by Holmes

Created on: December 13, 2010

When writing, one of the most important things that an author has at their disposal is perspective. There are countless different perspectives to choose from, but the most common is undeniably Third-person. Third-person is used in nearly every aspect of writing, from novels to poetry and it is definitely the desired form for journalism. If an author choose to write from a journalistic standpoint, they needn’t go any further than choosing the third person as their perspective. If writing with the storytelling medium, there are a multitude of choices that must be made.

Subjective and Objective

Subjectivity and objectivity in a story refers to whether or not the reader is aware of the character’s thoughts and emotions as the narrative progresses. Writing in subjective third person means that the narrative is filled and some times even fueled by the character’s thoughts and emotions. Objective, therefore, is when the reader is not let in on the thoughts and emotions of the different characters, often used to hide certain traits until a climactic scene or if the emotions of the characters simply don’t matter to the story.

Choosing Between the Two

Choosing whether or not to have a subjective or objective viewpoint is one of the most important choices in writing a story.  An author must consider the plot, how the characters fit into it, and how the reader will interpret their emotions or lack thereof. If the story is plot driven, with the characters existing only to further it, it may be unnecessary that the reader be aware of their thoughts. If the main focus of the story is character development, then it is almost a given that the reader should be let in on what the characters are feeling. In short, choosing between the two should be given a considerable amount of thought and attention.

Omniscient and Limited  

Another important aspect of the narrative voice is whether or not the narrator is omniscient or limited. In the omniscient voice, the narrator plays no real part in the story, but is aware of every aspect of story. The most common form of this voice is Omniscient Subjective, where the reader is aware of every character’s thoughts and emotions. A lesson common form, is Omniscient Objective, or better known as Third-person Objective, is akin to a fly on the wall - only capable of observing the events of the story and actions of the characters, without knowing the inner monologues. Third-person Limited, however conveys the thoughts and emotions of only one character (most often the protagonist).

Choosing Which Variant to Use

There are only two things to remember when picking what style of Third-person to use in a story: Nothing’s off  limits, and be creative! Undeniably the most important tool and author has at their disposal is their imagination. Combining different styles and voices and perspectives is what makes writing fun.

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