This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert dissect an author’s very interesting point of view & narrative choices. We take a close look at In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn, in which the protagonist is killed early in the story. What happens to the POV? The status of protagonist? The plot? And how is agency affected when your POV character is incorporeal? Although we’re discussing a specific work, there is much to take away about the challenges and rewards of crafting a distinct, even experimental, narrative.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
Where did this topic come from? What tools did this unusual POV give the author? And why choose this particular POV? And would you be brave enough to try it?
What we talked about:
The introduction to our unusual narrator character. (0:30)
What tools did this point of view give the author. (2:45)
How omniscient do you want your narrator to be? (5:18)
Does the narrator character need a character arc? (5:55)
Why choose this particular point of view? (9:08)
Why not multiple point of view? (11:20)
What about the stakes when the narrator character isn’t the protagonist? (13:55)
How does it help the readers judgment of the character? (15:55)
What about agency? How does it fit when the point of view character has none? (17:18)
The unique situation of a shifted protagonist. (22:00)
Your point of view and your theme. (23:40)
How do the protagonists form before and after Finn’s death? (28:00)
LINKS
Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.
Things we mentioned:
In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
If I Stay
Cast Away
Educated by Tara Westover
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRS 002 Black Bart by S.A. Wolter
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
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Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?
About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com