Mastering Close Third Person: A Writer’s Guide to Deep Point of View
Writing in the third person offers a powerful way to tell a story, providing flexibility and a broader perspective than first person. However, standard third person can sometimes feel distant. This is where close third person, also known as deep point of view (deep POV), comes in. It allows you to maintain the ‘he/she/they’ narration while diving deeply into a character’s thoughts, feelings, and sensations, blurring the line between third and first person.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of mastering close third person, providing examples and practical tips to elevate your storytelling.
## What is Close Third Person?
Close third person places the reader directly into the character’s head. We experience the world as they do, filtering everything through their unique perspective. It’s more intimate than traditional third person limited because you don’t just know *what* the character is thinking, but *how* they are thinking it. This creates a strong connection between the reader and the character.
**Key Characteristics of Close Third Person:**
* **Third-Person Pronouns:** Uses pronouns like ‘he,’ ‘she,’ ‘they,’ and ‘it’ but minimizes their use for internal thoughts and feelings.
* **Deep Immersion:** The reader experiences the world through the character’s senses, thoughts, and emotions.
* **Subjective Language:** The narration reflects the character’s vocabulary, tone, and biases.
* **Internal Monologue:** Direct access to the character’s thoughts, often without quotation marks or explicit tags.
* **Limited Knowledge:** The reader only knows what the character knows, and is surprised when the character is surprised.
* **Emotional Resonance:** The reader feels the character’s emotions as if they were their own.
* **Implied Information:** Showing, not telling, through the character’s reactions and interpretations.
## Why Write in Close Third Person?
Choosing close third person offers several advantages:
* **Enhanced Reader Connection:** Immersing the reader in the character’s perspective creates a strong emotional bond.
* **Increased Tension and Suspense:** Limiting the reader’s knowledge to the character’s heightens suspense and anticipation.
* **Greater Emotional Impact:** Sharing the character’s feelings intensifies the story’s emotional impact.
* **Unique Voice and Perspective:** It allows you to showcase the character’s unique voice and perspective, making them more relatable and memorable.
* **Deeper Character Development:** Exploring the character’s inner thoughts and motivations allows for richer character development.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Close Third Person
Here’s a detailed guide to help you master the art of close third person:
**Step 1: Choose Your Point-of-View Character**
In close third person, you typically focus on one character’s perspective within a scene or chapter. This character becomes your POV character, and the narrative is filtered through their eyes. Choose the character whose perspective will best drive the story forward and create the desired emotional impact. While you *can* switch POV characters between chapters or scenes, doing it too frequently can dilute the emotional impact and confuse the reader.
**Example:**
Instead of:
> John walked into the room. He saw Mary sitting by the window. She looked sad. He wondered what was wrong.
Focus on John’s perspective:
> John walked into the room. Mary sat by the window, a silhouette against the fading light. A knot tightened in his stomach. What was wrong?
**Step 2: Immerse Yourself in Your Character’s Mindset**
Before you start writing, deeply understand your character. Consider their:
* **Background:** Where did they grow up? What experiences have shaped them?
* **Personality:** Are they optimistic or pessimistic? Introverted or extroverted? How do they react under pressure?
* **Values and Beliefs:** What do they stand for? What’s important to them?
* **Goals and Motivations:** What do they want to achieve? Why do they want it?
* **Flaws and Weaknesses:** What are their vulnerabilities? What are they afraid of?
* **Vocabulary and Tone:** How do they speak? What kind of language do they use?
The more you know about your character, the easier it will be to write from their perspective. Use character questionnaires, write character sketches, or even try journaling as your character to gain a deeper understanding.
**Step 3: Filter Everything Through Their Senses**
In close third person, the reader experiences the world as the character does. Describe what the character sees, hears, smells, tastes, and feels, using language that reflects their perspective. Avoid objective descriptions; instead, focus on how the character interprets their surroundings.
**Example:**
Instead of:
> The coffee smelled strong.
Use the character’s perspective:
> The acrid smell of burnt coffee stung his nostrils.
**Step 4: Use Internal Monologue Sparingly**
Internal monologue is a powerful tool for revealing a character’s thoughts and feelings. However, overuse can slow down the pace and create a sense of detachment. Use it strategically to highlight key moments of conflict, decision-making, or emotional realization. Omit quotation marks for internal monologue. This helps create a sense of immediacy and intimacy.
**Example:**
> She looked at the letter. *This can’t be happening*, she thought.
Better:
> She looked at the letter. This can’t be happening.
Alternatively, use action and sensory details to imply the internal monologue, showing the reaction instead of stating the thought directly.
> She looked at the letter. Her breath hitched. A cold dread washed over her.
**Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell**
This is a fundamental principle of good writing, but it’s especially crucial in close third person. Instead of explicitly stating a character’s emotions, show them through their actions, body language, and internal sensations. Let the reader infer the character’s feelings based on their behavior.
**Example:**
Instead of:
> He was angry.
Show his anger:
> His fists clenched. His jaw tightened. A muscle twitched in his cheek.
**Step 6: Minimize Authorial Intrusion**
Authorial intrusion occurs when the narrator steps outside the character’s perspective to offer commentary, judgment, or explanation. Avoid this in close third person, as it breaks the immersion and reminds the reader that they’re reading a story. Stay firmly rooted in the character’s point of view.
**Example:**
Instead of:
> She was a naive girl, easily manipulated. She reached for the phone.
Use the character’s perspective:
> She reached for the phone. A foolish hope fluttered in her chest.
**Step 7: Maintain Consistent Voice**
The narration should reflect the character’s voice, including their vocabulary, tone, and syntax. This is especially important in close third person, as the line between the narrator and the character becomes blurred. Avoid using language or phrasing that the character wouldn’t use.
**Example:**
If your character is a streetwise teenager, avoid using formal or academic language in the narration. Use slang and colloquialisms that are consistent with their background and personality.
**Step 8: Limit Information to What the Character Knows**
In close third person, the reader only knows what the character knows. Don’t reveal information that the character wouldn’t be aware of. This creates suspense and allows the reader to experience the story alongside the character. If the character is surprised by something, the reader should be surprised as well.
**Example:**
If the character doesn’t know that someone is hiding in the closet, the narration shouldn’t reveal it. Let the character discover it at the same time as the reader.
**Step 9: Use Free Indirect Discourse (FID)**
Free indirect discourse is a technique that blends the narrator’s voice with the character’s thoughts and feelings without using quotation marks or explicit tags. It allows you to convey the character’s internal state while maintaining a third-person perspective. It is a core component of truly immersive close third person.
**Example:**
Instead of:
> He wondered if he should call her.
Use free indirect discourse:
> Should he call her? Maybe he shouldn’t. What if she was still mad?
Notice how the questions and doubts are expressed in the character’s voice, but without quotation marks or tags.
**Step 10: Avoid Head-Hopping**
Head-hopping is when you switch between multiple characters’ perspectives within the same scene or paragraph. This can be disorienting and confusing for the reader. Stick to one POV character per scene (or at most, per chapter) to maintain clarity and immersion. If you need to switch perspectives, use a clear break, such as a scene change or a chapter break.
**Step 11: Master the Art of Omission**
What you *don’t* say can be just as important as what you *do* say. In close third person, you can create a sense of mystery and intrigue by omitting certain details or withholding information. Let the reader fill in the gaps and draw their own conclusions.
**Example:**
Instead of explicitly describing a character’s appearance, you can hint at it through their actions and interactions with other characters.
**Step 12: Practice and Revise**
Like any writing skill, mastering close third person takes practice. Experiment with different techniques, read examples of successful close third person narration, and revise your work carefully. Pay attention to how your choices affect the reader’s experience and adjust accordingly.
## Common Mistakes to Avoid
* **Telling instead of Showing:** This is a common pitfall for all writers, but it’s especially damaging in close third person. Avoid stating the character’s emotions directly; instead, show them through their actions and reactions.
* **Overusing Internal Monologue:** While internal monologue can be effective, overuse can slow down the pace and create a sense of detachment. Use it sparingly and strategically.
* **Head-Hopping:** Switching between multiple characters’ perspectives within the same scene can be disorienting and confusing for the reader. Stick to one POV character per scene.
* **Authorial Intrusion:** Avoid stepping outside the character’s perspective to offer commentary or explanation. Stay firmly rooted in their point of view.
* **Inconsistent Voice:** The narration should reflect the character’s voice, including their vocabulary, tone, and syntax. Avoid using language or phrasing that the character wouldn’t use.
* **Information Dumping:** Avoid overwhelming the reader with too much information at once. Reveal information gradually, as the character learns it.
## Examples of Close Third Person in Literature
Here are some examples of authors who successfully use close third person:
* **J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter series):** Rowling masterfully uses close third person to immerse the reader in Harry’s perspective, sharing his thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
* **Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games):** Collins uses close third person to create a sense of urgency and suspense, limiting the reader’s knowledge to what Katniss knows.
* **Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl):** Flynn uses alternating close third person perspectives to create a complex and unreliable narrative.
* **Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner):** Hosseini uses close third person to evoke a strong emotional connection with the protagonist, Amir.
* **Ernest Hemingway (Hills Like White Elephants):** Hemingway’s minimalist style often employs free indirect discourse, blurring the lines between narrator and character.
## Exercises to Improve Your Close Third Person Writing
* **Rewrite a scene from one of your favorite books in close third person from a different character’s perspective.** This will help you understand how point of view affects the reader’s experience.
* **Write a short story entirely in close third person, focusing on a character with a strong and distinct voice.** Pay attention to their vocabulary, tone, and syntax.
* **Take a scene you’ve already written and revise it to eliminate all instances of ‘telling’ and replace them with ‘showing’.** Focus on using action, body language, and internal sensations to convey the character’s emotions.
* **Practice using free indirect discourse in your writing.** Experiment with blending the narrator’s voice with the character’s thoughts and feelings.
## Conclusion
Writing in close third person can be a challenging but rewarding technique. By mastering the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a more immersive and emotionally resonant reading experience for your audience. Remember to practice, experiment, and revise your work carefully. With dedication and attention to detail, you can unlock the power of close third person and elevate your storytelling to new heights. The key is to become your character, to truly inhabit their skin, and to let their unique perspective shape the narrative. Good luck, and happy writing!