خوندنش خسته بشم، نه از نوشتنش. مثلاً نمی‌تونم از زاویه‌ی دید تنها یک نفر استفاده کنم و تعدد راوی نباشه، اصلاً نمی‌تونم بنویسم (هرچند تو خوندن مثال خلف زیاده).
این کتاب مطالب مفید زیادی داشت، که هم چیزهای جدیدی بهم یاد داد، هم کمک کرد کارهایی که قبلاً انجام می‌‌دادم، الان با آگاهانه و تسلط کامل انجام بدم و پیاده کنم تو کتاب.
اگه شما هم مثل من هستین، و روایت خیلی براتون مهمه، بین کتاب‌های سوره‌ی مهر پیشنهادم اینه اول این کتاب رو بخونید. چون مفیدتر و روشن‌گرتر از باقی کتاباست؛ حداقل برای من.

@QalandarNameh ...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Alicia Rasley rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

I wrote this, and would be glad to talk about it. My blog about writing and editing is http://www.edittorrent.blogspot.com, so meet me there! Also lots of my articles about writing are archived at www.rasley.com.
Thanks.

Alicia ...more

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Aug 14, 2015 Felipe Lerma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Understanding my creativity as levels within one point of view.

I'd read and thought about this book for several months, pretty much thinking it was "4 stars" for not having enough examples to get it's ideas about pov across well enough for me to consciously apply them.

Then very recently, pondering over a rare negative but constructive review of one of my fiction pieces, I think I finally got it.

One of the complaints was about some of the language (esp expressive thoughts and perceptions) being o ...more

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Dec 10, 2013 Jasmina rated it it was amazing

I’ll tell you how much I like this book:

Someone enters my study with his jolly stride and rosy cheeks, his summer curls bouncing around a friendly face. He asks if he could have a look at THE book.

I look at him and leave my work on the side. I’m knitting a sweater. Without taking my eyes off him I stand up. Slowly. I stand now stone-hearted, my hands are on the sides, ready. The small trembles of my fingers are the only movement of my body. I hold my breath.

Suddenly, with the speed of a crazy co ...more

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Sep 03, 2019 Robert Richards rated it it was ok

This book is a lot like other self-help books and articles in which authors make a distinction between traditional third-person point of view and “deep” third-person point of view. I think the latter term is a lazy way of simplifying the variations in thought representation that occur in third-person point of view, which determine whether it is traditional third person or deep third person. Instead of discussing narrative distance, it’s more revealing to discuss how a narrator’s closeness and di ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Lucy rated it liked it

This book was kind of hit or miss. Lots of the chapters seemed pretty self-explanatory, and I found the lack of voice made the book uninteresting. Also, as a small point, it frustrated me that Rasley would randomly choose genders to describe the generic "reader" and the generic "character." She ping-ponged between using she/he for both of them. Pick one and stick with it!

That being said, some of the exercises seem really interesting. Honestly, they might be the best part of the book. Some of the ...more

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Jul 11, 2017 Debra Daniels-Zeller rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, writing

Excellent tips on improving POV characters. It's interesting to read, considering POV. This is a great resource to keep on the shelf to improve any aspect of Point of View, filled with tips and examples, it's a tool both seasoned and new writers would appreciate. ...more

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Jul 03, 2018 Analiesa Adams rated it really liked it

A must read for the writer. Very clear examples and direction on how to not get caught into the trap of the point of view merry-go-round.

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Jul 15, 2017 John Bond rated it really liked it

Some good tips on writing.

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Aug 01, 2018 Katrin Gertsen rated it really liked it

Overall very interesting and useful

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Apr 18, 2013 Bill rated it really liked it

Shelves: writing-how-to

One Person’s Point of View.

Rasley, Alicia. (2008). The Power of Point of View. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books.

When people hear or read a story, they want to know two things: What happens? And they want to know, Who is telling the story? That second question concerns point of view. If somebody is telling you a tale, whether around a campfire or over a cup of tea, it is important to know who this stoyteller is, what their attitudes are, and how they came to know of the events reported. In a One Person’s Point of View.

Rasley, Alicia. (2008). The Power of Point of View. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books.

When people hear or read a story, they want to know two things: What happens? And they want to know, Who is telling the story? That second question concerns point of view. If somebody is telling you a tale, whether around a campfire or over a cup of tea, it is important to know who this stoyteller is, what their attitudes are, and how they came to know of the events reported. In a work of fiction, these questions are usually implicit. Stories that just report events, with no consistent point of view, are much less interesting.

The narrator is not, of course the author, but a quasi-character that the author has invented to tell the story. With a first-person point of view, the main character is also the narrator, such as in a mystery, where the investigating detective tells the story through his or her own eyes, with all the biases, attitudes, and errors that might entail. In a third person point of view, there is an omniscient narrator, a “voice” who is telling the tale but who is not one of the nominal characters of the story. This narrator directs the reader’s attention to scenery, characters, and costumes, as a movie director does, as well as relates development of the story and the characters in it.

Rasley explains all the variations in point of view, and how each is used, in detail; and there are many variations on the third person omniscient POV to consider. Each chapter has interesting exercises that could be used in a classroom or by an individual, and a list of suggested further readings.

I thought the book was weakest in failing to distinguish clearly between the narrative voice and the character’s point of view. Some omniscient narrators are full of attitude and opinion, commenting on and interpreting the characters’ actions and thoughts like a Greek Chorus. Most narrators these days are more subtle, expressing their personality through choice of detail and level of diction. This distinction between narration and point of view can be extremely subtle and I would have liked more on that. Nevertheless, for anyone who has struggled trying to decide what point of view is best suited to a work of fiction, this is the definitive book. ...more

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May 08, 2013 Nancy Butts rated it really liked it

This is the second time I've read this, and I think it's the best book available on viewpoint for writers. Rasley parses POV in a way I've never seen before. For example, she divides omniscient narration into three categories: objective, classical omniscient, and contemporary omniscient—all of which are different from distant third. Interesting. I don't always agree with her, especially in her application of voice and viewpoint to children's books. [Though I love the Narnia chronicles, I most em ...more

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Jun 05, 2015 Bart rated it it was amazing

Shelves: the-craft

This is probably the best book on the craft that I've read so far. It takes one subject, POV, and tells you everything you need to know about it. It shows what POV is, and what kinds of POV there are. It shows, for every kind of POV, what the advantages and disadvantages are of using that kind of POV, the dangers of using that kind of POV and gives several tips for writing in that kind of POV. All this is done in a very clear way with many great examples.
Most of all, this book makes clear that ...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Dana rated it it was amazing

This book was recommended to me by a group member when I posted a thread on multiple points of view and I'm glad I took up his suggestion. Well-written and comprehensive, "The Power of Point of View" covers the basics right through to the intricacies of "voice". As I'm currently writing a novel from a multiple of view, I found the last section "The Master Class" invaluable. I highly recommend it to all writers as it goes to show that the more you know the more there is to learn. ...more

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Nov 20, 2013 Christy rated it really liked it

Shelves: writing-skills

Every Character Has a VoicePoint of view isn't just an element of storytelling�when chosen carefully and employed consistently in a work of fiction, it is the foundation of a captivating story.

It's the character voice you can hear as clearly as your own. It's the unique worldview that intrigues readers�persuading them to empathize with your characters and invest in their t...more ...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Lisa Eckstein rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2010, writing-advice

I was so excited to read a book by someone who is more geeky about point of view than I am, because most writing guides don't cover the topic in nearly enough depth. Rasley analyzes each possible narrative perspective and discusses when it might be appropriate for a story. Highly recommended if that sounds exciting to you, too. ...more

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Sep 27, 2015 Katherine Trail rated it it was amazing

This is an excellent book. I'm a fiction editor, working mainly with self-publishing authors, and I ALWAYS recommend this book to clients. It's extremely comprehensive, but doesn't fall into the trap of being dry or dull. If you're interested in writing fiction, I'd strongly recommend reading this book first. Even if you are an experienced writer, I bet you will learn something from it! ...more

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Jul 16, 2014 Heather rated it really liked it

Shelves: writing

*3.5 Stars*

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Aug 07, 2014 May Koliander rated it it was amazing

Very clear and detailed. Got a lot out of it especially as POV has always puzzled me !

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Oct 30, 2010 Jeffrey Rasley rated it it was amazing

Great examples for novices and multi-published writers. Deeply thoughtful and insightful about understanding POV.

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Nov 08, 2010 Shelley rated it it was amazing

Read it in parts; the writing exercises were very helpful.

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Nov 08, 2016 Miranda Honfleur rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A very strong overview of POV, with a thorough and useful section on character voice to which I refer again and again. Highly recommended for new and experienced writers.

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Apr 24, 2013 Nourddine Boughaba rated it it was amazing

If you write fiction or just love to read it well, a must-have book. Buy it, re-read it, take a master's class in the art and mystery of point of view. Brilliant. ...more

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